From Set Design to Aerospace Engineering
As a kid, Andy de Fonseca loved space but never considered pursuing a career in STEM. After getting degrees in theater, cinematography, and history and taking a job in marketing, Andy started...
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Mechanical Engineering Student Dancing Toward a Greener Future
(Mechanical Engineering 2nd Year)Neil John has always loved breaking things to figure out how they work. Now as a mechanical engineering major, he’s getting better at rebuilding them, too. “I spent a decent chunk of time in the...
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A Steady and Determined Approach to a Ph.D.
(M.S. MAE ’96, Ph.D. ’12)In the 1990s Illinois Institute of Technology was a pioneer in distance learning through its Interactive Instructional Television Network (IIT/V) program. Courses were filmed at campus locations and...
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Gaining Opportunity Through Research
(M.S. MAE ’09, Ph.D. ’13)For Ricardo Vinuesa, the possibility of participating in research and study groups as he progressed through his academic career provided him with a competitive advantage. “I believe that my...
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Making Waves in Materials Science Engineering and Extracurricular Activities
(Materials Science Engineering 2nd Year)“Illinois Tech is a place where you have the time to pursue extracurriculars while earning your degree. It is a school with opportunity for those who seek it,” Megan Burrill says. As captain of the...
Aerospace Engineering Student, Aspiring Rocket Scientist
(Aerospace Engineering/M.E. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 3rd Year)As a student with a passion for STEM, Levin Rosete has further refined his interests to engineering and technology. “At Illinois Tech I was between mechanical and aerospace for the first two years of...
Developing an Entrepreneurial Spirit
(ME ’15)Dane Christianson is an inventor at heart. He designed—and then constructed—a three-dimensional twisty-puzzle called the X-Cube in Illinois Tech’s Idea Shop using a 3D printer. “The Idea Shop is just...
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Seizing All That Illinois Tech Offers
(Mechanical Engineering 3rd Year)When Katja Berthold was deciding where she wanted to go to college, a variety of factors came into play, from what kind of education each college offered, its location, and its size. Illinois Tech was...
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Nurturing a Passion for Renewable Energy
(Mechanical Engineering 4th Year)Maddy Urig describes herself as an environmentalist who cares deeply about preserving Earth’s natural resources and combating the future of energy. She enrolled at Illinois Tech because she was...
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Liftoff!
(AE ’07)The summer after graduating from Illinois Tech, Jason Tenenbaum joined Lockheed Martin Mission Services as a systems engineer. He worked there for three years before joining SpaceX, where he gained...