Stevens Institute of Technology: Admissions Blog

The Business of Technology: Elizabeth Martin Ready for Career in Finance

Consistently, students credit their time at Stevens with preparing them for the next step. Whether it be a challenging class, an inspiring professor, leadership experience in an organization, or exposure to professional, real-world opportunities, students always can cite something formative.

“Standing in the front of a classroom for my first big presentation and doing terribly,” recalls Elizabeth Martin when asked about her stand-out moment. “Since then, I have done everything possible to make sure I never feel like that again whether it be for another presentation, an exam, or an interview. Being prepared and confident is so important to being successful.”

Elizabeth will graduate in May with a degree in Business & Technology and a minor in Quantitative Finance. She received two job offers before accepting a position with Ernst & Young, where she will work in the Technology Advisory Program (TAP) for their Financial Services Office.

“Essentially what I will be doing is technology consulting, visiting different client sites,” Elizabeth explains. “There were a number of factors that made the choice to work for E&Y an easy one. Not to mention the position marries my academic areas of expertise perfectly, placing me within the finance industry but working with technology to optimize business processes.”

The Office of Career Development worked with Elizabeth on building her resume and helping her discover the direction she’d like to take with her career. She says together they made a list of companies to explore and the Office provided guidance on how to land interviews with these organizations. Despite interviewing with several companies, Elizabeth knew right away that Ernst & Young was somewhere she could see herself starting her career.

From Smithtown, NY, Elizabeth was on the Women’s lacrosse team and a member of the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority. She participated in two internships, working first at TIAA-CREF on their pension product transformation effort and the following summer at BlackRock Solutions, a division of BlackRock.

“The B&T program provided a great foundation for me, giving me a technology background with a very specific interest – like finance,” Elizabeth says. “The Office of Career Development is so supportive; I think they were just as excited as I was when I got my offer! It feels really good to know people genuinely care about me succeeding.”

While Elizabeth is excited for her next step, she’s good taking it one step at a time: “I really have no idea where I see my career heading, which is perfect for me right now. It’s exciting. I’m just looking forward to seizing opportunities as they come.”

Internships Yield a Job at Goldman Sachs for Senior Caitlin Early

Caitlin Early’s plans included focusing on internships as soon as she began her college career. She says she started the search at the Fall Career Fair just a few short months into her freshman year at Stevens. Working with the Office of Career Development, Caitlin laid the groundwork for building an impressive resume early on: at that Career Fair, she landed her first internship at AEP in Columbus, Ohio.

When she returned to Stevens as a sophomore, she was presented with the opportunity to attend an information session on campus for Goldman Sachs. After applying and having what she calls “a slightly overwhelming seven interviews,” she got the internship. That summer she was an analyst in the service division on an infrastructure planning team. She returned for a second summer the year after in project controls as a project manager.

After completing her second internship at Goldman Sachs, she received her full-time offer. She accepted the job because she had two great summer experiences with the organization and was confident the role was right for her. Caitlin will be an analyst in the Services Division when she starts in July, though her exact role has not been specified yet.

“That Information Session, hosted by the Office of Career Development, introduced what would be a large part of my life,” Caitlin states. “Who knew it would ultimately lead to my full-time position.”

Caitlin will graduate with a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering, a Master’s in System Engineering, and a graduate certificate in Financial Engineering. On campus she has served as a tour guide, orientation leader, peer mentor, member of Gear and Triangle, President of Eta Kappa Nu, and took advantage of the Study Abroad program. Like Drew, she too hopes to eventually pursue an MBA. 

“I have been provided with more opportunities then I ever expected at Stevens,” Caitlin asserts. “In my four years I was able to not only enjoy my time as an undergraduate on campus and in Hoboken, but I also lived in Ireland for five months while studying abroad. All that and I was still able to complete two degrees and graduate with an amazing job.”

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Extracurriculars and Co-op Lead to Multiple Job Offers for Senior Isaac Cohen

Senior Isaac Cohen took advantage of the Cooperative Education (co-op) program at Stevens. Through the program, he held two co-op assignments: the first as a project engineer at Automated Control Concepts, where he designed and programmed industrial control systems for clients; and the second as a SharePoint Designer with International Flavors and Fragrances.

“In both co-ops, I learned a tremendous amount about the industry and the technologies that were used,” Isaac says. “These co-ops exposed me to the corporate world and taught me how to manage complex projects efficiently. And as a result of such great experiences, I received full-time job offers from both companies.”

In fact, Isaac received five full-time job offers before accepting a position as an Application Developer for JP MorganChase.

