Stevens Institute of Technology: Admissions Blog

From Stevens to the Peace Corps

Just a few weeks after she graduates in May, Katie Quish '13 will fly to Liberia, where she'll spend the next two years teaching math and science to children for the Peace Corps. While there, she'll look back on her years at Stevens as a time of learning, exploration and personal growth.

Quish, 22, grew up in Hartford, Conn. Her father is a travel agent and her mother is a teacher. She is an only child. She attended high school at University High School of Science and Engineering, a reputable magnet school affiliated with the University of Hartford. She swam, played tennis and joined the school robotics club.

Quish wanted to attend a college where she could continue to pursue her lifelong interests in science and math. She had been touring colleges throughout the northeast when her uncle, a guidance counselor in New Jersey who used to live in Hoboken, suggested she look at Stevens.

“I fell in love with it instantly,” she said about her first visit to Stevens. “The location is great, and it's the right size school for me. Everyone is involved, and everyone knows everyone, which is great. There's a lot of support around because everyone knows who you are.”

Quish said she overcame the challenge of adapting to college and academic life during her freshman year.

“The first year was rough, and I wasn't ready for it,” she said. “But through repetition I got used to it. When you're involved with things on campus, which is easy to do at Stevens, then you learn that balance. You're always busy so you learn about managing your schoolwork and organizing everything.”

Quish will graduate with a degree in Engineering Management.

“It's still a degree in engineering, but more of the business world,” she said. “I like being able to talk to people and help them manage their projects.”

During her time at Stevens, Quish served on the Entertainment Committee and helped bring events to campus. She also worked in the community with the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, and served as vice president for the Stevens chapter of Habitat for Humanity and as treasurer of the Stevens chapter of the Society of Women Entrepreneurs. She spent her senior year spring break in Portland, Ore. building houses with other Habitat volunteers.

Quish also joined the Stevens Cooperative Education program, which helped her land two internships, first with the Louis Berger Group, an engineering firm in Morristown, and then with Hamilton Sundstrand, a subsidiary of aerospace company United Technologies Corporation. She worked for Hamilton Sundstrand out its offices in Connecticut and San Diego.

Quish credits one of her professors, Teresa Zigh, with encouraging her to join the Peace Corps. “She was really supportive,” Quish said. “I told her I really want to do the Peace Corps, but I was wondering if I should find a job instead, and she said no, go for it, it's something you want to do and it's in line with your career goals.”

Quish said she's excited about her opportunity to teach abroad, in a country that is recovering from civil war.

“They're really pushing for education over there, and the kids we'll be teaching will be the next generation who will be able to improve Liberia's economy and help them grow,” she said.

She said she's preparing for the change in lifestyle.

“I know it will be really different, going from having everything readily available all the time, to going somewhere where I might not have internet for a month,” she said. “I'm sure it's going to be hard, but it's something I really want to do.”

When she returns, Quish wants to find a job that blends her expertise and interest.

“I'd like to use my engineering and project management skills for international development, and help other countries that might not be as well off,” she said.

In her spare time, Quish enjoys practicing yoga, hanging out with friends, including her sorority sisters in Theta Phi Alpha, and exploring cities like New York, Boston and Washington.

Related articles

Career Fairs and Interview Days

Peace Corps - Update

Stevens Ranked 13th in Nation for Career Services by The Princeton Review

Stevens Institute of Technology has been ranked 13th in the nation for “Best Career Services” by The Princeton Review in the 2013 edition of “The Best 377 Colleges,” moving up from the 2011 edition ranking.

The Stevens Office of Career Development supports students through career exploration programs, experiential education opportunities, individualized guidance, career planning workshops, corporate site visits, and a variety of on-campus recruitment efforts. The office maintains strong relationships with leading corporate, government and nonprofit employers, continually supplying top talent to join their ranks.

“Every year, Stevens graduates realize incredibly strong job placement outcomes and earn higher-than-average starting salaries,” said Lynn Insley, director of the Office of Career Development.

Stevens is invested in developing graduates into engineers, scientists and business leaders who are capable of innovating technical solutions to solve society’s most critical problems. The student educational experience is distinguished by tremendous opportunities for real work outside of the classroom, through paid and summer internships, research projects with faculty, and the renowned Cooperative Education program, in which 40 percent of the undergraduate study body participates.

