Why did you choose to study at WPI?  

 I chose to study at WPI because I found it to be a place where I could gain hands-on experience quicker with the project-based learning and follow my passions outside of my major. The Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP) and the Major Qualifying Project (MQP) really attracted me because not a lot of schools have real projects that you can present to jobs and let you truly customize your education. 

How are you involved with the WPI community?  

In the WPI community, I am the president of the Club Sailing team, I play upright bass in the Philharmonic Association, I do autonomous vehicles research in the Mechanical & Materials Engineering (MME) Department on campus, and I am active with the Outing Club and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). The WPI community is so great because it has space outside of class to further my engineering knowledge and skills, but also spaces where I can follow other passions, such as music or sailing. 

What’s your favorite thing about WPI?  

Some of my favorite things about WPI are the people and the support that I can get around campus. I've made great friends here at WPI through clubs and projects, and people are very friendly and approachable. Whether it’s for projects, papers, or mental health support, there are so many programs that I've used to ask questions and get help. Engineering, of course, is a very intensive subject but this school really feels like you can get help with any stressors and let you be creative. 

Do you have a faculty or staff mentor?  

The faculty members that have been mentors to me are Professor Pradeep Radhakrishnan, Professor Thomas Noviello, and Professor Matthew Scinto. Professor Radhakeishnan has been a huge supporter of my career since the day that I met him. He was the person who hired me to conduct research on campus and has since always helped me with projects or applying to jobs and scholarships. Professor Noviello inspired me to think beyond class while learning and creating a deeper understanding. He is always available to students and really cares about his classes. Finally, Professor Scinto is the conductor of WPI's Philharmonic Orchestra. His passion for music and the space that he creates for students to perform really help me to continue with my own passions outside of class. 

How has WPI’s project-based learning influenced your education?  

Project-based learning has influenced my education by allowing me to try new things and gain experience. A lot of project-based learning includes trying new things, making mistakes, and learning from them to get a great final product. For example, I learned computer aided design here at WPI, at the end of my freshman year, and now I use it almost constantly for research or more advanced courses that require prototypes and designs. Just the nature of completing projects has allowed me to learn and do things I would never be exposed to while listening to a lecture. I can now apply that knowledge in future projects. Looking forward, I get to experience a whole new place with new people while working on my Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP) and then I get to do my own thing for my Major Qualifying Project (MQP). I am quite excited about what I can learn from these upcoming projects.