swanson schoool fall 2013 co-op newsletter

Cooperative eduCation

university of pittsburghSwanson School of Engineering Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and SciencesEngineering Technology, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

Fall 2013

It’s been quite a year for co-op at Pitt. Our students are literally from one end of this great nation to the other, and a few have also stepped foot in other continents due to their work assignments. We have had the privilege of seeing quite a few alumni come back to tell us that to this day, co-op is one of the greatest opportunities they had. One of our alumni, Justin Filey, a chemical engineer currently living and working in Chicago, brought his daughter in to meet us. Justin co-oped many years ago with Nova Chemicals and had a great experience. He is strongly encouraging his daughter, who will be attending Pitt, to participate as well in co-op. Tim Gattie, an alumnus of both civil engineering and co-op, established a co-op program with his company in Seattle, Washington. Chris Hartman, with United Airlines, also instituted a co-op program that will hire our students in Chicago, San Francisco, or Houston. Chris is a former USAirways co-op. Nick Barr, chemical engineer

with Glatfelter in Chillicothe, Ohio, is working with our program and is also a co-op from several years ago. Dave Dress and Rachel Clark, both former co-ops with Polyone and current full-time engineers there, made it possible for us to expand our program with them to Wisconsin. Josh Whitney, former mechanical engineering co-op, brought BlackBox into the program and has already hired several very satisfied co-ops! And Dave Smith, another mechanical engineer with Philips Respironics, has begun a quite successful and popular co-op program! These are but a few examples of our successful engineers who are paying it forward. We appreciate so much the commitment of our employers and welcome all of our new companies.

Students, we hope you have a great fall! If you are already in the program, we hope it is a great experience for you. If you are an applicant, we

The Next Generation of Co-ops

“I cannot imagine graduating college not having this experience, much thanks to Morris Knowles. Coming out of school with solid experience, co-op students certainly have the edge over other graduates.”

Erin Gray Civil and Environmental Engineering Morris Knowles and Associates, Inc.

4moms: Co-op Through a Student’s EyesWhen University of Pittsburgh junior Ali Schroder joined the 4moms Mechanical Engineering team in early January 2013, she made company history as our first cooperative education student.

Ali quickly began contributing to several projects, including the design of accessories and a recline mechanism for a new product currently in development. One of the most important skills Ali learned was the process of building products for manufacture, specifically through the use of 3D printers.

Communication and collaboration are keystones of the 4moms culture, and Ali was able develop these skills not only within her engineering group, but also through cross-functional efforts with industrial design, software, and marketing. In fact, Ali became so involved with and passionate about 4moms’ products and team members that it was hard for her to step away and return to classroom life.

Ali offers the following advice to anyone interested in 4moms, and for all students in the co-op program in general: “Do not be afraid to ask questions—and don’t assume you’re the only one who has that question! Also, take the time to use the resources presented to you:

whether they be the people you work with, the tools and lab that are available to you, or the creative space needed to get around a roadblock.” Ali also added, “Finally, remember to embrace the change that comes with engineering. Requirements shift often, and it can be challenging for those working on the project to quickly pivot when they are so engrossed in the work. But, change comes with the industry and while it’s frustrating at times, being able to adapt with the changes will better prepare students for their future careers.”

The opportunity to contribute to the 4moms team has given Ali a different view of what life post-Pitt could be. 4moms provided her the experience of a company that believes in not only building awesome products, but also in building a great company. Ali eagerly anticipates resuming her co-op with 4moms this fall; and we eagerly anticipate her return.

Submitted by Cat Tinsley, 4moms Talent Acquisition

look forward to seeing you at our co-op fair! As you can see, there is a lot of opportunity and the sky is the limit!

Co-op Students Receive Awards, Honors, and Positions of LeadershipCo-op students continue to make co-op, Swanson School of Engineering, and the University proud through their accomplishments, work ethic, and commitment. Awards for academic year 2012–2013 are listed below:

LeadershipMary Beth Biddle (alumna), elected VP, Communications of Society of Women Engineers (SWE)

Ashley McCray, voted Region 2 Programs Chair of the National Society of Black Engineers

Sossena Wood (alumna), elected National Chairperson of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)

ScholarshipsDavid Eckman (industrial engineering), Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship 2013

Jonathan Fako (industrial engineering), Dwight D. Gardner Scholarship 2012-2013; IIE Harold and Inge Marcus Scholarship

Gian-Gabriel Garcia (industrial engineering), UPS Scholarship for Minority Students

Karen Kaminsky (chemical engineering), Margaret A. Thomas Award

John Migliozzi (industrial engineering), IIE Outstanding Senior Award 2012-2013

ChIang SCholarShIp (chemical engineering)

Matthew Abramson Nathan Blandino Benjamin Carlson Lauren Sakerka

Joe Shamlin (mechanical engineering), Nuclear Regulatory Commission Scholarship

Brian Tackett (chemical engineering), Edward B. Stuart and Geraldine J. Stuart Memorial Scholarship

II-VI FoundatIon SCholarShIp reCIpIentS

II-VI Scholarships are awarded to students in the fields of engineering, math and science. One unique aspect of the scholarship is the requirement of nine weeks of manufacturing, engineering, or science-related experience in an industrial setting.