“After carefully reviewing my offers, I decided to join JP MorganChase,” states Isaac. “I always had an interest in finance and was excited to start off my career with a job that would allow me to combine my knowledge of financial engineering and programming. The fast-paced environment as well as the high standard of excellence is what attracted me to JPMC.”

Like many of his peers, Isaac credits the Office of Career Development with aiding his job-search process. At the end of his junior year he attended an informal workshop where he was able to speak to seniors who had just gone through the process of acquiring a job. At the beginning of his senior year, he participated in additional workshops to prepare for interviews and perfect his resume. Because of this, he encourages future students to take advantage of the services offered on campus and to join co-op, all of which offered him experiences that set him apart from other candidates. He also recommends getting involved in clubs/organizations on campus to help with personal and professional growth.

Isaac is an Electrical Engineering major with a minor in Computer Engineering. He will also graduate with a certificate in Financial Engineering, and hopes to earn a Master’s in Financial Engineering down the road. He is the president of Hillel (the Jewish cultural group), a member of the Stevens Honor Board, the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society, Eta Kappa Nu electrical and computer engineering honor society, and the Stevens chapter of IEEE, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

It was becoming a member of the Stevens Honor Board that he says truly enriched his college experience. Isaac recently attended a conference in Texas on academic integrity and says:

“The purpose of the trip was to present how the Stevens Honor System works and to see what other schools are doing to promote academic integrity. After reviewing other school’s systems, I had a sense of pride when I grasped how well run and advanced our system is. While other universities were just starting to get students involved in their academic integrity system, we have had a completely student run integrity system for over 100 years!” 

These students exemplify that while the Stevens experience can look different for each individual, several constants exist including the real-world preparation one receives and the stand-out moments that are taken with each and every graduate.

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Stevens Freshmen Jump Right In

The first year of study on any university campus is full of exciting challenges. You discover your passions, hone in on your strengths, find new friends and mentors, and experience tremendous personal and professional growth.

At Stevens, freshman students stand out from the start – intellectually, socially, in the arts and athletics, and within the Hoboken community itself.

Read on about first-year students who took special advantage of the tremendous opportunities at Stevens to excel in every aspect of university life and beyond.

The Leader

Matthew Hunt of Wall Township, N.J. didn’t let his freshman status stop him from running for office. As just a freshman, the Mechanical Engineering major was elected by his fellow students to both the Student Government Association (he is a senator) and the Honor Board (he is co-chair of the Bylaw Committee).

Despite a rigorous academic workload – Hunt is in both the Cooperative Education program and the Stevens Scholars Research Program – he also is extremely active in campus life. He competes on the club volleyball team, serves as a member of the Entertainment Committee, and is rushing for Sigma Nu social fraternity and Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity.

“Something I had decided going into college was that I did not want to look back on my graduation day and think, ‘I could have done more,’” Hunt said. “At Stevens, becoming involved in campus life was not a difficult process at all. It has allowed me to not only make friends on campus, but also to make the most of my experience.”

The Musician

Daniel Aleman of Kearny, N.J. is pursuing a double degree in Engineering Management and Music & Technology. In his free time, he pursues his passion for music by performing with the Stevens jazz and concert bands, working in the pit orchestra for musical theater, and volunteering for WCPR, Stevens’ official radio station. Off campus, he moonlights as a live sound and recording engineer.

“I took the initiative to join things that piqued my interests, but advice from upperclassmen and faculty definitely helped,” he said. “Joining one activity here starts a domino effect; you soon find yourself in a whole slew of stuff.”

He said engaging fully in campus life was an easy way to make the successful transition from high school to college. “The more you get involved and socialize, the more people you will meet and you’ll begin to realize a college campus is more than just a set of buildings and students; it’s another home for you,” he said.

The Athletes

Elena Piper, a Quantitative Finance major from Chesapeake, Va., is on the varsity swimming team at Stevens, which helped her develop new friendships and balance her time between practice, meets, classes, studying, socializing, and a host of other activities, including the Honor Board, the business organization Phi Beta Lamda, and the environmental club S.A.V.E.

“Stevens is the perfect college if you’re worried about the adjustment to a college campus,” Piper said. “Most of my friends are on the varsity swim team but my involvement in the Honor Board as well as other clubs has allowed me to meet new people that I otherwise wouldn’t have.”

Business Technology Management major Gavriella Risman-Jones of New Boston, N.H. came to Stevens after being recruited to join the varsity softball team. In addition to softball, she also works in the Office of Residence Life, and is applying to be a Resident Assistant and tour guide.

“I love the community feel of Stevens,” she said. “My professors and teaching assistants know me and make themselves readily available for extra help. Stevens challenges all students, which will only benefit us in the real world.”

