The College of Engineering Dean's Team is a prestigious group of highly motivated, dedicated, and outgoing undergraduate students who assist the College of Engineering with its recruiting efforts.
Dean's Team holds dailyinformation sessions at 11:15 a.m. for prospective engineering students, meet with prospective students individually while they are visiting Blacksburg, and assist at many events including Engineering Open House, Admissions Open Houses, and Hokie Focus. Away from Blacksburg, they also travel to college fairs and other recruiting events throughout Virginia and neighboring states.
New Dean's Team members are selected by current Dean's Team through an application process and interviews. The application for new members for the 2013-2014 academic year will be due in March 23rd, 2013.
Andrew A
Newport News, VA
Construction Engineering and Management
3rd
Greg A
Stone Mountain, GA
Ocean Engineering with a minor in Naval Engineering
5th
Student Transition into Engineering Program (STEP); Kappa Alpha Psi
Homeland Security, Surface Force Logistics Center(SFLC)
Grad School, or working at SFLC. Decisions decisions...
I love talking about my major and the University as a whole
The atmosphere during football season and the weather before November
Water is a non compressible flow.. Trust me, it makes life easier
I'm a BOAT load of fun...ha get it?
Deirdre B
Springfield, VA
BS Electrical Engineering, History Minor
3rd
IEEE, Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi, Newman Community
Naval Research Laboratory; General Motors
I'm planning on either earning my Master's in EE or pursuing a career in the intelligence/national security sector.
When I visited, I fell in love with the atmosphere, campus, and attitude of the other students. Then, to top off my amazing experience, the reputation of the engineering program couldn't be ignored. Thus, I became a Hokie!
The campus. Maroon and orange everywhere. The food. The football games. The professors. The students. The Hokie Spirit. Everything!
I love the lab/lecture combo. We'll learn a theory in class and later implement it in our labs. It really helps me grasp some of the more complex sides of electromagnetism.
Jasmine B
Materials Science and Engineering; Green Engineering Minor
2nd
Emily C
Oak Hill, Virginia
Mechanical Engineering; Naval Engineering Minor
3rd
Galipatia Leadership Team, FIRST Lego League, Alpha Omega Epsilon
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division
I plan on continuing to work for the Navy while pursuing my master's in Systems Engineering.
FOOTBALL! Actually, I came because of the "hands on, minds on approach" to engineering. Being able to not only learn the theory, but see how it is applied has helped me be more successful. I also loved how Tech is a big school with the resources of a small school. I've never felt like I'm just a number.
My favorite thing about VT is the Hokie spirit. There aren't many places were it is acceptable to wear orange and maroon together on a daily basis.
I'm a founding member of the Capital Girls FIRST Lego League team. When I was competing, the state tournament was held each year at Tech. The amazing faculty and students I met convinced me I wanted to be a Hokie. I've stayed involved through coaching, judging, and coordinating tournament volunteers. This will be my 11th year involved with the program!
Michelle C
Centreville, VA
Biological Systems Engineering
6th
American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (Alpha Epsilon); Alpha Phi Omega, a National Co-Ed Service Fraternity
REU in Davis, CA (2010) and Lincoln, NE (2011)
Study of baculovirus stability under various storage conditions; Design of an Anaerobic Digester for Methane Production from Brewery Waste; The Impact of Elevated CO2 on Lipid and Starch Accumulation in Chlorella sorokiniana cultures; Analysis of Lipid Accumulation in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii RNAi Mutants Defective in Transcription Factor Expression
After graduating with my masters, I plan to get a job in the pharmaceutical industry.
I loved the beautiful campus and how welcoming everyone was when I visited!
I <3 Hokie Football and the welcoming Hokie Community
There are many career options in Biological Systems Engineering, from pharmaceutical research to biofuels to stream restoration. I love putting biology and engineering together to help solve today's problems.
Chad D
Laurel Springs, NJ
Industrial and Systems Engineering
Tiffany E
Norfolk, Virginia
Industrial and Systems Engineering, 2013
5th
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Expressions, Hypatia, Student Transition Engineering Program (STEP), CEED Mentoring Program
Verzion, Federal Network Systems
Full time position at Verizon
Virginia Tech has a lovely campus and so many opportunities.
