Category: School of Engineering

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2024 is ready to make its mark on the world!  We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have engaged in college life in a big way, conducted valuable research, pioneered innovations, and overcome challenges during their time at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Cameron Schmidt.

Major: Software Engineering

Minors: Game Development, Computer Science

Hometown: North Ridgeville, Ohio

On choosing Behrend: I chose Behrend for two reasons. The first was because of the Software Engineering program. I wanted Software Engineering over Computer Science, so I needed to find a school that had a good Software Engineering program, and after touring Behrend, I found it here. The second reason: Penn State. I was born and raised in Ohio, but grew up a Penn Stater because of my dad, who is a Penn State alumnus. During my childhood, if I was out with my dad and he was wearing a Penn State shirt there was always a chance we’d hear a ” WE ARE” from across a room, or I’d hear my dad suddenly yell “WE ARE” at other strangers wearing Penn State stuff. Complete strangers who he had never met before, connected simply by the fact that they went to the same school. Having that sense of community growing up made me realize early on that Penn State was special.

On choosing his major: I initially chose Computer Science, before I even decided where I wanted to go to school, simply because I wanted to make software applications. As I learned about the differences between Software Engineering and Computer Science, I ended up choosing Software Engineering, because unlike Computer Science, it also focused on Software Development concepts like documentation, design and implementation, project management, computer hardware, and more.

Campus involvement: While I was at Behrend I was mainly involved with one organization, Alpha Phi Omega, which is a co-ed service fraternity. I joined APO my second semester, mainly to make friends but soon began taking leadership positions in the group. APO really helped me develop my leadership skills, which helped me later when I became a resident assistant, throughout the rest of college, and in life in general.

A seat at the council table: I was also involved with an organization at University Park called the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments, or CCSG. For about three semesters, I served as the Associate Director of Student Affairs. My favorite part about my time in CCSG were the committee meetings. They gave me experience facilitating discussion among people, which I really enjoy.

People might be surprised to learn: I spent two summers at University Park, taking classes and working. The first summer, I just worked as an RA and took a few classes. The second summer, I worked as an RA and a Research Assistant and took quite a few classes. I have a lot of great memories from my time there, and gained a lot of academic, RA, and life experience!

His definition of living a good life: A good life is a life that is filled with little stress, less problems, where you have financial stability, and are doing what makes you happy. I want to emphasize the last point: do what makes you happy, only you know what that is and only you know how to achieve it.

HIs passions: I am passionate about learning and not just in an academic sense. I like learning about people and where they come from, what they’re passionate about. I also like learning about subjects completely unrelated to my field.

Advice for first-year students: The most important thing I think first year students should know is that it’s ok to mess up. Learn from your mistakes instead of letting them consume you. In my first semester, I failed two classes, got a D in two, and late-dropped one. It was really hard, but I learned from what I did wrong and came back from it. Another big piece of advice is to surround yourself with good people who will support you when you’re down, people you can learn from, and people who will help you grow as a person. That person for me in my first year and now, is my friend Ben Coler. I hope everyone can find someone like that.

After his graduation in May, Cameron plans to find work as an engineer in the game development industry, with hopes of eventually transitioning to game design and/or game production.

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2024 is ready to make its mark on the world!  We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have engaged in college life in a big way, conducted valuable research, pioneered innovations, and overcome challenges during their time at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Tecumseh Thundercloud.

Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology (ECET)

Hometown: Erie, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: Chancellor’s Scholarship, Provost’s Award, and the Petersen Trustee Scholarship

On choosing Behrend: I chose Behrend because of the well-respected engineering programs that provide invaluable hands-on experience. I knew Behrend graduates stand out to employers looking for people to join their teams. Another important factor for me was how close campus is to home. I wanted to easily be able to go home while maintaining my part-time job. These two factors made Behrend the obvious choice.

On choosing his major: The ECET major was an easy choice because it combines my previous studies of electronics at a technical school with my personal interest in computer networking and programming. The electrical side of the major expanded upon my previous knowledge and skills, while the computer side allowed me to explore new opportunities in an adjacent field.