The Renaissance Men

Jacob Vanderbilt of Davis, Cali., a Chemical Engineering major, has a great many interests, and at Stevens he found a way to pursue them all. His charitable side finds ways to give back through the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega and as a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. His inner-leader serves on the student-faculty alliance and organizes student activities through the Entertainment Committee. The athlete in him competes with the Stevens Club Baseball team.

“One of the great things about Stevens is that there are people here who will share your interests,” Vanderbilt said. “I was surprised at how easy it was for me to adjust, especially living over 3,000 miles from home, but Stevens makes it easy. There is so much to do and so many terrific people to meet that you become comfortable quite quickly.”

Charles Shotmeyer of Franklin Lakes, N.J., a Biomedical Engineering major, is also involved in array of groups and activities, including the Student Government Association, the Stevens Club Soccer Team, the Stevens Christian Fellowship, the Biomedical Engineering Society, the College Republicans, and the Stevens Health Professions Club.  

“Due to the size and environment of the campus, I was able to find many people who shared the same interests that I have, while at the same time I was able to try things that were not offered at my high school,” Shotmeyer said. “The possibilities are endless.”

The Performers

Molly Dugan of Morris Plains, N.J. and Trevor Batchelder of Toms River, N.J. spent their freshman years near the stage. Both theater-lovers are members of the Stevens Dramatic Society (SDS), and they have already taken part in several productions.

Dugan, who was in charge of props for the spring musical, is a Mechanical Engineering major who committed to joining the performing arts community during Pre-Orientation, when she met many students who shared her interests, including upperclassmen who encouraged her to join SDS. “Getting involved on campus exposed me to people I may not have been friendly with otherwise,” Dugan said.

In addition to his involvement in SDS, Batchelder also participates in choir and the theater fraternity Theta Alphi Phi. He is also pledging to the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega. “The clubs cover a wide variety of interests and there truly is something for everyone,” said Batchelder, a Chemical Engineering major. “On the off chance that there isn’t, it is easy to create your own club.”

What Can Stevens Be for You?

These Stevens students agree that the freshman experience at Stevens is unique. It is easy to become involved, and there are countless options and opportunities to participate in clubs, activities, sports, fraternities, sororities, academic research and must more. All freshmen need to do is decide what is the best fit for them and then dive right in and take advantage.

“Stevens really does a great job of offering a variety of options for student involvement including clubs, professional associations, volunteer opportunities, fraternities and sororities,” said Holly Nelson, assistant director of Student Life. “As students get involved in one campus group, that one activity will usually lead to meeting other students, making friends, and getting involved with more activities they hear about through their friends. The best thing about being a student at Stevens is that if you can’t find what you’re looking for, you have the opportunity to start a new organization with your peers!”

The Stevens Club Fair – an event which occurs annually each fall semester at which every registered club on campus distributes information, meets with potential members, and answers questions – is one key reason. “Seeing all of the different options was really the moment that I decided I wanted to be as involved as I could be,” Hunt said. “All of the clubs actively welcome new members so it’s easy to join up,” Batchelder added.

Participating in Pre-Orientation and Orientation also greatly assists freshmen in adjusting to college life. “The Pre-Orientation experience made all the difference in the world,” Aleman said. “It gave me a family away from home and was an amazing way to start college.”

“I highly recommend doing pre-orientation,” Risman-Jones added. “I made a lot of friends in those few days who I’m still close with now. I was able to get to know my roommates before classes started, and I was also able to familiarize myself with the school earlier.”  

They also credit Stevens’ relatively small undergraduate population as a huge advantage for freshmen students. “Stevens is just big enough that you are always meeting new people, which is great for a freshman, but it’s small enough that you always run into friends,” Dugan said.

“Being with students who are in the same classes, involved in the same things, and have the same struggles as you was truly what allowed me to persevere through my freshman year,” added Hunt.

Piper said the physical size of the campus is another asset. “I love already knowing where all the buildings are and really feeling like the whole campus is just my big home,” she said. 

Stevens hometown, Hoboken, has also been ranked as one of the nation’s best college town, ensuring freshmen have the world at their fingertips. “There is no better location than Hoboken, and having New York only ten minutes away gives you so many things to do,” said Aleman. “There is plenty to do on campus, in Hoboken, and across the river in New York City,” added Batchelder.

And last, the great people at Stevens are perhaps its biggest advantage to first-year students. “Everyone on campus is extremely friendly and inclusive so I was able to meet upperclassman and other freshman extremely easy,” Shotmeyer said. “I was able to talk with upperclassman that had taken classes before and they were able to give me some pointers.”