Football games and the food!!!
Being able to do something I love, which is improving a system, and being able to develop good relationships with my professors and advisor.
Taylor E
Pittsburgh, PA
BS Industrial and Systems Engineering, 2015
2nd
The Outdoors Club at Virginia Tech, Hypatia Living and Learning Community, Gamma Beta Phi Honors Society
After graduation, I would like to work for a few years before returning to school and pursuing an MBA. Between finishing my undergraduate and starting my career however, I dream of biking across the country to raise money for cancer through '4K for Cancer'.
I chose Virginia Tech not only because of the amazing engineering program but also because of the almost tangible spirit here in Blacksburg. The Hokies are one big football family. The menu made my decision a cake walk.
My favorite things about Virginia Tech are the spirit and the food. Seeing maroon and orange everywhere you walk, along with hearing 'Let's go... Hokies!' cheers, can turn my entire day around. On the same note, so can a great meal at Owen's Dining Hall.
I think the coolest thing about Industrial and Systems Engineering is how widely applied it is in the professional world. Almost every successful company has a high up ISE it seems.
LET'S GO HOKIES!
Cole E
Martinsville, VA
BS Computer Science; Math Minor; Music Technology Minor
3rd
Marching Virginians, VT Gaming Project, Linux Laptop Orchestra
Virginia Tech was the only school I wanted to attend. It was the perfect distance from home, it has a reputation for a great engineering program, and I've always been a Virginia Tech sports fan.
The food, weather, scenery, and most importantly, people! While this school may be large, it is a tightly knit group of people that always come together for one another in times of need.
The coolest thing about Computer Science is I can do just about anything I want to with it. With today's society becoming more dependent on technology, my major can have an application to just about any environment, so it gives a lot of room for people of different interests.
Drumming takes a major portion of my spare time, and I love being outdoors...when it's warm!
Edi E
Warrenton, Virginia
Industrial and Systems Engineering with minors in Green Engineering and Business
3rd
National Society of Black Engineers and Hypatia
I worked for John Deere Power Products in Greeneville, TN as a Manufacturing Engineering Co-Op
I knew I wanted to stay in-state and I wanted to do Industrial Engineering. Virginia Tech was the best option to fulfill that, plus the Hokie spirit and community is awesome.
Some of my favorite things about VT are the beautiful campus, amazing food, great sport teams, varieties of extracurricular activities to be involved in and our top notch academic programs, especially within engineering.
Being an ISE major opens so many opportunities and paths too choose from once graduating. It can take you to so many different industries such as the health or airline industry and bring you various roles ranging from being a consultant to being a plant manager.
Marcus F
Richmond, Virginia
BS Civil Engineering
4th
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE); Steel Bridge Team; Student Transition Engineering Program (STEP); Galileo
I worked at Dominion VA Power and my primary job was to draft plans for underground power lines.
Research Assistant for Dr. Cris Moen; Steel Bridge Design Team
Will apply to Graduate School at Virginia Tech to study Structural Engineering
Because I love the program and most of all the people!
I love everything about VT
Being able to build buildings and infrastructure that can help people in need.
Alex F
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Chemical Engineering
5th
The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta; American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE); Omega Chi Epsilon
I had a co-op with Eastman Chemical Company and worked three terms in plant process improvement in the areas of Wastewater Treatment, Intermediates, and Polymers. I also worked one term in pricing of performance chemicals and intermediates.
I was able to the Chemical Engineering Unit Operations Lab along with 30 other Virginia Tech students and others from different universities in the United States at the Technical University of Denmark. It was a 4 week program and one of the greatest experiences I'v had in college.
I performed research involving the thermolysis of animal waste for fuel production in Biological Systems Engineering department.
I plan to go directly into industry as a process engineer.
The campus, the food, and of course Hokie Football and Basketball!