The prestige and value of a Stevens degree was also recently recognized in Bloomberg Businessweek’s 2012 ranking of the best colleges for return on investment, in which Stevens was named as one of the nation’s top 25 schools.

In addition to recognition for top-notch career services, The Princeton Review also ranked Stevens 9th in the nation in the category, “College City Gets High Marks.” The University’s hometown of Hoboken offers a variety of options for shopping restaurants, parks and nightlife, and Stevens’ historic and distinctive campus offers spectacular views of the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline, which is easily accessible in only ten minutes. 

Each year The Princeton Review identifies the country’s best institutions for undergraduate education – with a primary focus on outstanding academics – based on surveys of current students. Schools selected for inclusion in “The Best 377 Colleges” guide represent approximately 15 percent of the U.S.’s four-year colleges. 

To learn more about Career Development at Stevens, Click Here.

 

Graduates Reign at Stevens

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions congratulates the graduating Class of 2012.

Best wishes as you embrace your bright futures!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding Achievement

For the sixth time in eight years, a Stevens student has been selected as the Cooperative Education and Internship Student of the Year award by the New Jersey Cooperative Education and Internship Association (NJCEIA).

Senior Erik Thompson, an Electrical Engineering major and participant in the Stevens Cooperative Education (Co-op) program, is the 2012 recipient representing four-year college students. His selection is based on his outstanding achievements on the job and contributions to the employer.

“Erik is extremely smart and hard-working,” said Christian Uhl, assistant director of Cooperative Education (co-op) at Stevens. “He is a natural fit for a professional environment, and that helped him acquire very high-quality work experiences through Co-op.”

As an undergraduate at Stevens, Thompson took part in five Co-op internships. The first two assignments were with Datascope Patient Monitors, where he worked with the electrical engineering staff to test hospital products and implement fixes. Next, he worked as a computer engineer at the Armament, Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) at Picatinny Arsensal. Finally, Thompson spent two semesters at Safe Flight Instrument Corporation. There, he served as project lead for the development of cockpit sensors that prevent airplanes from stalling. He was primarily responsible for overseeing the design and testing of software and electronics systems.

“I chose Stevens in large part because of the Co-op program,” said Thompson. “Each internship I did was critical, in its own way, for preparing me for the workforce. Datascope introduced me to the corporate culture and helped me understand how business is done. Picatinny gave me excellent software experience, and Safe Flight was really excellent at developing my design skills.”

Thompson earned a 3.65 GPA over his undergraduate career. Outside of his academics, he participated in numerous student activities as Stevens, including Castle Point Radio, the Anime Club and the Computer and Console Gaming Society. He also spent many hours volunteering his time to mentor younger Co-op participants by conducting mock interviewers and ushering students to employers.

“Erik was always incredibly generous with his time and always willing to give back because of the opportunities that he received through Co-op,” said Uhl. “Not only did every employer want him to join their ranks, but every student wanted to learn from his success.”

After Thompson graduates this month with a B.E. in Electrical Engineering and Graduate Certificate in Wireless Communications, he will begin full-time work as an assistant technical staff member at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, a research and development center focused on applying advanced technology to problems of national security. Thompson applied through the position through Stevens Career Services and was interviewed on campus last fall. He received the official offer while on winter holiday trip to Cancun with his family.

“Needless to say, it was a great vacation,” Thompson said.

There are numerous past Cooperative Education and Internship Student of the Year award-winners from Stevens, including Michael Phipps (’04), Jibu Abraham (’05), Poitr Czerechowski (’06), Keith Cassidy (’08) and Regina Pynn (‘11). In addition, Cassidy and Daniel Mirota (’06) were named National Cooperative Education Students of the Year by the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).

Uhl said one reason behind Stevens’ leadership in cooperative education is the staff’s personal relationships with students.

“We know our students’ interests and abilities and can make an accurate determination of what employers would be the best fit,” Uhl said. “Because our students are better matched, we are able to serve both the students and the employers better.”

He added that the Co-op program’s strong connection to numerous companies is another factor in its success.