“The upperclassmen, and people in general at Stevens, are really friendly and want to get you on the right track both academically and socially,” Vanderbilt said. “This friendliness is what made Stevens my first choice when I was looking at colleges, and it continues to reassure me that I made the right decision.”

“The academics here are top-notch, but it’s the people that make it really special,” added Aleman. 

What advice do these stand-out students have for incoming freshmen? Jump right in and worry about the little things later.

“Keep in mind that the first few weeks of the year will be exciting and nerve-wracking and a little bit scary for everyone, but that’s normal, and as the semester continues you’ll find your niche,” Risman-Jones said.

“Be as open as possible,” Hunt added. “College is what you make it, and if you are open to everything happens, it can and will be one of the best experiences of your entire life.”

“Your first year experience is really about casting a wide net, catching a lot, and keeping what you like,” concluded Vanderbilt. “That way you can continue through your Stevens experience doing things you love with people you enjoy.”

A Connected Network: Senior Jennifer Trinh Ready to Innovate at J&J

What’s one way to stand out in an extremely competitive job market? Have a documented resume of experience and established connections. Biomedical Engineering major Jennifer Trinh has parlayed her knowledge, cooperative education (co-op) experience, and the Stevens alumni network into a great job offer while finishing up her senior year. Jennifer will graduate in May with her B.E. in Biomedical Engineering as well as a Project Management graduate certificate. Her focus and ambition, coupled with opportunities for professional practice at Stevens, helped her secure the position she wanted.

“Stevens provided me with the career, leadership and networking opportunities necessary to gain an advantage. The Cooperative Education program that helped me secure two eight-month long assignments where I made critical workflow improvements and developed training guidelines for my companies,” Jennifer describes. “For my final summer experience, I decided to seek my own internship at J&J and worked closely with the Office of Career Development and Stevens alumni. In this internship, I built a strong network of more than 10 Stevens alumni from Ethicon and J&J IT, some of whom were already my mentors in college.”

Though it was the internship at Johnson & Johnson that directly led to her full-time offer with Depuy Syntheses in their prestigious Information Technology Leadership Development Program (ITLDP), her co-op experiences at Stryker Orthopaedics and Jarchem Industries, Inc. also prepared her for starting her first rotation as an Associate Analyst with project management duties. A two-year rotational program offering leadership development in both business and technology, the ITLDP is a perfect place for Jennifer, whose goal is to work for a healthcare company that specializes in clinical research, healthcare education, medical technology and service to the community.

Despite participating in many activities, Jennifer credits Greek Life as a standout experience during her time at Stevens: “In Fall 2009, I joined a small local sorority where the women were ambitious and one-of-a-kind. Its diverse sisterhood shared the same values as mine: friendship, loyalty, and love. It has been most rewarding because of the opportunities to meet new people, take on leadership roles, participate in Greek social events, and serve as a mentor for young women. More recently, I had the honor of bringing my sorority to national status by chartering the Gamma Chi Chapter of Theta Phi Alpha Fraternity and expanding its network to over 25,000 collegians and alumnae – not many people can put that on their resume!”

Looking ahead, Jennifer says she would like to spearhead future medical technology education programs for professionals like the Ethicon Professional Education program and complete a Master’s degree in Project Management. She urges other students to bring their own brand of “value-added” to everything they do, as each individual makes the world a better place with their bright ideas.

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Student's Gaming Humor Web Comic is Entrepreneurial Success

More than 1,600 fans have pledged more than $75,000 to support the development of a printed book of comics by Stevens student Katie Tiedrich, the under-the-radar Internet celebrity responsible for Awkward Zombie, a gaming humor web comic with a significant online following.

“My comic has gotten much more attention than I thought it would and that is really exciting for me,” said Tiedrich, a self-taught artist from Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y. who first published Awkward Zombie online when she was only 15-years-old. 

Tiedrich is a Mechanical Engineering major entering her fourth of five years in Stevens’ Cooperative Education (Co-op) program. She said she was first drawn to art and cartoons as a young child trying to emulate her father’s own humorous sketches. A renaissance woman with an eclectic mix of interests – Nintendo, paleontology and robotics, to name just a few – she started Awkward Zombie “just for fun.”

“My research consists of playing video games, which is a lot of fun,” Tiedrich said. “I’m a born-nitpicker, and basically I just make observations about video games – which never make sense – and point out the things I find funny.”