William F
Maurertown, Virginia
B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering
7th
ASME; Autonomous Aerial Vehicle Team; Pi Tau Sigma; Folk and Bluegrass Club; NRHH; RA for Galileo, Pritchard, and New Hall West communities.
Naval Oceanographic Office; National Robotics Engineering Center
Autonomous Aerial Vehicle Team
I love Virginia Tech because we have the best people in the world. I've met my best friends here, and our student body contains the smartest, hardest working, and most down to earth people I know. I also love being in the mountains, and most importantly, Hokie football.
I get to build awesome robots.
Alex G
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Electrical Engineering
4th
I studied at the University of Sheffield. I took electrical engineering core classes as well as a math class.
I plan to attend law school and thereafter, focus on patent law.
I chose electrical engineering because electronics are the foundation of the modern world. As such, I believe that an EE degree will continue to be in high demand for the foreseeable future. It helps me comprehend the new and changing world we live in today, which is radically different than even 50 years ago.
Marissa G
Wake Forest, North Carolina
Double majoring in Chemical Engineering in Chemistry with a minor in Green Engineering minor
2nd
Hypatia; Society of Women Engineers (SWE); and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
I chose Virginia Tech because it is in a town that is completely dedicated to the university, the food is fabulous, and I felt as though the engineering department was far better than other schools I was considering for various reasons.
Julia H
Lawrenceville, New Jersey
BS Civil Engineering, 2013
3rd
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Constructors' Consortium, ASC/AGC 2011 Region II Heavy Civil Competition - 1st Place, Newman Catholic Campus Ministry, Cru Christian Campus Ministry
Forrester Construction Company, Project Engineer Intern, Summer 2012, Skanska Koch, Field Engineer Intern and Estimator Intern, January 2012 and Summer 2011 (respectively)
Undergraduate Research Assistant to Dr. Cris Moen, Civil Engineering
Work with a civil engineering design firm.
The College of Engineering has so much to offer in terms of classes and research and professional organizations, but the professors really get to know you, making it a large school with small school benefits.
Every road, bridge, building, water/sewage system, dam, and structure is designed and built by civil engineers, you can't go one day without using something civil engineering-related.
Let's go Hokies!!
David H
Pocono Lake Preserve, Pennsylvania
Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Theater Arts
4th
The Cycling Club; the Amateur Radio Association; reading group leader through the Honors Program; FYHES, a freshman mentoring program
I spent the spring of 2010 working as a manufacturing engineer for Altec Industries in Roanoke, Virginia. During my time there I had the chance to supervise the movement and redesign of their sub-base work cell.
I did a three week winter break course in New Zealand that focused on the culture of the country. I also spent 7 weeks studying the German language in Berlin.
I have previously done Acoustic research with Dr. Burdisso and am currently about to begin working on the Safir Project with Dr. Hong in RoMeLa.
1. I am passionate about the outdoors and spend my summers working at a summer camp in New Hampshire, leading a canoeing program. 2. In high school I built a full size Ballista that shot broomsticks. 3. I helped teach an introductory LabView class during my junior year.
Matt H
Demascus, MD
BS Civil Engineering, 2013
5th
Deans Team, Brother of Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity, Co-Founder of To Write Love On Her Arms Virginia Tech UChapter, Employee at Dietrich General Store
Summer Internship with ESI Group North America Vibro-Acoustics Branch - San Diego, CA, May 2012-August 2012
HVAC noise Undergraduate Research with Professor Michael Ermann - Summer 2011, Analysis of composite concrete columns research with Dr. Roberto Leon - Fall 2012
Graduate Degree in either Vibro-Acoustics or Earthquake Structures
It is a great engineering school. I love the location, the people, and the amazing sense of community that we have here. Being a well known and highly regarded academic school is also very nice, and it is comforting knowing that I am getting a great education.
The community, football games, greek life, and the location.
I love knowing that what I am learning in classes will someday allow me to design things that will become part of someone's everyday life. Doing research and internships have opened doors for me and has really brought out an interesting connection between my academic life and how it is used and can affect the real world.
I have found over the past few years that Undergraduate Research and internships will really help to put things into perspective and will connect your aspirations to your current academics.
