Clark School Student Ambassador
Savannah Vogel
Class of 2014
Major: Bioengineering
Minor: Pre-med (Track)
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
High School: Towson High School
What Made You Decide to Attend UMD?
I decided to attend the University of Maryland because of its size, location and prestige. I like that the University is so large, there is always so much going on, and there are so many ways to get involved. The location appealed to me because it is far enough away from home, yet close enough that I can still go home when I want. Also, the University of Maryland is close to DC, so there are many opportunities for internships and co-ops. The main reason I chose Maryland was because of its high-ranking engineering program. The A. James Clark School of Engineering has continuously ranked among the best in public undergraduate engineering schools, so I knew that the bioengineering program at Maryland would have the rigor and discipline that I wanted.
Best Experience with a Class or Project:
My favorite experience with a class so far has been in my Statics (ENES102) class. In groups of five, we had to build a bridge that could hold up to 2,000 pounds. The group that I had worked very well together, which made the project a lot easier and more fun to complete. I liked that we were completely on our own to make decisions about the bridge, such as which type of wood we wanted to use and how we wanted to design the gusset plates. Our bridge wasn’t able to hold 2,000 pounds, but I learned a lot about effective decision-making, planning, and working with a team.
Favorite Class:
In major: General Physics: Mechanics and Particle Dynamics (PHYS161)
In non-major: Academic Writing (ENGL101S)
Involvements/Extracurricular Activities:
Women in Engineering (WIE)
QUEST Honors Program - Quality Enhancement Systems and Teams
SEEDS Mentoring Program
Engaging Engineers in Scholarship Fellows Program
Society of Biological Engineers
Alpha Omega Epsilon
Favorite On-Campus Event:
MARYLAND DAY!
Cool Engineering Experience:
I was able to attend the 2011 National Academy of Engineering Awards Ceremony. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience as I was able to listen to speeches from some of the most renowned engineers in the world. It opened my eyes to the difference that bioengineers can make, and has encouraged me to continue pursuing an engineering degree.