I’ve always been interested in how things work and how I can make things more efficient.
Current Student Spotlight:
Alina Selby '14
Hometown:Finleyville, PA
Major:Mechanical engineering
Future engineer
Member of Emerging Leaders and Alpha Phi Omega (APO) as well as manager of Mount Union’s women’s basketball team
MY EXCEPTIONAL STORY
Liberal arts education
I looked at both big and small schools. But, I knew I wanted a liberal arts education on top of a degree in mechanical engineering because I thought it would set me apart from others after graduation. The other schools I looked at were less personal, but Mount Union wasn’t. The faculty care a lot about our interest in the engineering programs and what we’re looking to do as future engineers. They care enough that we actually get to sit in on faculty interviews and listen to potential professors teach in the classroom.
More than just a number
In general, Mount Union cares more about you. At bigger universities, you’re just a number or an application. Mount Union truly wants to get to know you and wants you to personally better yourself so that one day you can graduate and make a difference in the world. It’s a nice place to go to school. I’m enjoying my time at Mount Union, and looking forward to getting involved and spending my next three years here.
It’s a family thing
I’ve always been interested in how things work and how I can make things more efficient. Mechanical engineering is one of the fields of engineering that is broad enough that it offers a vast amount of job opportunities. I come from a family of engineers including my grandpa, aunts and uncles. My sister is in high school now and she wants to be an engineer too. So, I guess I would say it’s a family thing! It’s actually quite fun when we all get together.
A brand new facility
I spend most of my time in the new Engineering and Business Building. There’s a 24-hour computer lab specifically for engineering students and a student lounge on the second floor. We have exclusive access to the computer lab because it’s the only lab on campus with specific computer programs for engineers. It’s a brand new facility, and really nice.
Water
In my engineering course last semester we toured the Alliance Water Treatment Plant. On this trip, we were able to learn more about the system, process and how it relates to engineering.
Women in engineering
My favorite teachers are Dr. Donna Michalek (chair of the Department of Engineering) and Dr. Helen Muga (assistant professor of engineering). They’re both female engineers and through their job experiences they’ve accomplished so much. And, they have a lot of opinions and input to share from their own personal stories. It’s nice to hear about women succeeding in engineering because such a large percentage of engineers are males.