Megan H
Chester, Virginia
Double major in Aerospace Engineering and Ocean Engineering with a minor in Naval Engineering
2nd
Hypatia; Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority; Society of Women Engineers (SWE); Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME)
I chose the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech because of the many opportunities available here. I really liked that your first year is general engineering which gives you time to decided what branch of engineering you want to pursue. I liked the college's "hands on, minds on" approach when it comes to learning.
In no particular order! My favorite things about Virginia Tech would have to be: 1. The people: the students, the staff, the faculty, the alumni 2. The drillfield and the War Memorial Pylons 3. HOKIE FOOTBALL, lane stadium, and enter sandman
Maitenance and Utilities Engineering, Phillip Morris USA, Summer 2012 Assistant to the Director, Virginia Tech NASA INSPIRES and Imagination, Summer 2011
School spirit, a caring community, and Turner Place
The breadth of applications: Robotics to Industrial Engineering--the world is your oyster!
Matthew L
Ashburn, Virginia
Engineering Science and Mechanics with a minor in Mathematics
4th
Society of Engineering Sciences
I choose COE at VT because of an engineering perspectives workshop I attended my junior year of high school. Out of all the colleges I visited, the atmosphere at Virginia Tech was the one I clicked with the most.
I love that I can talk to just about any other engineering discipline. My major is also small so I know all my peers and the professors are pretty accessible.
Charlie L
Richmond, Virginia
Computer Science
2nd
Student Transition Engineering Program (STEP); Galileo; wrestling team; FASA; National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE); Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE); VT Commonwealth of Scholars
VT Engineering is a bargain. It is too good of an education at such a good price to turn down. It didn't hurt that I am in-state.
In computer science you can do anything you can imagine. If I have an idea for a program, given I have the skill to code it, there is nothing stopping me from creating it. That allows for a lot of job opportunities.
I love graffiti, architecture, wrestling, bass heavy music, and photography.
Eric M
Newtown, PA
B.S. Engineering Science and Mechanics, 2012, M.S. Engineering Science and Mechanics, 2013
4th
Three ('10-'12) summer internships with Dumack Engineering (Penns Park, PA). Dumack Engineering is a Civil and Structural Engineering firm.
Independent Study in Religious Studies with Prof. Brian Britt, Undergraduate Lab Assistant with Prof. Muhammad Hajj
I applied to seven schools (Virginia Tech, Penn State, Notre Dame, Northwestern, Lehigh, UConn, and Loyola-Chicago). I wasn't even going to apply to Virginia Tech, but my best friend's brother went to Tech so I applied and visited. My decision was between Tech and Penn State. I loved this campus and atmosphere so much that even though I had only been admitted into the University Studies department at Tech, while being admitted into the Engineering department at PSU, I obviously chose VT and am extremely happy with my decision.
My favorite thing about Virginia Tech is the people. Yes, the football games, the intramural sports, and everything else is fun. It's fun because of the people.
Engineering Science and Mechanics (ESM) creates a foundation that can apply to any number of jobs. ESM is the best major cause it gives you the most flexibility when you graduate.
Michael M
Winchester, VA
BS Electrical Engineering, 2014
3rd
University Honors, IEEE, Residential Leadership Community, Student Engineers’ Abroad Council
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Project Management Intern (Summer 2011); Kollmorgen, Engineering Intern (Summer 2012)
After freshman year, I visited companies and universities in Germany, France, Switzerland, and Italy for two weeks with VT COE’s Rising Sophomore Abroad Program. I decided two weeks was not nearly enough time to spend abroad, so during the Spring 2012 semester I studied in Switzerland (but visited 12 other countries!) as a part of University Honors’ Presidential Global Scholars program.
The Hokie Spirit is contagious, and ever since visiting my sister on campus as a freshman in high school, I have appreciated the passion that students and alumni have for Virginia Tech. When I visited again as a prospective student, I was welcomed warmly by students and professors and I fell in love with the campus. I toured the Ware and RoMeLa Labs, and I realized that I could get valuable hands-on experience as an undergraduate student – something I didn’t always see at other schools. I also knew Virginia Tech has highly ranked engineering programs, so I would have ample opportunities after graduation.