Tiedrich’s content – which she creates in Macromedia Flash 7 using a Wacom tablet – immediately resonated with the gaming community, who love her Seinfeld-esque observational sense of humor and aptitude for poking fun at their favorite video games. After five years of production she now draws between 100,000 and 120,000 visitors to her site each Monday when she posts each week’s new entry.

Tiedrich said she spends between four and 10 hours per week creating Awkward Zombie, but she was interested in doing even more. This year, she decided to create a full-color compilation book of her first 100 comics – an undertaking that would require resources that she did not have. So, Tiedrich turned to Kickstarter, a crowd-sourcing funding platform that allows backers to pledge money to support the development of a product.

“Kickstarter takes away the middleman between a creator and her audience,” said Tiedrich. “I like it because if you have a good product, it will get funded.”

Initially Tiedrich set a goal to raise about $8,000 to cover the costs of printing the books and mailing them out to readers. But her campaign turned out to be hugely popular. With just a few days left until the close, Tiedrich has pre-sold more than 1,000 copies, and the more than $75,000 in pledges she has raised will allow her to also publish hard-cover editions, create specialized copies with personalized cartoons for her largest donors, and include other special features. She plans to complete the project in the fall with the help of Stevens students and friends who have signed on as software developers, programmers, print consultants and distributors.

Tiedrich is blown away by the success of Awkward Zombie, but at this point she doesn’t see it as a career.

“Awkward Zombie was really created without a future in mind, and it’s hard to think about a time when I’d stop producing it,” Tiedrich said. “But I’m also looking forward to beginning my career as an engineer.”

Along with her cousework and Co-op internships, Tiedrich said her experience with Awkward Zombie is a huge asset as she enters the workforce.

“As essentially the owner of a small business, I’ve learned a lot about marketing, planning, finance, operations, etc.,” she said. “Creating Awkward Zombie has also given me a lot of practice in engineering design and I know for sure that it’s something I enjoy doing.

Learn more about Awkward Zombie at www.awkwardzombie.com and Tiedrich’s Kickstarter campaign at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/802102307/awkward-zombie-volume-one.

Check out the video of a recent conversation with Katie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNxnIQ-YAYI&feature=relmfu

 

 

 

Spotlight on Transfer Students

Former Cornell University student-athlete and applied economics & management major Ryan Bridge entered Stevens as a transfer student after four years of active duty in Anah, Iraq.

A high school two-time New Jersey state champion wrestler, All-American, and academic high achiever, Ryan's acceptance to Cornell was not surprising. But his decision to leave the university early to join the U.S. Marine Corps, perhaps.

Ryan said joining the Marines was something he did out of a strong desire to serve the country's efforts at the time. And it didn't take long for his choice to earn the pride and respect of his family. He committed wholeheartedly to the stressful demands of his life as a Marine, rising to squad leader in his deployment to one of the most volatile areas in the War in Iraq.

Transitioning back to life in the U.S. wasn't easy, but getting back to undergraduate studies and wrestling was something Ryan gladly pursued. Ryan said it would have been much harder without the help of the Stevens Veterans Office and the Yellow Ribbon Program, an enhancement to the GI Bill that provides tuition assistance to qualified veterans.

Drawn to its location, size and offerings, Ryan continued to excel at Stevens. In the two seasons he competed as a wrestler, he earned a 32-7 career record. He qualified twice for the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships and All-America status both years he went to the tournament. Ryan finished fifth and seventh, respectively, in his two seasons. He was also selected as an Academic All-America and was a President's List Scholar.

A Business & Technology major, Ryan said one of the highlights of his career here was being able to apply what he learned in the classroom to real-life situations, and pointed to one project in particular. Ryan was one of four students who helped the Kortney Rose Foundation (KRF), a nonprofit organization that raises awareness of pediatric brain cancer and supports disease research and prevention efforts, improve its operational functions and ensure that its series of annual fundraisers are effective.

Ryan redesigned the KRF’s business systems and helped the KRF on the financial end with the creation of reports and strategic planning. Like many Stevens students, Ryan was eager to make a real difference, in this case fighting a devastating disease. “Brain tumors affect a lot of children,” he said. “I believe the Kortney Rose Foundation is a great program and can really help.”

His road to Stevens may be considered a path less traveled. But it is one that certainly matched his commitment to education and impacting the world. Set to graduate from Stevens this month and begin graduate studies here in the Business Intelligence and Analytics program, Ryan continues to face a bright future, ready for the challenges that lie ahead, he said. There is no doubt Ryan will fully seize the opportunity.

 

Natalie Schloeder began her college career at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) as an aerospace engineering major but soon felt it wasn't a good fit, mainly because she longed to study in a location that offered a more diverse setting.