“Stevens has longstanding relationships with employers, many of whom are Stevens Co-op alumni themselves,” Uhl said. “They know where the students are coming from both academically and professionally, which – along with the preparatory programs offered through Co-op – sets the table for our students to be successful on the job.”

Thompson, whose future employer includes a pipeline of Stevens alumni, said the Co-op program provides students essential resume differentiation in today’s competitive job market.

“With the way the job market is right now, you really need to be able to show that you’ve done something in addition to classes,” Thompson said. “Co-op allows you to go and do something meaningful and contribute to the company success.”

Thompson will be presented with the Cooperative Education and Internship Student of the Year award at the annual NJCEIA program on June 7 in Morristown, N.J.

Stevens Ranks High in "What's Your College Degree Worth?"

In Bloomberg Businessweek’s third annual ranking of the best colleges for return on investment (ROI), “What’s Your College Degree Worth?,” Stevens Institute of Technology’s ROI is 23rd in the nation.

The study is based upon PayScale.com, which uses self-reported salary data from alumni of more than 850 nationwide colleges and universities obtained through its online survey tools. The ROI ranking reflects what incoming students can reasonably expect from their investment in pursuing a college degree from a certain school. It represents the typical earnings of a graduate over a 30-year period, after deducting the net cost of the degree, which is based on the total “sticker price” minus the average financial aid award and adjusted for six-year graduation rate.

The 2012 report finds that average ROI across all surveyed colleges nationally decreased since 2011, reflecting sinking salaries in a tough economy and the rising cost of higher education. However, ROI for Stevens students remains at the front of the pack.

In addition, Stevens ranks eighth in ROI and fourth in ROI for graduates out of 18 metro area schools, and its graduation rate is the highest among the group. In its classification of “Private Research Universities, Engineering,” Stevens is fifth among all schools nationally.

Stevens’ leading ROI in part reflects national trends. In the 2012 report, private schools easily surpassed public schools in ROI. In addition, engineering schools averaged more than double the ROI for liberal arts schools, triple that of business schools, and more than 26 times that of arts and design schools.

Stevens students have outpaced the national average year after year in both placement rates and job outcomes, benefitting from exceptional academic programs, world-class research experiences and unique experiential learning opportunities that prepare them to become leaders in their chosen fields.

“Between our highly-competitive academic environment, market-relevant internship opportunities, nurturing and supportive campus, and prime location minutes from Manhattan, Stevens students have everything they need to achieve personal, professional and financial success,” said Maureen Weatherall, vice president of university enrollment and administration.

Employers continue to value the quality and reputation of a Stevens education, with members of the Class of 2012 having already accepted offers from well-known companies such as Deloitte, DuPont, Goldman Sachs, Honeywell, Johnson & Johnson, JPMorgan Chase, UBS and United Technologies.

“Few universities can match Stevens in terms of job placement, a testament to the rigorous academic background of our students and the professional work experiences so many obtain in the most in-demand fields, well before graduation,” said Lynn Insley, director of career development.

Career Focus at Stevens

Stevens' Career Fair last week attracted more than 100 companies and 700 students to the eagerly awaited, and historically successful, event held in the Schaefer Center each fall for seniors. 

The fair presented an opportunity for both sides - the Class of 2012 and potential employers - to connect and standout. From the overwhelming turnout and high level of preparedness, to the outstanding career outcomes Stevens publishes each year, it's clear that Stevens students make excellent use of their time in front of some of the nation's top companies and agencies that recruit talent here. Impressive career placement figures for the Class of 2011 include an average starting salary of $63,200, which is 9% above the national average. In addition, 85% of Stevens' Class of 2011 obtained job placement within three months of graduating, and 35% entertained more than one job offer.

"I received great, positive feedback from those who participated in the Career Fair, and I am delighted that the event generated a lot of excitement from everyone involved," said Lynn Insley, Director of Career Development at Stevens. "I'm especially pleased about the wide variety of employers represented this year."

Employer representation ran the gamut across industries, expertise, and types of jobs, which provided students from every discipline ample access to career networking and placement. Amid the economic stress of today, the diversity and breadth of commercial and government representation at this year's fall Career Fair is especially encouraging.  Some companies return to Stevens after years of maintaining relationships here, and some have a more recent presence.  NBC Universal, for example, made its first appearance last year. 