Amazing football games and incredible campus food! Virginia Tech also has fantastic faculty, highly reputable academics, a friendly and passionate student body, a beautiful campus, and an awesome sense of community.
Electrical Engineering is extremely broad and opens a lot of doors in many different fields. Whether you plan to attend graduate school, conduct research, or work full-time after your undergraduate degree, an EE degree can get you there. Also, we live in a digital age, so the demand for Electrical Engineers is not diminishing any time soon.
Kevin M
Mount Joy, Pennsylvania
Industrial and Systems Engineering with minors in Green Engineering and Psychology
3rd
Galileo; Marching Virginians; ISE Ambassadors; Residence Hall Advisor
The spirit of Hokie Nation is unmatchable. As a proud Marching Virginian, attending football games in the mighty and deafening Lane Stadium is the ultimate experience. There is so much devotion, passion, and sheer excitement that it’s impossible not to enjoy the spectacle that is Hokie football. My favorite thing about VT is simply being a part of this tight community of Hokies. Whether we’re cheering for our beloved sports teams or cheering for our fellow students’ academic success, we Hokies have each other’s backs, and I am especially thankful for that.
I am a junior majoring in industrial and systems engineering and also pursuing green engineering and psychology minors. At a glance, it may appear that these areas of study do not significantly relate. However, I aspire to be a human factors engineer who will use my knowledge of the cognitive processes of people to design better engineered and user-friendly machinery while maintaining sustainable, eco-friendly manufacturing practices. I am excited to attempt to fuse my psychological understandings with the mathematical basis of industrial engineering and cannot wait to see the career path my combined passions point me toward.
Alex M
Spotsylvania, Virginia
Industrial and Systems Engineering with a minor in Business
3rd
Marching Virginians; Honors Residential College at East AJ; Galileo first and second years; Bible study; Campus Crusade for Christ; New Life Christian Fellowship
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Virginia; GE Aviation, Cincinnati, Ohio
I chose Virginia Tech because of the Industrial and Systems Engineering department's national reputation and my love of math and problem solving. I also enjoyed having a year to take general engineering classes before picking a more specific major.
I love the Marching Virginians. Performing in front of over 60,000 wild Hokie fans is an intense and gratifying experience. Being the spirit of Tech and supporting our football team has been a great way to meet people and represent the university.
I really like that through operations research, an industrial and systems engineer can use algorithms to optimize a business's strategy in ways that are not easily apparent. That way, someone in industsrial and systems engineering can come to more intimately understand the business itself.
During the summers I'm a part of a waterski show team where we perform pyramids on skis and other events. It's mostly a club for younger children, so it has given me an opportunity to teach some kids how to ski!
Neal M
Richmond, Virginia
Aerospace Engineering with a minor Creative Writing
4th
Galileo; Marching Virginians; Delta Tau Delta; Resident Adviser/House Supervisor; Presidential Campus Enrichment Grant
I want to work with supersonic and hypersonic vehicles and research.
It has a variety of excellent programs along with a high job placement percentile and professors who care if you care.
Football games and Hokie nation
I get to design and look at things fly!
Aruna N
Oak Hill, Virginia
Double majoring in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry with a minor in Green Engineering
3rd
Undergraduate Research, AIChE, Omega Chi Epsilon, University Honors
ISU REU Internship, summer 2009; DuPont- fall 2010, summer and fall 2011
Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Research- Develop a 3D model of the liver.
D2, Football and the Hokie community!
It is so broad that you can pretty much do anything you want with chemical engineering.
Gary N
Winchester, VA
BS ESM 2012, MS ESM 2014
5th
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Drop Formation from a Wettable Nozzle; Sensor Dispersion through a Fluid
To put it simply: the community. The way that students care about each other and the school so deeply here made my college decision very easy.
As I said before, the community. I have met so many fantastic people here.
I find it really interesting to investigate the way that the world works. The fact that the department is so small is pretty awesome as well. (There were 29 people in my graduating class!)