Natalie had been accepted to Stevens but had chosen to attend RPI because Stevens didn't offer an aerospace engineering degree. Everything else about Stevens was a great match, she said.

She transferred to Stevens' mechanical engineering program after her first semester at RPI, and quickly embraced the University's rich offerings. In her time at Stevens, she was a member of Stevens' concert band (alto sax) and served as Editor in Chief of The Stute (Stevens' student newspaper), captain of the women's tennis team and student athlete for the team for four years, and, with the encouragement of a classmate, a character in the Stevens production of Assassins.

She also took advantage of Stevens' proximity to top companies and employers, taking on an internship at Turner Construction Company, which is headquartered in New York City. She worked as a pre-construction intern for the concept and design of the Brooklyn Nets Arena.

What's more, Natalie didn't have to abandon aerospace engineering, a passion that ignited many years earlier in middle school. "Aerospace engineering is a concentration of mechanical engineering," she said. "And what I learned and experienced as a mechanical engineering student at Stevens propelled me right along the path I'd aimed for." Natalie is currently a graduate/doctoral student of aerospace engineering at Georgia Tech, leading research and problem-solving in the University's High Power Electric Propulsion Lab, specifically in designing ion engine thrusters for deep space missions.

The work she does in the lab requires being able to deliver viable solutions for contracted clients, which includes studying the problem and specifications, creating a design, and delivering it. "Essentially, I'm not just creating a solution, but the best answer to the problem, which works for the client and continues to attract funding for our work," she said.

Natalie gives kudos to Stevens for providing a wide breadth of extracurricular activities that enhance students' experiences and are also opportunities to learn how to multi-task. Maintaining good grades at a competitive school while enjoying activities outside the classroom requires creating a process to manage time well, and this was a key to her success, she said.

She also points to Stevens' Design Spine, a unique series of eight core design courses followed by a capstone, two-semester senior design project, as a significant advantage to students. "This design concentration throughout all my years at Stevens was extremely valuable," Natalie said. "The opportunity to create goals and timelines, think critically, solve open-ended questions, work collaboratively...it's all real-life training." She recently encountered a challenge in one of her projects and fell back on what she'd learned at Stevens to work through it, she added.

With her sights on innovating deep space exploration and on solid course to get there, Natalie has the universe at her feet. In this case, that's not just a metaphor.

Dominic Catalano began his college career at Binghamton University and then Tompkins Courtland Community College, where he earned an associates degree in engineering science before entering Stevens as a transfer student to pursue mechanical engineering.

Dominic customized his Stevens education with concentrations in automotive engineering as well as product design and manufacturing. For a number of reasons, it's no surprise that he's a member of the senior design team that took on the challenge of designing a Formula-style race car. 

The Formula SAE design competition is organized by the Society of Automotive Engineers, simulating what happens when a manufacturing company contracts design teams to develop a race car. Students prototype race cars that are judged on their potential for production for non-professional autocross racers. The teams must design, build, and test their prototypes under a certain criteria and rule-set that ensures on-track safety and promotes unique problem solving.

As part of the Formula SAE team at Stevens, Dominic was able to experience real-life work in an automotive engineering business environment, including research, design, manufacturing, testing, developing, marketing, management, and even fund raising. Cultivating alumni donations and business sponsorships is all part of the process, Dominic said. Click Here to see last year's Formula SAE car.

With several years of track and field experience both at Binghamton and Tompkins Courtland, Dominic fully embraces the competitive spirit on another level. He helped advance the Stevens track and field team as a student athlete for the last year remaining in his NCAA eligibility. And he competed in his first Iron Man at Lake Placid, New York, last year, finishing the race in just over 13 hours. Biking and running track and field for Stevens helped him train for the event, a regiment well worth juggling with a full schedule of studies and other activities, he added. "You just find time for what you're passionate about," Dominic said. "Even to the point of losing a little sleep." 

His advice to incoming students? "Stay organized. And schedule time for involvement in multiple groups." Dominic said. "But be careful not to spread yourself too thin. Choose a passion or two and then organize your time around that. This is hard when there's a lot to pursue and you have this feeling that if you're not involved, you might lose out on something. But it's important to find a balance, and over time, you do."

Moving on after graduation to graduate studies in mechanical engineering here at Stevens, Dominic is revving up for further research in combustion engines and designing efficiency for automotive applications. He looks forward to what the future holds at Stevens, but in the meantime, he's off to Nebraska with the Formula SAE team to race.

What might you experience at Stevens? The deadline for applying to Stevens as a transfer student is July 1. Click Here for more details.

 

 

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.