A representative from LGS Bell Labs Innovations summed up what his company sees in Stevens graduates this way: "The Stevens graduates we've worked with are well-prepared and they transition very well to high-end work with little stress and time. They adapt quickly and make positive contributions to sophisticated problems and projects right away. They're also team-oriented, which is  very beneficial." 

LGS Bell Labs delivers communications and R&D-based technology solutions to the U.S. government community and is looking to Stevens for computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, and physics majors to fill various full-time roles as well as internships. The representative added, "It's nearly impossible to predict where technology will be five years from now. We all know how quickly it evolves and changes. So we're not only looking for folks with excellent knowledge and experience, but also those who like to learn and who adapt while we all 'follow the technology', so to speak." 

At a pre-fair luncheon for employers and students, Stevens presented Johnson & Johnson with its Employer of the Year Award for going "above and beyond" the typical recruitment relationship. In addition to internships, co-op placements, and full-time employment, especially distinct is the company's role in providing student workshops in leadership and networking as well as Johnson & Johnson's sponsoring of Stevens senior design projects. 

Automatic Data Processing Inc. (ADP), Barclays Capital, Becton Dickinson & Company (BD), Deloitte Services, Ernst & Young, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Hamilton Sundstrand, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Morgan Stanley, L'Oreal USA, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Pepsi Bottling Group, Risk Management Solutions Inc.,  UBS, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Verizon were a few among the many companies represented.

 

Designing the Future

When presented with a real-world problem, Stevens Institute of Technology students kick into gear, and not just because they're required to do so.  The Senior Projects Expo last week exemplified the reality that Stevens students not only develop the skills and knowledge to design solutions to challenging problems but that they enjoy the process!  

It was a beautiful day as faculty, staff, students, alumni, community members and friends gathered for Stevens’ annual event, a showcase of the senior year design projects of the graduating students from the Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering and Science, the Howe School of Technology Management, and the School of Systems and Enterprises.

The Expo is the culmination of the undergraduate education experience at Stevens. It allows students to apply the knowledge they have learned over four years to address a significant challenge in the areas of engineering, science, computer science, engineering management, and technology marketing and management. More than 100 groups were present at this year’s event – with outdoor exhibition space set up for the first time ever to accommodate the overflowing arena. 

"Every year, it is exciting to see the progress, teamwork, and execution of these concepts as ideas become reality," says Dr. Keith Sheppard, Associate Dean of Engineering and Science. "A number of these projects will go on in competitions, while others will make positive changes as industry applications. These students look forward to an incredible future."

The projects on display ran the gamut from alternative energy solutions to biomedical applications to innovative and efficient new vehicles. 

Team Five Guys was among the senior design teams displaying their projects in the Canavan Arena. Nyle Hammond, Edgar Barrios, Kyle Hanas, Elliot MacMillan, and Peter Yurkowski designed an interactive ordering solution for casual eating establishments, a project sponsored by Johnny Rockets, "The Original Hamburger," establishment in Hoboken, NJ. Their solution to inefficiency between front-end service and back-end management functions at restaurants that capitalize on maximizing table turnover? They designed a system that includes utilizing Apple iPads with the "Easy Pay Touch" hardware, docking stations, iOS mboile operating system software that integrates with the restaurant's POS system, and an administrative Web page. 

Essentially, they put touch-screen devices in the hands of customers, allowing them to choose and submit their orders directly to a ticketing system, generate and manage their bills, request server assistance, and split bills easily - decreasing time and error that would otherwise impede flow of service and, essentially, profits for the restaurant.

One of the groups, TEACHINS-U, worked to develop a therapeutic device for autistic children. Designed in two phases, a training phase then a hands-on phase, the acronym stands for Training and Educating Autistic Children to Help Improve Necessary Skills Unit. The Mechanical Engineering team has been receiving very positive and enthusiastic feedback to the device, according to group member Jeff Pass.

 

An Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) group created The Digital Wall Calendar, a device which will utilize a calendar-based operating system for organizing plans, meetings, and other scheduled events. They also intend for it to incorporate a custom photo feature to replicate the novelty of a traditional wall calendar.

 

The team members report that the project development was a lot smoother than they originally thought. They were able to utilize their time throughout the entire Senior Design process, completing the research early on, which made putting the final product together even easier. The team also published a QR code on their poster, drawing smart phone users to a website explaining their project. 

