Muhlenberg athletes are spending the summer of 2026 enjoying fantastic experiences on campus, in their hometowns, across the country, and even around the world.

Justin Mondestin, a wide receiver on the football team and double major in finance and accounting, hooked up with a former Mule quarterback in his summer internship on Wall Street.

This summer, I had the opportunity to intern at CastleOak Securities, an investment bank in New York City, as a member of the DirectPool team — the firm's electronic fixed-income trading platform. Having developed a strong interest in finance during my first two years of college, I came into this internship eager to pull back the curtain on Wall Street and see how trading operates at an institutional level. Working in the heart of NYC on an active electronic trading platform has provided the exact hands-on experience I was hoping for.

A major highlight of my experience has been the mentorship of Daniel Deighan '13, a former Muhlenberg football player who played a key role in helping me get my foot in the door at CastleOak. Dan has been an incredible guide throughout the summer, taking the time to share his years of industry experience, break down the nuances of his role, and offer practical career advice. Having a supportive mentor who genuinely invests in your growth makes a massive difference when navigating a fast-paced Wall Street environment.

Being embedded directly within DirectPool has given me a front-row seat to the modern fixed-income market. I've gained practical insight into how liquidity moves, how electronic execution platforms bridge buyers and sellers, and how technology continues to shape fixed-income sales and trading. Learning the mechanics behind daily market operations has transformed abstract concepts from my coursework into real-time decision-making on the trading desk.

Beyond our daily work on the desk, the internship program has provided exceptional exposure through high-profile site visits and technical training. Getting hands-on experience with the Bloomberg Terminal gave me a fundamental tool for market research and data analysis. Experiencing behind-the-scenes tours of iconic financial institutions, including the New York Stock Exchange and the New York Comptroller's office, offered a deeper look into market infrastructure and municipal finance.

To round out our understanding of the broader financial ecosystem, we also visited top-tier firms across buy-side and sell-side finance, including KKR, Morgan Stanley, and Lord Abbett. Speaking with professionals across private equity, traditional asset management, and global investment banking helped me see how different parts of Wall Street interact and where my own interests lie within the industry.

Overall, this internship at CastleOak has been an invaluable stepping stone for my career. Adding a respected name to my resume is a great milestone, but the true value lies in the confidence, industry knowledge, and network I've built over the summer. Leaving this experience with a clear understanding of sales, trading, and institutional finance gives me a fantastic foundation as I return to college and prepare for my full-time career.