Katherine P
Pensacola, FL
Ocean Engineering; Green Engineering Minor
3rd
Marching Virginians, Chi Omega Sorority, Greeks Giving Back, Marching Virginians Blood Drive, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, Relay for Life
I spent the summer with Gulf Power's Environmental Affair's Department. I was able to participate in the air and water quality testing and many of the power plant's operations.
Human-Powered Submarine Team
Spend some time with the Peace Corps or Teach for America then work with a Ship Design company.
I am a born and raised Hokie and love everything about Hokie Spirit (especially Football!). Plus the Engineering Department offers many extremely valuable opportunities and experiences.
I have had many professors who have had incredible experience in their fields and with the smaller size of the major I'm able to get more one on one experience. Plus many of the opportunities after graduation allow me to live near the Ocean.
Kevin P
Clifton Forge, VA
BS Mechanical Engineering 2013, MS Mechanical Engineering 2014
4th
Student Engineers' Council: E-Week Chair, Director of Finance, Vice Chair SGA: Engineering Senator Galileo Engineering Learning Community: Resident, Mentor American Society of Mechanical Engineers G.E.R.M.A.N. Club: Member, IT Chair
Propulsion Engineering Intern (Space Launch System): The Boeing Company, Repair Design Engineering Intern: General Electric Energy, Process Engineering Intern: MeadWestvaco
After graduation I will be staying at VT to complete the 5 year MS/BS program and then pursuing my PhD. I plan on getting into the energy production industry with a focus on R&D of new technologies.
I decided that VT was the place for me on a Sunday afternoon in April when I was on campus for a scholarship award dinner. I had been touring other schools, but as soon as I stepped out of the car I knew it was the place for me. It was a beautiful spring day, the students I ran into were super friendly, and the sense of community was blatantly obvious. Plus, it didn't hurt that VT is a top notch engineering school (Ranked top 5 in the nation by recruiters) at a very competitive price!
Lane Stadium and Hokie football, the campus, the food, the small campus feel with large school opportunities, and overall BEING A HOKIE!
Studying mechanical engineering can be a springboard into literally any field or function and the curriculum is set up so that students have a huge say into the direction they choose. The sky is the limit! (That is unless you build rockets)
I love playing all kinds of sports and have recently gotten into cycling and triathlons.
Jaclyn P
Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Engineering Science and Mechanics
2nd
I intend on going to graduate school to recieve a master's degree in biomedical engineering.
I worked really hard in high school, so I wanted to go somewhere that would give me the higher education that I deserved. Virginia Tech is one of the best engineering schools in the country, so the fact that I can call myself a part of this community gives me a huge sense of pride and accomplishment.
When you walk onto the Virginia Tech campus, you can't help but feel at home. The sense of school spirit here is unlike anything else. I love being able to talk about our awesome football team, but at the same time feel comforted in the fact that my academic experience is one of the best in the country. This school provides everything anyone could ever want out of a college experience, and I feel extremely lucky to be a Hokie.
The coolest thing aboutengineering science and mechanics is that it teaches you everything you would ever need to know about engineering. When I go out into the professional world, I will be able to solve almost any engineering problem anyone decides to throw at me. Pursuing biomedical engineering; however, is what I am most excited for. I can't wait to use the skills I develop at Tech to help people in the future.
Ali R
Harrisonburg, Virginia
BS Industrial and Systems Engineering, 2013 - minors in Green Engineering and Business
4th
ISE Ambassadors and Alpha Pi Mu (Industrial Engineering honor society)
I completed a year long co-op with John Deere Power Products in Greeneville, TN working with the manufacturing engineering team. I spent one summer as a technical intern at TASC, Inc. in Northern Virginia, and another summer as an engineering intern with Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, VA.
After graduation I will be joining the Naval Acquisitions Development Program for two years as part of the SMART (Science Mathematics and Research for Transformation) Scholarship Program.
I chose Virginia Tech for the broad range of engineering majors available and the atmosphere.
The people you meet and the opportunities available for students. There is an organization for nearly every interest you can think of.
