Why did you choose to study at Illinois?

I chose U. of I. because of the labs and the number of extracurriculars. There is so much to do on this campus, in the classroom or not, and it was so eye-opening.

I participated in the “shadow a Grainger engineer” program and shadowed a sophomore in the aerospace program. After shadowing the student, seeing the classes, and listening to the professors, I knew U. of I. was where I wanted to be.

Why aerospace engineering?

Airplanes are awesome! Ever since I was a little kid, I knew I loved airplanes. When we would travel, you could always find me looking down at the tarmac, gawking at the aircraft sitting on the stand.

When applying to college, I felt like it’s such a unique time to be in the aerospace industry. With all of the new technology and developments going on, it’s the front line of technology. So many new ideas and new fields are up and coming, and it’s a great combination of what we already know and what’s out there. The innovation and constant evolution are what drove me to aerospace.

Shout out to someone who helped you most?

I’d say there were a number of faculty members who made a tremendous impact on my experience here at Illinois. Firstly, Laura Gerhold has always been a friendly face in the department and someone who is always willing to listen when I needed it.

Dr. Wroblewski teaches AE202, a course I really loved and took to heart, and I am now a course assistant for it.

Finally, AE442 and AE443 are by far my favorite set of courses I have taken here, and they are both taught by Dr. Merret. He’s incredibly passionate about what he teaches and really wants his students to succeed, and it shows when you are in a class with him.

What helped you gain technical expertise?

I feel like I gained a lot of my technical expertise when I was actively getting my hands on something. In AE321, we had a structures lab were we were analyzing failure points and comparing three different types of materials.

In AE460, we worked through several aerodynamics labs, but the design lab stood out to me the most. I designed our CAD model and then tested a blended wing body aircraft in the wind tunnel, experimentally evaluating its aerodynamic performance and stability while comparing the results to theoretical predictions.

How did choose a specialty?

The course that really stood out to me and influenced me to pursue a similar path was Dr. Ansell’s Sustainable Aviation course. From our first conversation defining sustainable aviation, I was hooked. I was reminded of why I chose aerospace engineering, to be on the leading edge of technology and help create a “greener” landscape in aviation.

Where did you find community at Illinois?

I found my community in PHYS100 discussion. Two of my three tablemates are now some of my best friends, and one of them is my roommate. It’s funny how something like a discussion section turned into that. What really solidified it, though, was the 2024 Solar Eclipse social event. That’s something I’ll always remember because it was when our group really started to click. Since then, we’ve all stayed close, and it’s been a big part of my experience here.

Describe a challenge you faced and how you resolved it? 

I think one of the biggest challenges I faced was going through the Senior Design course with Dr. Merret. He pushes you to be your best and challenges you in ways you’ve never been challenged before. Learning how to navigate situations you’ve never been in certainly helps you in your career.

What's something you're particularly proud of?

I am proud of simply graduating from a top-tier program in the world. Aerospace engineering isn’t easy—it’s literally rocket science. It’s extremely competitive and respected and being able to confidently graduate gives me the confidence to go into the next chapter of my life.

Did you have any internships?

I had an internship after my junior year at Milhouse Engineering and Construction in Chicago, Illinois. Here, I was a mechanical engineering intern working on gas infrastructure.

What extracurricular groups did you participate in?

The student group I have been a part of since freshman year is the AIAA Student Branch. I was the president of the organization my junior and senior years. I think the most memorable part of my time with the club was the connections I have made. Whether that is with a freshman navigating their first semester on campus or organizing corporate events, I truly enjoyed helping freshmen figure out how courses work and giving advice on how to plan their four years at Illinois.

What's next for you?

I do not know where I will be after graduation, however, I am excited for the next chapter, whatever or wherever that may be. 

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

• Keep building relationships
• Sky diving!!
• Skiing
• Continue to be there for my family
• Visit friends from college!