UMD has a highly ranked engineering program and offers many different opportunities. During my college search, I attended multiple in-person and virtual events for UMD’s materials science program, where I learned more about the major, what I would be studying, and had the chance to meet some of the faculty. All of this, combined with Maryland's geographical location in the DMV area, made attending the University of Maryland a clear choice!

 

In my first semester at UMD, I took ENES100, a student-favorite class. I worked with a team of seven other students to build an autonomous vehicle designed to complete a set of tasks. Designing and testing the vehicle with this team was an incredible way to start my college career. Working on the project both in-class and out-of-class was extremely fun and memorable. ENES100 is taught by some of the best professors in the Clark School, giving me a great first impression of the faculty who helped nurture and expand our project ideas.

 

ENMA300: Introduction To Materials Engineering

 

MATH241: Calculus III

 

College Park Scholars: Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
Representative for STS on the Student Advisory Board for College Park Scholars Program
MatES
President of the Aquarist Association (aquarium/fish club)
 Lifeguard and Aquatic Supervisor at Eppley Recreation Center
 

The First Look Fair and Second Look Fair, held every fall and spring semester respectively, are my favorite events of the year. Tons of student organizations and clubs come out to showcase their groups. I’ve brought my own club to the event a few times, and I absolutely love interacting with students and connecting with those who share an interest in the aquarium hobby.

 

In ENMA180, I had the freedom to explore various topics within the materials science major and write a small research paper. I chose to dive into nuclear fusion, which I initially didn’t have much interest in—but I believe you should never close the door to any opportunities, as it could become your career one day. During my research, I studied the progress toward achieving nuclear fusion on Earth and the next steps, which involve developing materials or devices to store the energy generated from the intense fusion reactions. It was exciting to learn about the real-world engineering and science behind these challenges, and I even had the opportunity to consult with some of UMD’s MSE professors who specialize in nuclear energy to deepen my understanding of the topic.

 

In ENES100, I served as one of the primary designers for our vehicle. I was able to build on my CAD skills from high school to model and construct various parts and systems. I had the opportunity to use the newly renovated wood machine shop to cut out parts for the base, and I also utilized 3D printers to rapidly prototype components that would mount on top. Along the way, I encountered some challenges but adapted our design to overcome them. I was incredibly proud of our final product and enjoyed pointing out the different systems and how they performed their specific tasks during our end-of-semester showcase event.