His proudest accomplishment at Behrend: My proudest accomplishment at Behrend has been my involvement in a thongophone instrument modifications senior design project. A thongophone is a percussive instrument that is played by striking the openings of tubes of various lengths. For my project, I had to help fix numerous hardware and software issues that prevented the instrument from functioning. Now that the thongophone modifications are complete, the automated file play option allows teachers and students of all ages to interact with it. There is even a live play option using a MIDI keyboard! Contributing to an instrument that will remain on campus and benefit students for years to come has been immensely rewarding.

thongophone

Awards and recognitions: I’ve been on the Dean’s List five times. 

Advice for first-year students: I’ve learned that it’s OK not to have everything figured out immediately; exploration and flexibility are an important part of the journey. My first semester was my toughest overall, but then I found a system that worked for me. Manage your time, do the work, and utilize all the resources Behrend has to offer. The only wrong choice is to not apply yourself, so make sure you are putting your best foot forward.

After his graduation in May, Tecumseh will continue working for Signal-Tech, an Erie-based wholesale manufacturer of directional LED signs and signals. He will be assisting in the development of their printed circuit board line, an opportunity to apply his technical skills to support the company’s innovation efforts.

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2024 is ready to make its mark on the world!  We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have engaged in college life in a big way, conducted valuable research, pioneered innovations, and overcome challenges during their time at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Olivia Wright.

Major:  Mechanical Engineering

Minor:  Sustainability Leadership

Hometown:  Fairview, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: S-STEM Leaders Scholarship, Penn State Behrend Chancellor’s Scholarship, Nelson Grode Memorial Scholarship, Edward and Barbara F. Junker Scholarship.

On choosing Behrend: I chose Behrend because I could pursue both an engineering degree at a top engineering school and continue playing water polo.

On choosing her major: I chose Mechanical Engineering because it is one of the broadest, most versatile engineering majors that can allow you to work in any industry. I plan to use my ME major, combined with my Sustainability Leadership minor, to have a career in the energy industry.

Her proudest accomplishment at Behrend: I am proud to be graduating with a variety of experiences including performing research for my Sustainability Leadership minor, interning at both National Fuel Gas Company and General Electric Gas and Power, and completing my capstone senior design project.

Campus involvement: I am Captain of the Women’s Water Polo Team, Vice President of Behrend Engineering Ambassadors; Corresponding Secretary of Tau Beta Pi Engineering National Honor Society; Mentor and member of the NSF S-STEM Leaders Program; and a member of Behrend Honors Program, Lambda Sigma National Honor Society, and Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society.

Awards and recognitions: ACWPC (Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches) Women’s Water Polo All-Academic Team four times, President’s Freshman Award for Behrend.

Advice for first-year students: College goes by fast, so get involved and take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.

After graduation, Olivia will be working at Hatch Ltd in Pittsburgh as a mechanical engineer.

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2024 is ready to make its mark on the world!  We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have engaged in college life in a big way, conducted valuable research, pioneered innovations, and overcome challenges during their time at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Benjamin Coler.

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Hometown: Clarksville, Maryland

Scholarships and awards: I received the Penn State Discover Award, Behrend Excellence Award, and STEM Leaders Scholarship. I was also in the Behrend Honors Program.

On choosing Behrend: After touring the Behrend campus, I immediately fell in love with it. I loved the small feel and the low student-to-faculty ratio, which meant I could get to know each of my professors, and they could get to know me.

On choosing his major: Since a very young age, I have been intrigued by how things function and would often try to design and create my own inventions. I had a middle school tech teacher who fueled my passion for engineering by helping me build a robot that I designed.

His proudest accomplishment at Behrend: I am proud of who I am today; I am proud of the things I’ve done, the people I’ve helped, and the bonds that I have made. I am proud of what I’ve learned from being at Behrend and of the knowledge that I have passed along to others. The experiences I have gained from being at Behrend have shaped the person I am today.

