When Dylan Hensley began exploring colleges, Indiana State University stood out as a place where he could earn a high-quality education without taking on overwhelming tuition costs.
What he found after arriving was even more valuable: a close-knit computer science program with hands-on experience and opportunities that would eventually lead him to an exciting summer internship at PepsiCo.
For Dylan, a senior computer science major from Avon, Indiana, the internship experience reinforced what he already appreciated about Indiana State: meaningful opportunities happen outside the classroom.
As a first-year student, Dylan participated in Bridge Week, a transition program offered through the University Student Success and Advising Center. The program helps students meet other Sycamores, connect with campus resources, and begin building a sense of belonging before classes begin.
“There are a lot of people at Indiana State who want to help you,” Dylan says. “Bridge Week really helped me meet a bunch of people. It was really beneficial because it was people who didn’t know what they were doing for the first time, and we were all doing it together. We were figuring out college.”
The relationships Dylan built during Bridge Week helped set the tone for the rest of his college experience. Whether in the classroom, on campus, or during his internship, connecting with others became one of the most valuable parts of his Sycamore journey.
That was especially true this past summer in Plano, Texas, when Dylan spent time as part of PepsiCo’s cybersecurity team. The internship gave him a firsthand look at how one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies protects its digital infrastructure, while also introducing him to professionals whose experiences helped shape his understanding of the cybersecurity field.
“It was a very, very fun experience, and I learned so much,” Dylan says.
The internship also expanded Dylan’s professional network in ways he never expected.
“I met probably 100 people at PepsiCo that I was able to connect with on LinkedIn,” he says. “Now, if I reach out to them, they’ll respond and give me advice about my career.”
For Dylan, those connections became one of the most valuable outcomes of the internship. Conversations with coworkers, mentors, and industry leaders gave him a clearer picture of the many paths available within computer science and cybersecurity.
While his internship focused on cybersecurity, Dylan’s interests extend across several areas of technology. He is pursuing a concentration in data science, an area that combines programming, analytics, and problem-solving skills. Dylan likes to remind people that computer science is about more than writing code.
“The computer science major is basically a math degree but with programming,” he says. “What’s great about that is we get a lot of practical programming skills, but also a lot of problem-solving skills from math. I really enjoy that aspect. It’s a fun program.”
One reason Dylan believes he has been able to develop practical skills is the size of Indiana State’s program.
“A lot of times, my classes have eight people in them, so my professors have time to answer our questions,” Dylan says. “I think that would be harder at a bigger school, but Indiana State is the perfect size. You get more one-on-one time with your professors.”
Outside the classroom, Dylan gains on-campus experience by working alongside Indiana State’s network engineers. The hands-on experience allows him to apply technical concepts in a real-world setting while developing communication skills that later benefited him at PepsiCo.
Dylan adds, “Going to a company like PepsiCo and having the groundwork laid out already of how to talk to new people, how to get to know new people, and know what questions to ask – that was very pivotal to my internship.”
The internship also strengthened Dylan’s interest in data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI). While AI continues to transform industries, the Sycamore believes human expertise remains critical, especially within cybersecurity.
“Number one, you always need human input in the loop,” Dylan explains. “I know a lot of people are concerned about AI taking jobs, but I don’t think that’ll really happen with cybersecurity. You still need humans to verify things. Every company needs a cybersecurity team for security measures.”
At the same time, he sees AI as an area filled with opportunity.
“I think that AI is the future,” Dylan says. “It will ultimately keep growing, but I think that it’s something that needs to be managed and needs to be taken care of by people who know what they’re doing. So, it’s interesting to me to see how it actually works.”
As he continues his studies during his senior year, Dylan says Indiana State has given him a strong foundation for understanding the technical and human sides of the computer science profession. With support from his professors, practical learning experiences, and internship opportunities, he’s more prepared for what’s next after graduation.
“Computer science isn’t something that you’re going to explicitly learn in a class,” Dylan says. “You have to do stuff outside of the classroom. That’s why it’s important to have internships, so you can learn even more.”
And for the rest of his college experience? It has happened naturally, he says. The benefits came from relationships and the willingness to ask questions. As he prepares for his next chapter, Dylan knows the lessons he’s already learned will be just as valuable as any computer code.