Internships: Each One, a Unique Journey

Every college student has heard of the importance of internships: gaining real-world experience, making valuable professional contacts, putting into practice what you’re studying, all in the hopes of standing out to future employers and landing a dream job at graduation. While all of that is true, students rarely are told that internships can also be exciting and fun, and that the development and growth isn’t only professional - it's personal, too.

Stevens is extremely successful in connecting students to summer internships with many of the world's leading companies. The Office of Career Development has relationships with hundreds of companies who recruit Stevens students precisely because of our students' track record for helping companies achieve their corporate goals.

Daniel Schaffer completed his first internship after his freshman year at Stevens. A Computer Science major set to graduate in 2014, he attended a Career Fair hosted by the Office of Career Development with the intention of securing an opportunity with an investment bank working in technology. He approached the representative from UBS and during the conversation mentioned his background in creating applications for iPhones. Though UBS typically doesn’t take interns earlier than students in their junior year, they hired Dan, who became their youngest intern ever.

“I work hard but I also got a bit lucky with my background,” Dan states. “It’s hot right now – everyone wants iPhone apps.”

UBS was no exception. While there, Dan was one of the only interns to have very specific tasks for the summer. He wrote several iPhone apps for them, including a Mobile Directory of the entire organization that he was able to demo in front of the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Chief Information Officer (CIO), two of the top executives in the company.

“At the end of the summer, there was an intern commencement ceremony, and about 1,000 interns from around the country were gathered together via conference,” Dan says. “When the CIO spoke, she called me out directly to thank me for my help with the app project and said publicly that she hopes I’ll come back and work for them again. It was such a great experience!”

Needless to say, when UBS offered Dan an internship for this coming summer, he jumped at the chance.

Some internships develop even further and eventually become full-time career opportunities.

“I’ve been working at the Macquarie Group for three years,” says Alex Hieronymi. “I started as an intern the summer after freshman year, stayed on part-time during the school years and went back full-time in the summers. Now they’ve offered me a job, so I will join the company as a full-time employee after graduation.”

Alex, a Cybersecurity major who will graduate in May this year, originally found out about this opportunity through the Cooperative Education program. His first internship required him to work on a website that calculated financial predictions, and the project was still going when the summer ended. They asked him to stay on to complete the project, and he has been part of Macquarie ever since.

“I’ve worked on two teams: the Desktop Support Team and the Service, Design & Development Team,” Alex states. “I’ve traveled to Boston, Philladelphia and Miami, helping to fix problems and integrate desktops.”

What he’s accomplished has paid off, and in May, Alex will continue to be a key member of the teams he works with. He credits his Cybersecurity background with allowing him to take everything a step further by keeping security in mind during his day-to-day tasks.

Sara Pacella, a Mechanical Engineering major who will also graduate in 2012, had a different experience during her internship at Hamilton Sundstrand. Though she values what she learned while there, it helped to validate what she really wants to do after graduation.

“I worked in mergers & acquisitions doing research on potential companies, their products, potential synergies and what contracts were already in place,” she explains. “It was a very positive experience but more on the business side. I definitely want a career where I can use my Mechanical Engineering background.”

She was introduced to this opportunity by a colleague at her part-time job who connected her with a Stevens alum employed by Hamilton Sundstrand. Sara values networking and does take away some additional lessons from her internship experience:

“There was a lot of teamwork and meetings in my group. I got to work on projects that were very meaningful to the organization. It was really interesting to witness firsthand how people in the real world work on teams and come together to get a job done.”

Sometimes internships allow students to fuse together more than one interest. For senior Kelsey Reynolds, her experience at Integra LifeSciences did just that.

“I am very interested in Marketing, but also Science. That’s why I love the Business & Technology program at Stevens – I get the best of both worlds!” Kelsey asserts.

She discovered the internship at Integra while looking for marketing/business opportunities in the medical devices and pharmaceutical industries. During the interview process, she was asked to put together a thorough business analysis and present it, and she credits the business and research background she’s received in Dr. George Calhoun’s classes with helping her land the job. 

Working in the Orthobiologics department, Kelsey says she learned a lot about the company’s products, what marketing claims were being made, how to investigate competitors and how to help the sales force. She was able to use her business education in this role and liked that she was exposed to all aspects of the process – she says she felt like much more than an intern.

This internship, which she completed in the summer of 2011, led to her current internship, where she’s working with a small start-up medical devices firm on investor presentations and website development. Kelsey isn’t sure where she’ll be after graduation this May but is investigating opportunities with both Integra and her current firm.

“What I do know is that I want to stay in the medical devices industry, hopefully becoming a product manager,” Kelsey says. “I really love promoting and growing product offerings in the healthcare industry.”

