Why did you choose to study at Illinois?

I had never heard about the University of Illinois until a close family friend suggested I apply while I was searching for schools with strong aerospace engineering programs. When I finally visited in April of my senior year, I had just come from visiting Texas A&M University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, both with beautiful weather. When I arrived on campus, it was cold and snowing, and as somebody who was not used to cold weather, the place felt miserable.

Luckily, I had been put in touch with a senior at the time, Moritz Kraemer, who was kind enough to let me tag along with him for a day of classes. I sat in on his senior design class and a few others, and I was immediately struck by how close the faculty-student relationships were. At such a large university with world-class faculty, the fact that professors actively engaged with undergraduate students and were genuinely eager to help them learn was something that really stood out to me. This, along with the tight-knit student community, is why I chose Illinois.  

Why aerospace engineering?

I started, probably like most engineers, by breaking things and taking stuff apart as a kid. It began with Legos and small electronics and progressively got more ambitious. Finally, after breaking the family TV while trying to “fix” a faulty HDMI port, my parents had had enough and started taking me to Goodwill to scavenge for random electronics and trinkets to take apart.

I remember that on one of these trips, I found a broken remote control aircraft and was fascinated by it. This eventually led me down the RC aircraft rabbit hole, and I loved it. In high school, I really enjoyed my math and science classes, and this, combined with my fascination with anything that flew, is what led me to pursue a career in aerospace. I have loved it ever since.

Shout out to someone who helped you most?

The professors I would like to shout out are Prof. Villafañe Roca, Prof. Panerai and Prof. Dobbs. 

Prof. Villafañe Roca taught me AE 311, and I have been working in her research lab since the spring semester of my junior year. She has given me many opportunities to grow as an engineer, from gaining technical experience in a research lab setting to learning proper procedures for presenting data and results. 

Prof. Panerai helped spark my fascination with hypersonics through AE 312 and AE 480. He is incredibly passionate about his field, and as a student, I really appreciate when a professor is genuinely excited about what they teach. 

Prof. Dobbs taught me Calculus I and Calculus II during my freshman year, which were some of my first “challenging” college courses. She was always helpful and approachable during office hours, which helped me get off on the right foot at Illinois and made faculty feel more approachable. 

In addition, my group of friends has been my biggest support system throughout college. From fun experiences like making the three-hour drive to an IMAX theater to watch the Interstellar re-release during reading day of junior year, to pulling multiple all-nighters before AE 312 and AE 433 exams, to taking cooking classes at the Activities and Recreation Center -- these moments have really meant a lot to me. 

Finally, and most importantly, I want to thank my parents. I would not have made it this far without their constant support and guidance.

What helped you gain technical expertise?

My technical experience at Illinois has come primarily from my involvement in research projects, learning hands-on with Dustin Burns in the machine shop, as well as from personal projects such as building quadcopters, and through club projects with the Illinois Space.

How did choose a specialty?

The experiences that helped me decide on a field within aerospace that I enjoy were my research work, as well as Senior Design and AE 480. These classes, along with the research projects I was involved in, made me develop a strong interest in flight testing and hypersonics.

Where did you find community at Illinois?

My main source of community at Illinois has been the group of Catholic Illini I met at Newman Hall. Additionally, my classmates have been a strong source of support and friendship. Finally, my involvement in research and clubs has helped me connect with other engineering students, including those who are in master’s and Ph.D. programs.

Did you have any summer internships?

I did not participate in internships; instead, I chose to pursue research. I tend to become deeply involved in the research projects I take on, so both of my summers before junior and senior year were spent working on ongoing research projects with the aerospace and nuclear departments.

What extracurricular groups did you participate in?

The main student organization I participated in was the Illinois Space Society. I got involved during my first semester of freshman year and served as the solid propulsion sub-team lead for about a year and a half. I really enjoyed working with my peers, as they were a group of great, very motivated students, and I managed to learn a great deal of hands-on manufacturing skills with them.

Additionally, I appreciated the creative approaches each team member brought to solving problems we encountered and how willing we all were to learn from our mistakes. Serving in a leadership role also helped me develop skills in managing peers during technical projects, which has been invaluable throughout college.

What's something you're particularly proud of?

I am especially proud of the relationships I have built with peers, professors, and friends. Through these connections, I have grown into the person and engineer I am today, and I hope to maintain and continue to develop these relationships after I graduate.

What's next for you?

I am hoping to go into industry after graduation and pursue a master’s degree in aerospace engineering. I have greatly enjoyed learning during college and want to continue challenging myself through additional classes and certificate programs to become a more capable engineer.

What's on your bucket list for the next five years?

• I currently hold a Private Pilot License with Visual Flight Rules rating, but I am hoping to get my Instrument Flight Rules rating.

• Get my master’s degree

• Work in a flight-testing environment

• Learn how to play the classical guitar well

• Learn a new language