The diversity of work available. Every company is looking to improve and a large part of ISE is process improvement and increasing efficiency.
I'm a third generation Hokie!
Josh R
Smithfield, Virginia
Materials Science Engineering with a minor in Pre-Law
3rd
Baptist Campus Mission; MEPS; volunteer to read to pre-K and K students at local schools
Honors research- pro cast computer modeling; legality of lab accidents
Pursue an MBA
A friendly atmosphere, tons of undergraduate research, and many high ranking engineering programs.
Football Saturdays, the Duck Pond, and the food!
I am a student athlete on the Cheer Team.
Zach R
Frankford, Delaware
Double majoring in Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics
5th
Intramural Sports; Delta Sigma Phi; Sigma Alpha Pi
W.L. Gore and Associates Inc. - Summer 2010 and 2011 - IT International Business Machines (IBM) - January 2012 to Present - Software Tester and Developer
Working in the Raleigh, NC area.
I felt at home, with big college few but a small town atmosphere.
Football, community, and scenery
Andrew R
Scarborough, Maine
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with minors in Mathematics and Spanish, M.S. in Aerospace Engineering and pursuing a PhD in Aerospace Engineering specializing in Non-linear and Stochastic Optimization Applied to Orbital Mechanics
6th
VT varsity swim team; American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME); American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics; American Astronautical Society; Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
Space Systems Simulation Laboratory - attitude control and dynamics engineer
I love interacting with future Hokie engineers!
I love space and space physics, so being able to study spacecraft control is the perfect academic fit for me!
I was a varsity athlete for the swim team for four years. I specialized in sprint fly/back/free. I am also an avid motorcyclist.
Kelly R
Ijamsville, Maryland
Materials Science Engineering
3rd
Tau Beta Pi; Phi Beta Kappa; Materials Engineering Professional Societies; Society of Women Engineers (SWE); Oxfam at Virginia Tech; VT Women's Club; ultimate frisbee; Honors Residential College at East Ambler Johnson (mentor)
I interned at the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST) for two consecutive summers.
After graduation, I will be working in the Sensors Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio for two years as part of the SMART (Science Mathematics and Research for Transformation) Scholarship Program. After that, maybe go to graduate school or continue to work for the DoD - who knows!
I chose the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech because I had no idea what kind of engineering I was interested in when I came to school. VT offers a wide range of departments that are nationally renowned and committed to research, so I knew that whatever engineering I chose, I would be getting an excellent education. Also, at VT, all engineering students spend their first year in General Engineering, which gave me the time to consider my options without feeling pressured to make a decision right away.
There are so many amazing things about VT - the beautiful campus, the food, the football games... But, my favorite thing about VT is that it really is a big school with a small school feel. We have all the funding and research opportunities that are tied to big universities, but when I walk around campus, I never feel like I'm a statistic. I'm part of a community. I'm a Hokie.
Ryan S
BS Mechanical Engineering, May 2012; MS Aerospace Engineering
5th
Saurav S
Sterling, VA
BS Computer Science, BS Mathematics, BA Economics
3rd
ACM, Honors College, Programming Team, Residential Leadership Community
I was a software engineering intern at Optimal Satcom for this past summer.
Because of the prestige of the program offerings as well as the fact that Virginia Tech is a technical school and therefore focuses more on major classes rather than a general liberal education.
I love the college town feel and the fact that the population of Blacksburg triples during football games. I also love all the running/biking trails that the area has to offer.
Meredith S
Ashburn, PA
BS Mining and Minerals Engineering, 2014
3rd
I am a member of AOE,a women in engineering sorority, WIM, Women in Mining, the Mining Competition Team, and SME, the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration.
Interned with Consol Summer 2012, a coal mining company
I have worked with TFM, Teach for Madame, a volunteer after-school program that has students teaching french in elementary schools.
Either keep studying or pursue further education depending on the options present.
I choose Virginia Tech because I liked the community feeling it has. I feel like the faculty and staff want me to be successful and all the students are very friendly.
Football!!! Also, the Blacksburg area is one of my favorite places anytime of year to go hiking, camping, or exploring.
