By Heather Cass
Publications Manager, Office of Strategic Communications,  Penn State Behrend

Penn State Behrend’s class of 2018 is ready to make its mark on the world!  We’re proud of our students and the things they’ve accomplished and learned while here at Behrend. Over the next couple months, we’ll be introducing you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have overcome challenges, pioneered new technology, participated in important research projects, and left an impression at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Alec Hydock:

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: I was honored to receive the Robert F. Taft Endowed scholarship.

On choosing Behrend: I chose Penn State Behrend because it has small class sizes that allow you to get to know the professor and the professor to get to know you.

Curiosity build the engineer: As a kid, I was always curious about how things worked, from why planes fly to how car engines work. This curiosity is what pushed me toward mechanical engineering.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend? Being on a senior design team that was selected for a project sponsored by the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. I knew we had a strong group, but it was humbling to be selected to work on such an important project.

Campus involvement: I was involved in the student chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers as well as the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society. I was also involved with a research team that helped design a braille device.

What you’d be surprised to know about him: I have a twin.

Car enthusiast: I’ve always been passionate about cars. I enjoy seeing the advancements manufacturers have made in cars from new structural designs that improve how cars hold up in accidents to advancements in drivetrains that can increase both performance and economy.

Advice for new students: Don’t forget to take some time for yourself. It is easy to get caught up in all the homework, projects, and exams that you may get burned out. Get friends together to go to the gym, play pickup games, or even just set aside one evening in the week to hang out and do something fun.

After his graduation in May, Alec plans to pursue a career as an engineer in the automotive or defense fields.