 

CADeyes, a Stevens Start-up company, is an advanced mobile mapping system designed to create dimensionalized site and contour maps, and as-built drawings of both the exterior and interior of building structures. The company tasked a Mechanical Engineering group with developing a mobile indoor-scanning platform for 3-dimensional mapping and visualization.

 

“We are really pleased with the way the CADeyes IntelliScan turned out,” said Ravi Javia. “The device is exactly what we expected it to be. CADeyes didn’t have a system for indoor scanning yet, so this is just what they wanted. Our group created something that delivered to their exact specifications.”

 

An Engineering Management group stayed close to Stevens for their project, working with the Athletics department on their website. They developed a highlights video package for Athletics events that would create a more interactive website experience.

 

Their display was a colorful, interactive board, complete with streaming video. Gene Kang stated that the board replicated exactly what they intend the website to look like beginning next year. Attila the Duck, Stevens’ mascot, hung out with the group at the Expo.

 

“We’re getting a lot of attention today,” said Kang. “But I think that’s because of Attila!”

 

Margaret Przeszlo, an ECE major, and her partner Kevin Fuhrman, worked on a project entitled Facemask. At the Expo, she stated: “Everything worked out so well! Last week our system crashed and we were afraid we wouldn’t have anything to show but we were able to work the glitches out. I guess that’s what Senior Design is all about, right? Real-life, real-working challenges – and finding solutions.”

 

That sentiment is definitely a recurring theme among the students.

 

"The hands-on Senior Design process is very helpful," says Biomedical Engineering student Dalia Shendi, whose "Heat Wave" Senior Design team created a portable device to re-warm patients suffering from hypothermia, with applications for both the U.S. Army and New Jersey Physicians. "Before Stevens, I had little real experience, and now I know I can research a problem, look at the market for a product, and build and test a successful prototype."

 

Meet Stevens' New Student Government Leaders

Fast-approaching the 100^th senate of Stevens’ Student Government Association (SGA), Nick Catania and Abhay Sampath take the helm as newly elected (2011-2012) president and vice president, respectively.  Assuming top position on their agenda is a concerted effort to increase the already robust and diverse representation of clubs and organizations on campus - something that makes Stevens distinct. They aim to position the SGA as a central point of information for extracurricular activities and inspire students to come up with ways to make the Stevens experience even better.

“With almost 100 student-run organizations on campus, there are so many ways to get involved.  You can join media organizations, ethnic and professional societies, sports, Greek life, and so much more.  Students are always starting new clubs and finding new ways to explore their interest," Catania said.  "The funds for these organizations are in the hands of students, and everyone is determined to be successful. There is clearly a great advantage for students here.”

Both Catania and Sampath will be entering their final year as Stevens undergraduates, and they are very excited to be holding their new leadership positions.   These are students who have taken full advantage of opportunities for student involvement at Stevens.  Catania is a double major – engineering physics and music & technology (with a concentration in music composition).  He is also a member of Gear and Triangle, Stevens Jazz Band, Stevens Dramatic Society, and he was on the winning team of the Northeast Regional Ethics Bowl.  Sampath is a Stevens Scholar who will earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in electrical engineering when he graduates in 2012.  He is a former member of the Stevens Honor Board and a member of a number of extracurricular clubs. In addition, this past fall semester (2010), he studied abroad at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

“My study abroad experience was amazing,” Sampath said. “It was one of those college experiences that gets you out of your comfort zone and opens your eyes to different environments, outside of what you learn in the classroom.  This was the first time I had the opportunity to experience new cultures and travel to such remarkable destinations as Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia. I’m happy that Stevens was able to connect me to other parts of the world.”

With most of their undergrad years behind them, Catania - a graduate of Marlboro High School (Marlboro, NY) - and Sampath - a graduate of Middlesex County Academy (Edison, NJ) - look back on their transformation and credit Stevens with helping them become campus leaders.  Stevens’ close-knit community engages students in ways other larger universities cannot.  They say everyone at Stevens is motivated to work together, take on new challenges and make things happen.