Every internship experience is different, but each holds its own value and lessons. Whether it’s helping to secure a full-time job down the road, emphasizing what you really love (or reminding you what you don’t!), or just adding another key work experience to a resume, internships help students learn and grow… and many times enjoy themselves in the process.

The Freshman Experience at Stevens

Hello college-bound friends! We recently had the opportunity to speak with a number of freshmen about their first year here at Stevens and thought you would like to know what a few of them shared.

There are so many factors in considering which college will be a good fit for you, and we know that you are most likely juggling a lot of college information in addition to staying on top of your high school course load, extracurricular activities, and other college preparation. We hope reading what some of our freshmen have to say will give you insight and perhaps some relief in your process of exploring Stevens as an option, especially if you are wondering what it is like once you’re a student here!

Tom Cruz is a computer engineering major who was sold, he said, on Stevens early on in his college search, and especially once he visited campus. He applied through Early Decision, was accepted, and got a head start on meeting fellow freshman by enrolling in the Outdoor Adventure Pre-orientation Program offered right before freshman orientation. “I went backpacking and had the time of my life,” he said. “Hiking the Adirondack Mountains with my future classmates created a bond that will last a lifetime. Coming back to campus with a group of friends I’d made during Pre-orientation made for an easy transition to the beginning of my college career. As the semester commenced, I got involved with many clubs on campus, including the Latin American Association, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), and the Entertainment Committee. I also ran for Senator of the Student  Government Association (SGA) and was one of fourteen who won the election.” During his first semester here, Tom also got the opportunity to attend a SHPE conference in Anaheim, California, which included seminars on leadership and professionalism and a career fair at which companies were recruiting students for internships and co-op jobs. “I take pride in being a Stevens student,” he added. “My first semester in college was full of great memories that will stay with me forever, and I know there will be many more in store for me in the semesters to come.”

Carolina Pelaez is a chemical engineering major from Union City High School Academy for Enrichment and Advancement. She said her favorite thing about her first semester at Stevens has been learning how to balance schoolwork and other things that are important to her. “I managed to handle school, friends, family, and extracurricular activities,” she said. “It’s important to get a solid grip on how to handle all these aspects of the college experience. I imagine it’s only going to get more challenging each semester, and it wouldn’t be to my advantage at all if I only learned how to manage the coursework. We all need activities outside the classroom, and at Stevens, it's easy to get involved in all that the university has to offer. No matter what you're interested in, there's something for you.”  

Sean Balanon is a music and technology major who said he appreciates having been able to meet and learn more about his fellow music and technology classmates and his professors during freshman orientation. Like Tom, Sean also participated in Pre-orientation. He chose the Performing Arts option and along with 20 other freshmen got to write and rehearse a show that they performed for the school. “We took theatre workshops in which we learned about acting, dancing, and what goes on behind the scenes of a stage production, like sound, lighting and music,” he said. “We also jumped over to New York City to take a tour of Lincoln Center, the world’s leading performing arts center. Of course the experience wouldn’t be complete without seeing a Broadway show or two. We saw the revival of RENT at the New World Stages theatre, and How to Succeed in Business starring Daniel Radcliffe.” Sean added that his freshman experience has been fantastic. “As a music and technology major, I’m learning everything that I want to and need to from the courses I’m taking. The environment is great. Being situated so close to New York City is truly amazing. The Manhattan skyline is breathtaking, and there are so many things to do on and off campus. There is never a dull moment!”

Allison Outwater is majoring in both civil engineering and mechanical engineering. As you can probably guess, pursuing dual majors means she’s highly dedicated to her studies. That doesn't take her away, however, from other activities. “I’m originally from Wall Township High School in central New Jersey. Stevens is a huge change from high school for me, but it has been a very good change," she said. "I’ve joined the Society of Women Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers, Engineers Without Borders, the Stevens Dramatic Society, Silkscreeners (a T-shirt making group), and the Entertainment Committee, student group that plans many of the large events on  campus. Through each of these groups, I have met a vast group of people and become close to so many different kinds of people. I chose Stevens for the amazing opportunities here and the close-knit community. I wanted the chance to be seen as more than a number.” Reflecting on her first semester, Allison said she “fell in love” with Stevens even more so once she got here. “For all the reasons I chose Stevens and because of what I’ve experienced first-hand now as a student – the coursework and resources, the student life, the great faculty – I’m very pleased.”

Like Sean said, there really is never a dull moment at Stevens. To learn more, visit www.stevens.edu or speak to an Admissions staff member at 800.STEVENS. We are always happy to assist!