CETA Student Spotlights for National Engineers Week
All this week, CETA celebrated National Engineers Week with various activities for students, faculty, and staff. We’re wrapping up the celebration with a special Feature Friday spotlight of three talented CETA students.
We first sat down with Nicole Carr, a junior Biomedical Engineering major with a concentration in Biomedical Engineering/Pre-Med. She is an active member in the CETA community as the secretary for SWE (Society of Women Engineers) and BMES (Biomedical Engineering Society), as well as a member of the Outdoors Club on campus. When asked what her favorite part of National Engineers Week was, she shared, “I like the appreciation given to engineers through history who have changed the world into what it has become.” Carr left off with a quote from one of the most influential scientists of all time, Sir Isaac Newton. “‘We stand on the shoulders of giants.’ This week reminds me of the truth of this quote by Isaac Newton.”
Carr is aspiring to be an engineer because she enjoys learning how things work. “Engineering is an innovative field,” says Carr. “There is always a better way of doing things, new technology to use, and different ideas to try.” Carr chose to attend the University because of its great student community in CETA. “The faculty is incredibly helpful; all you need to do is ask,” says Carr. She also notes CETA is incredibly invested in its students. “The faculty do everything they can to help us, even making sure we’re fed by giving us popcorn every day.”
We then sat down with Salman Hussain, a junior Computer Engineering and Computer Science double major. He is also an active member in CETA as part of the UHart Robotics Club and IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). The Fundamental Exam Review was his favorite event CETA hosted for National Engineers Week. “The reviews are extremely helpful and I found the insight Professor Sussmann shared was useful,” says Hussain.
Hussain chose to attend the University for multiple reasons, but the unique sense of community was paramount. “You have more support from professors and aren’t just a number in the classroom,” says Hussain. “Plus, the people in CETA care about you and want you to succeed.” Hussain’s dream job is to work as a Robotics Engineer for Boston Dynamics, on machines built for military use. He’s particularly interested in working on their quadruped robot (four-legged like dogs) or working on projects related to artificial intelligence and vision.
Finally, we sat down with Kaiti Stylianides, a junior Mechanical Engineering major with a concentration in Acoustics, and minors in Mathematics and Computer Science. Stylianides is an active member in CETA as the Vice President of SWE (Society of Women Engineers) and a member in the CETA Student Ambassadors & Leadership Society. When asked what her favorite part of National Engineers Week was, she shared “Girls Day. It’s always so fun to meet these girls who are so interested in what I do,” says Stylianides. “They’re so happy to see us and relate what they’re doing to what we do.”
The advice she would give to a high school student interested in studying engineering is to “be stubborn and passionate. “Approach everything in life the same,” says Stylianides. “Engineering is difficult, but if you love it, it is the most rewarding thing you could do.” Stylianides chose to attend the University because of the Acoustics program. “Academically, it is the best place I can go for Acoustics, but I really came because of the relationships I made when I visited,” says Stylianides. “I met the head of the program, Professor Bob Celmer, and when I came to campus, he made me feel so welcome and interested. I knew this was where I wanted to come.” Being a role model in the CETA community, Stylianides says these relationships are what make CETA special. “Julie Spring, especially, has made my experience memorable in CETA.”
If you’re a CETA student and interested in sharing your story with us, email cetacomm@hartford.edu.