Their message to incoming freshmen?  Take advantage of the available opportunities to get involved.  Freshmen, for example, eager to take on new leadership roles, can run for the SGA Senate positions early on in their first semester.  And Pre-Orientation is a great way to be introduced into the community before the school year begins.  It helps many students get a jump start on making new friends and building relations that will last through, and well-beyond, their careers at Stevens.  “We can’t wait to see you at Stevens this fall, and we’re looking forward to getting you started on your new adventure!” Catania said.

The Stevens Summer: Programs for High School Students

July - August 2011

Multimedia Production,  Business, 

or Engineering & Science 

    Each summer, talented high school students from around the world diverge from traditional summer break plans to participate in The Stevens Summer.   Why? 

    Because The Stevens Summer is about challenge, discovery and exploration, in interesting fields of study but also in friendship and fun!  

        

    Add the benefit of Stevens' amazing location, and it's an unbeatable proposition for the summer break.  Living on campus in Hoboken, New Jersey, on the banks of the Hudson River overlooking Manhattan is exciting!      

    If you're a rising junior or senior in high school who is interested in engineering, science, business or multi-media production, The Stevens Summer should be on your radar.  Apply Today!

    Take it from a past participant...                                           

"Every day was a new adventure into the world of engineering. We worked together in labs with professors from the college and met with professionals in the field from large companies like Becton Dickinson and Schering-Plough. One of the most rewarding parts of the program was learning about each specific field in engineering, ranging from mechanical to chemical engineering, through real field lab experience. We also competed in numerous engineering competitions: a programming competition (my group won!), a naval engineering design competition (we sank), and a chemical-biology bubble gum competition (we won - pineapple flavor!), among many others. However, the program brought much more into my life than experience in engineering. It brought me a taste of college life." 

     

Chasing a Sailing Goal

Stevens Graduate Works to Compete in 2012 Olympics

Efe Kuyumcu was seven years old the first time he went sailing. Neighbors at a vacation village where he was with family offered to take the youngster out for an afternoon on the water. When he returned to shore the boy was hooked but it would be another five years before he sailed again.

“I thought about it a lot,” said Kuyumcu, a native of Turkey and recent Stevens graduate. “But the sailing club by us closed down and we soon moved to a different area.”

Fueled by determination and desire when Kuyumcu turned twelve he was able to return to the water. He was named to the Turkish junior national sailing team and competed heavily between 1998 and 2003, winning several prestigious competitions.

Things were moving along smoothly for Kuyumcu until he was grounded with an injury at the age of 18. It was at that time Kuyumcu began thinking about his future. Not only in the sport of sailing, but academically.

That is how he wound up in Hoboken, N.J. along the banks of the Hudson River at Stevens Institute of Technology. He decided to turn his passion for the water into a full-fledged career.

In 2006 he enrolled in the Naval Engineering program at Stevens and graduated this past December with a Bachelor of Science degree. Kuyumcu kept his thoughts in sailing and began a strict exercise regimen to heal his injuries and strengthen himself.

“In the morning I would do endurance exercises like running, cycling, and rowing,” he said. “During the day I would go to class and then have another work out.”

One thing he did not do, however, was sail.  Not only was it going to be difficult to find an Olympic Class Heavyweight sailboat that he could use on a regular basis while living in New Jersey, but also the swift currents of the Hudson River were not conducive for effective training.

So he focused on the exercise and also learned new things about sailing from his courses. Armed with the new information, when Kuyumcu finally got back on the water, he was a stronger, smarter sailor.

“It is now easier for me to understand the water, and make me a bit faster when sailing,” he said of his Naval Engineering knowledge. “Now I can factor in the elements from what I learned at Stevens.”

His hard work paid off and late last year Kuyumcu was re-elected to the Turkish Olympic Sailing Team of 2011. Over the next year and a half Kuyumcu and another athlete will compete and eventually, one will be selected to compete in the 2012 Olympics to be held in London.

While focused on those games, he is also setting his sights on the 2016 Olympics and a chance to represent his country – and Stevens – in Rio de Janeiro

When asked how his life has changed since his recent graduation, Kuyumcu says that he has maintained his exercise schedule only now he uses the time spent in class on the water.

It is when he is out there, alone on the water, that he is most focused these days. “It’s instinct, but it feels right. It’s why I keep going back to it,” he said. “It just feels right.”