Abimbola Akerele

He/Him
Class of 2025
Major: Computer Engineering
High School: School for the Gifted (Abuja, Nigeria)

What inspired you to become a ClarkLEADER?
I am inspired to become a ClarkLEADER because I am passionate about sharing my knowledge and experience with new engineers. It is a great way to challenge myself by meeting incoming students and other current UMD students while gaining leadership skills that will not only be useful through my college career but also my professional career.

If you attended ClarkLEAD as a first-year student, what did you enjoy most about the event?
Although I attended ClarkLEAD as a sophomore and transfer student, the event was highly informative. I enjoyed the part when students talked about stereotypes they faced as engineering students and how the encouragement of diversity and inclusion drastically reduced those stereotypes.

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with new Maryland Engineering students? 
Don't be afraid to seek help when needed, ask for clarification as much as possible and start your work as early as possible.

What are some organizations or extracurricular activities you are involved with on campus?  
Center for Minorities in Science and Engineering, Intramural Soccer, Bethel Campus Fellowship

What is a cool engineering experience you've had? 
One of my coolest experiences which I did not necessary participate in, but I witnessed was when an Undergraduate Teaching Fellow in my ENEE101 (Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering) class used MATLAB codes, an antenna and some other devices to get the information of planes that were in the air at that time. We saw the name, departure location, destination and other information and when we checked online, they corresponded accurately. I have become passionate about MATLAB, and I would like to dig into its potential in my projects.