Emmett Aler
Class of 2023
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Hometown: Catonsville, MD
High School: Catonsville High School

What Made You Decide to Attend UMD?
I grew up a Maryland fan. The university has a fantastic engineering program and offers aerospace engineering as a major, which isn't always offered. Maryland is a big school with a lot of activities and events to get involved and meet people. Since I grew up in Maryland, the university is "in-state" and not too far away from home.
Best Experience with a Class or Project
The final project for ENES 100 was cool, but since I took the class online during my sophomore year it wasn't as fun as the in-person terrain robot project. Regardless, working in a team to devise an innovative solution to the pandemic was a cool engineering experience.
Favorite Class In Major (ENES 100: Introduction to Engineering Design)
ENAE 324: Aerospace Structures
Favorite Class Out of Major (KNES370: Motor Development)
FIRE 298: FIRE Semester 3
Student Organizations/Extracurricular Activities
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
Aerocorps
Men's Club Soccer
Favorite On-Campus Event
Basketball games
Favorite Research or Study Abroad Experiences
I participated in the AEROS program this past summer, where I studied the heat transfer process of a pulsed combustion unit. I am still researching during the semester with a graduate student under Dr. Alison Flatau.
Cool Engineering Experience
The final project for ENES 100 was cool, but since I took the class online during my sophomore year it wasn't as fun as the in-person terrain robot project.
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