Winthrop Student Awarded Annual Davis Memorial Internship

The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) today announced the recipient of the 2025 Annual David W. Davis Memorial Internship. The internship honors the memory of Dave Davis, the longest-serving Executive Director in Massport’s history, who led the Authority from 1975 until 1990. The paid internship was awarded to Winthrop resident Eljo Hysa. Hysa is enrolled at the University of Massachusetts Lowell where he is studying Mechanical Engineering.

“We are very pleased to award Eljo the David W. Davis Memorial Internship,” said Massport CEO Rich Davey. “He has demonstrated great dedication in pursuing hands-on experience in mechanical engineering. We hope this internship serves as a meaningful steppingstone in his career, and we are excited to welcome him to Massport for his internship.”

During his tenure, Davis demonstrated a commitment to Massport’s neighbors as well as to its customers and developed one of the very first residential soundproofing programs in the country. “Kidport” was another airport industry first that Davis unveiled at Boston Logan International Airport in 1987 as the nation’s first airport-based children’s play area. Under his leadership, Massport established its own employee retirement system, which Davis later joined when Massport’s employees elected him to be their representative on the retirement board in 1996.

The David W. Davis Memorial Internship is awarded annually to an exceptional junior or senior in college. The David W. Davis Memorial Internship allows students to develop a professional network that will aid them in their pursuit of a career in government and/or the public sector.

To be considered for the David W. Davis Memorial Internship, students are required to have a minimum 3.0 grade point average and submit a cover letter describing why they believe a career in public service is essential to their career interests. In his letter, Eljo wrote, “My aspiration is to leverage my degree in Mechanical Engineering by designing and implementing new solutions that can enhance the public welfare. Even through the little resolutions of transportation systems or for bigger cases such as technological advancements for community-centered projects.”

Students interested in applying for the 2026 internship should visit www.massport.com for eligibility requirements.