Electrical Engineering Student Profiles
Kelly Brunemann
Cincinnati, Ohio
Kelly has all the right answers. As a college senior beginning her job search, Kelly has found that the experience and education she has acquired at the University of Evansville have given her the edge on other candidates. "I've been able to bypass all the job screening filters because I can give concrete examples of things I've done when potential employers ask about my skills."
While in college, Kelly spent a year with General Electric completing two co-op experiences. She recognizes that the time invested in her education has given her tremendous professional skills and the drive for success. "When I have a problem in front of me, I solve it by leveraging the team around me. For example, when I was at GE Healthcare in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I was given a project to install a computer framework. I just had my mentor helping me. In one week, I learned a new computer language, and with my mentor's help, we got the job done. This initiative is a result of professors who show a personal interest in students and convey confidence in their ability."
Kelly is now waiting for the results of her job search. When she accepts the offer she wants, Kelly knows she will run through the halls of the engineering building telling everyone she got the perfect job!
Brantly Sturgeon
Newburgh, Indiana
Being concerned about other peoples' basic human needs like clean water, power, sanitation, and education may sound a bit atypical for an engineering student, but for Brantly Sturgeon it is a big part of his college life. Brantly is the president of the University of Evansville's chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB), and his experience with this organization has changed his perspective on what it means to be an engineer. "Engineers Without Borders allows engineers to show their humanitarian side, which is definitely a UE value. Participation encourages you to reach out to your surrounding community and serve the common good."
UE's chapter of EWB recently participated in the CANstruction event. "Our chapter was involved for the first time this year. As a group, we had to raise money to buy canned food in order to build a 3-D art structure. I learned that stacking canned food is pretty tricky. I personally had to make large seaweed towers with green bean cans and several took pretty tough falls. We ended up getting the "Best Use of Labels" award. When the competition was over, we donated the canned goods to the Evansville food bank."
As a result of his work with EWB, Brantly believes that engineers can be involved in community service and accomplish more by working together.
Sade Harrison
San Antonio, Texas
Sade Harrison is a computer scientist who embraces opportunities to interact with others from different backgrounds. She travels to England (her mother's homeland), grew up in Ohio but deliberately went to college in Indiana, and just spent a year studying in Japan. Sade believes that "our world is so interconnected. As a computer scientist, I will need to work with people who come from cultures different than mine. I need to acquire communication skills to interact with people with whom I am not familiar."
Sade's desire to acquire these skills led her to Nagoya University in Japan for a year of studies in language and cultural classes. During her time there, she traveled throughout the country and interacted with everyone, including elderly Japanese men who she described as still suspicious of Americans. "I was able to gain their respect by attempting to speak their language." Sade garnered more than respect, she also developed confidence. As she became more fluent in Japan's language and culture, she developed a self-described can-do attitude.
Sade has received encouragement from UE faculty members and students to explore other cultures. "Dr. Hwang told me before leaving for Japan it would be hard returning to UE, but she would be willing to help me transition. When I decided to observe Ramadan with UE Muslim students, other UE students supported and followed me. When I leave UE, I have confidence I will be able to work in an interconnected world."