I get to play with some of the world's biggest machines!
Nava S
Burke, Virginia
BS Mining and Minerals Engineering, 2013
4th
Burkhart Mining Society, Women In Mining, YMCA Student Programs
Cargill Deicing Technology - Avery Island Louisiana, Spring and Summer 2011 , Alpha Natural Resources - Beckley West Virginia, Summer 2012
I hope to work as an engineer for an underground Mine. (Not sure where or what type of Mine)
I chose Virginia Tech because of the well developed Engineering program and the variety of engineering disciplines offered.
My favorite thing about VT is that it is has all of the opportunities of a large university, while still having a strong sense of community.
Mining engineers explore and mine out parts of the earth that have never been seen or touched by humans, which in itself, is an extraordinary concept. Also, Mining engineering is a very hands on discipline and provides the opportunity to work with explosives and heavy equipment on a daily basis.
Jahan S
Arlington, Virginia
Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Industrial Design
2nd
Iranian Society at Virginia Tech; Hsing-I Kung Fu Club; Galileo; East AJ Residential Learning Community
The quality of the program, as well as, the unique first year general engineering program, to explore engineering majors.
Friendly people, football games, and a lively and active campus
Jamie S
Great Mills, Maryland
Chemical Engineering
2nd
Hypatia; Alpha Delta Pi - Junior Panhellenic Council Representative
NAVAIR (Naval Aviation Base), summer 2011
I love the atmosphere of the campus! The students are always helpful, kind, happy, and hold a strong sense of school spirit.
I chose to do chemical engineering (with a tentative concentration in biomedical engineering) because after graduation I would like to work on cancer research.
Ashley T
Fort Chiswell, VA
BS Mechanical Engineering 2014
3rd
Student Engineers' Council, CEED Mentoring Program, Scieneering Research Program
Research Assistant for the Pediatric Medical Device Institute; Mechatronics Lab
Hands-down, Virginia Tech is one of the most welcoming places I have ever visited. I was immediately attracted to the big-school, small-town feel... plus, as a girl who grew up in the Appalachian mountains, I love the southern hospitality that Blacksburg offers! Most of all, I love the Virginia Tech community, and I couldn't imagine being anywhere else!
The people, of course!
Mechanical Engineering encompasses a pretty broad curriculum, so you can sort of specialize in a particular area, or you can take a variety of different courses to get a well-rounded education. There's a little bit of flexibility, which is nice!
Stephanie W
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Double major in Materials Science Engineering and Psychology
2nd
Head Start, Gamma Beta Phi
Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth VA
Through the Rising Sophomore Abroad Program, I, along with 20 other engineering students, traveled to Germany, Switzerland, France, and Italy. We visited companies such as Audi and Dassault Systems. It was by far the best college experience I have had!
I would love to specialize in biomaterials. By doing so, I hope to create prosthetic limbs for land mine victims. With my psychology background, I could also be a therapist for them.
Originally, I chose the College of Engineering at VT because of its outstanding program rankings. Little did I know how lovely the professors are and what an interactive program it is! There are so many unforeseen opportunities!
My three favorites in no particular order... 1. football and basketball games; 2. Deet's ice cream (specifically peanut butter cup milkshakes); 3. the overwhelming sense of community at VT.
The coolest thing? I think the best part was looking over all the "technical electives" to choose from to create a concentration for my major. When meeting with the head of the department, I soon realized that the required five technical electives are not near enough! There are so many interesting classes!
I'm a proud Pittsburgh Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates fan, and have been going to games as long as I can remember!
John W
Richmond, Virginia
Aerospace Engineering
2nd
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE); Student Engineers Council (SEC); Galileo community mentor; Student Transition Engineering Program (STEP)
Design Build Fly
I will hopefully have a job in the aerospace industry. If not, I would like to start taking the steps toward becoming a fighter pilot in the USAF.
It seemed like the best one for me. I liked that it was in state and it had my major available. I liked the campus as well!
The food and the home games
I want to work on propulsion systems. I think rocket and jet engines are amazing. I've wanted to build airplanes since I was a child. It is my dream.