Campus involvement: I was most involved with Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed service fraternity.

Friend to all: I am a people person. I love meeting new people and getting to know who they are, and I have the ability to connect with anyone I meet regardless of any social, political, and/or ethical based differences. I am able to remain unbiased and stay open-minded, and this has allowed me to connect with all kinds of people and understand their differences.

His definition of living a good life: Living a good life is finding satisfaction in your experiences. There is no set path or objectives that fit everyone. Each person is different, and what makes their definition of a good life is unique. To find satisfaction in all these experiences is where you will find the most happiness.

His passions: I love playing guitar and have been teaching myself for nearly a year. I practice almost every day.

Advice for first-year students: This stage in your life is so valuable. During this time, you will learn so much more than what you learn in your classes. You will learn who you are and what you want to do (both professionally and personally). Two pieces of advice: Failure is good, even if it doesn’t feel that way in the beginning, and every once in a while, look back at where you started and feel proud of what you have achieved, whether that was passing a class, taking on a new challenge, or putting yourself in situations that you normally don’t put yourself in. Don’t compare yourself to others because your journey through college is your own; your accomplishments and experiences are unique to you.

Parting thoughts: Be a friend; be of service; and be a leader.

Ben has accepted a position at Parker Lord Corp in Erie after his graduation in May.

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2024 is ready to make its mark on the world!  We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have engaged in college life in a big way, conducted valuable research, pioneered innovations, and overcome challenges during their time at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Chris Annear.

Major: Industrial Engineering

Minors: Technical Sales and Operations and Supply Chain Management

Hometown: Fredonia, New York

On why he chose Behrend: I wanted to run cross country and be in the small school environment.

On choosing his major: I want to pursue a career in disaster response logistics, sustainable production systems, and research additive manufacturing.

His proudest accomplishment at Behrend: Winning best student paper for the engineering economy track and winning best poster in the engineering division of the Sigma Xi Undergraduate Research Conference.

Campus involvement: Cross country and track, Engineering Ambassador, Vice President of Materials and Manufacturing Group

Awards and recognitions: 2022 IISE (Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers) Best Student Paper Engineering Economy Award; 2022 Behrend Sigma Xi First Place Poster Presentation, Physics-Mathematics-Engineering Division; 2023 Silver finalists in Race to the Case Interdisciplinary Supply Chain Competition at the University of Pittsburgh; Tau Beta Phi Honor Society (inducted Spring 2022); Schreyer Honors College (inducted Fall 2021); Chi Alpha Sigma, Athletic Honor Society (inducted Spring 2023).

His talents: All things 3D printing, whether its FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling), resin or binder Jet printing.

What you might be surprised to learn about him: I have been to all 50 states.

His highest priority for the coming years: Pursuing a master’s degree and finding a place in industry where I’ll be able to make an impact.

Advice for first-year students: Get to know your professors and contribute to research in your field. Don’t waste your college experience hiding in your dorm.

After his graduation in May, Chris plans to pursue a master’s degree in industrial engineering.

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2023 is ready to make its mark on the world!  We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the last several weeks, we have introduced you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have overcome challenges, pioneered new technologies, participated in important research projects, and made their mark at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Max Myers.

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Minors: Math, French and Francophone Studies

Hometown: Erie, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: Behrend Excellence Award

On choosing Behrend: Behrend is a great school. The class sizes are small, so you get to know your professors well. Getting started with extracurriculars, research, or other campus opportunities is easier because you aren’t competing with thousands of other students. Also, Behrend is close to home, so I saved money by commuting.

On choosing his major: I wanted to go into some form of engineering or science. Mechanical engineering is very broad. You can go into a lot of different sectors – corporate, government or academic – and fields within those sectors after finishing the degree.

Awards and recognition: President’s Freshman Award, Dean’s List, First-Place Engineering Research Award at the Sigma Xi Undergraduate Research and Creative Accomplishment Conference.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend: Graduating with two minors, my Schreyer Honors thesis, three internships, and an internship project all coming to an end as I start a new chapter is extremely gratifying.

Campus involvement: I was part of the French and Francophone Club. I also worked as a tutor at the Learning Resource Center for about three years and was a lifeguard at Junker Center for a year.

What you might be surprised to know about him: I can ride a unicycle.

Words he lives by: “It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life,” JRR Tolkien. It is really easy to get caught up in your education or your career and start chasing pursuits that are not totally your own. It is also easy to stop pursuing something you love because of what others think. I think living a good life is living a simple life, where you do things you care about no matter how big or small they seem. Everyone has a different path.

Highest priority in coming years: I want to travel globally and continue to learn. I think I will be to go to graduate school within a decade.

Advice for first-year students: Study hard. Respond to your emails. Make sure to keep your professors updated via email. Make sure the email is sent and not stuck in the drafts folder. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help—Tutoring is free, and the tutors are wicked smart and patient.

Max plans to serve as a nuclear naval officer through the Nuclear Propulsion Candidate Program.

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2023 is ready to make its mark on the world! We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we’ll introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have overcome challenges, pioneered new technologies, participated in important research projects, and made their mark at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Savanna Carr.

Major: Industrial Engineering

Hometown: Accident, Maryland

On choosing Behrend: I originally wanted to be an aerospace engineer, and the only university that offers aerospace engineering in Pennsylvania is Penn State. I ran cross-country and track in high school and after talking to the head cross-country coach, Coach Greg Cooper, I decided to start at Behrend and transfer to University Park after two years. After my first semester, I knew I wasn’t going anywhere. I knew Behrend was where I was going to be the most successful.

On choosing her major: When I decided to stay at Behrend, I changed my major to Mechanical Engineering. I’ve always loved the methods and process of manufacturing but not always the design part of engineering. During the pandemic, I did some soul-searching and realized that Industrial Engineering was a better fit for me. I switched my major again, and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Her proudest accomplishment at Behrend: There have been a lot of things I am proud of during my time at Behrend, but if I were to pick one, I would say that it is how much I have grown as a person. My freshman year, all I could think of was running fast and making it to nationals. While I’d still love to do that, I’ve realized that there is more to college than that. I took a semester off to do a co-op at Rand Machine where I helped grow their new Program Management department. I’ve never been the best student, but once I started taking major classes, I started making the Dean’s List. Though it has not been easy, Behrend has helped me grow tremendously and I am proud of the person I am today.

Campus involvement: I am a member of the cross-country and track teams as well as Phi Sigma Rho, an engineering sorority.

Awards: I’ve been the AMCC cross-country runner of the year four times, an academic all-American, and the 2019-2020 Behrend Athlete of the Year, and I received the 2020 Herb Lauffer Leadership and Scholarship Award.

What makes her unique: I’m determined. My coach told me that when he needs a relay to do well or someone to score points in an event, he’ll put me in it because he knows I’ll get the job done.

What you might be surprised to know about her: I love to downhill and water ski.

She’s writing her own story: I’ve always felt pressure to be the best in the classroom, the fastest person on the team, and involved in everything. During college, I realized that while I could have everything, I wasn’t able to achieve everything. And it took me a while to realize that it is okay. I define what makes me successful, and I define what is a good life. So, I try to wake up every day grateful for the opportunities I have been given and to be a better person than I was yesterday.

Improvement is her passion. I am passionate about improvement, from the manufacturing process to personal goals. It’s amazing what someone can accomplish when they put their mind to it.

Advice for first-year students: Something I’ve come to realize is that when you set a goal to climb a mountain, you only spend a fraction of the time at the summit compared to the long trek up. Enjoy the climb.

Parting thanks: I’d like to thank everyone who has helped me through the journey, especially my parents, Jay and Johnna, who I am so blessed to have supporting me, and Coach Greg Cooper who talked me into coming to Behrend.

After her graduation in December, Savannah plans to find work as an industrial engineer.