Kevin Halpin (mechanical engineering), co-op with Westinghouse

Matthew Hilger (mechanical engineering), co-op with DuPont

Kevin Hough (mechanical engineering), co-op with Eaton

Zachary Kauffman (mechanical engineering), co-op with Curtiss Wright

Ouiam Koubaab (chemical engineering), co-op with Air Products

Maryem Mabrouk (industrial engineering), co-op with Heinz North America

Robert Maier (mechanical engineering), co-op with Curtiss Wright

Herve Nyirinkwaya (electrical engineering), co-op with Eaton

Sarah Pachesky (chemical engineering), co-op with Appleton Papers in Appleton, Wisconsin

Andrew Smith (mechanical engineering), co-op with Eaton

Brian Tackett (chemical engineering), co-op with MSA and Allegheny Ludlum

Haotian Wang (chemical engineering), co-op with Lubrizol in Cleveland and Houston

Lin Wu (industrial engineering), co-op with MSA

Ziqun Zhou (electrical engineering), co-op with Bombardier

Alumni Hall of Fame: Laura (Chessa) Natal BSChE ’07

As my youngest sibling started her first classes at the Swanson School of Engineering this semester, I find myself often reminiscing on my personal journey and reflecting on how the University of Pittsburgh has greatly impacted our family. My

engineering education built a strong foundation for me to apply at work so that I may succeed, and my co-op experience provided me with the opportunity to apply some of that classroom knowledge to real-world applications. By the time that I had graduated, I had become a well-rounded individual with practical experience who employers were seeking to have as part of their team.

In my sophomore year of chemical engineering, I attended a presentation by Johnson & Johnson on their co-op program and I was hooked. The presentation was being led by a Pitt alumna who had worked for J&J for several years. She recognized the talent that Pitt harbored and brought the J&J co-op program to campus. I was fortunate enough to be selected as a co-op, and I could not have been more excited. By the time that I had graduated, I had spent a total of 13 months supporting some of the most well-renowned Over-the-Counter (OTC) medications, Tylenol® and Motrin®, in their Plant Project Management group. When I returned from my first rotation, I had truly become an improved student. I had a tangible end goal, examples to use in class that were directly related to the material, and suddenly the class material became more manageable (not easy, but manageable). I wanted to be a full-time J&J employee, and I wasn’t going to let anything get in my way.

Upon graduating in 2007, I was offered several positions to select for full-time hire, which I know for certain is directly related to my J&J co-op experience and the interpersonal skills that I had learned working there. Luckily, J&J was one of the offers and I began working there immediately following graduation as a capital engineer. Through promotions, organizational changes, and personal changes, I have worked in other positions as well: process improvement engineer (J&J), senior strategic sourcing lead for packaging (J&J), process engineer (Campbell Soup Company), and most recently, business program leader (Campbell Soup Company) where I am the project manager for the V8 beverage business taking new products developed by R&D and marketing and commercializing them often on accelerated timelines and budgets.

I have always felt indebted to the Pitt co-op program because I believe that it jumpstarted my career. For this reason, I wanted to give back to the school and provide other students with the same opportunity. I became a lead recruiter for McNeil Consumer Healthcare, the company of J&J that produces Tylenol® and Motrin®, among other leading brands. Because of the fantastic talent that my partner and I were recruiting from Pitt, other departments at McNeil started requesting Pitt co-ops and the number of positions grew. Unfortunately, some circumstances presented themselves at McNeil that caused several plant closures and many jobs to be eliminated, which included co-op positions. I had already offered positions to these co-ops, but I knew that it was my responsibility to not let them down. I remembered being the student jumping around my living room hearing the news that I had gotten my first co-op job offer. I called several contacts at other J&J companies and luckily found placement for those co-ops. Because of this effort, I was awarded with the Lou Takacs Award by the Cooperative & Experiential Education Division (CEED), which is a national award for “employers who have made significant, honorable, and meritorious contributions to the promotion of the philosophy and practice of cooperative in engineering and technology” CED Lou Takacs Award Guidelines. To this day, the award is proudly displayed at my desk and is one of my proudest moments because it is a testament to my ethics and values.

Not only has the Swanson engineering school and its co-op program impacted my life, but also three of my younger siblings. Ray (chemical engineering, ’12) had co-op experiences at Tetra Tech and Johnson & Johnson. He now works for BASF, a global chemical company, in their rotational leadership development program. Stephan (industrial engineering, ’14) has had several rotations for Volvo Construction and has been able to apply process improvement tools that he has learned in the classroom. Julia (industrial engineering, ’16) just transferred into the Swanson School of Engineering as a sophomore, but she is already planning her first co-op rotation for next summer or fall. I am unbelievably proud and excited for all of them!

I will end on the single piece of advice that I have given to my siblings, my co-ops, and any college student that I meet: find a co-op! And when you are on that co-op, try to get as much real experience as possible. Ask as many questions as you can. Immerse yourself in the culture. If you do not feel that you are doing value added work, talk to your manager and find out what you need to prove to get assigned to that work. Create measurable goals and a plan with him/her to ensure that you get the most out of your rotation. Co-op is your in-person interview, so be motivated, inquisitive, and don’t waste this opportunity! It has the potential to direct your life.

Laura (Chessa) Natal, PMP Chemical Engineering ‘07

Nominations Open for Co-op Student of the Year, Co-op Employer of the Year The co-op program is fortunate to have strong employer partners and smart, capable students. Co-op Student of the Year and Co-op Employer of the Year recognize the time, effort, and hard work both parties have contributed. This is the time of year to think about those outstanding companies and individuals and submit nominations for the 2013 awards.

The criteria for Co-op Student of the Year are:

1. Excellent academic record

2. Outstanding work contributions with co-op employer (students must have three rotations completed)

3. Volunteerism or contributions to co-op or University community. Ideally, we would like to have one nominee from each department. The University of Pittsburgh can select one candidate to represent us in the National Co-op Student of the Year competition, which is sponsored by the Cooperative Education Division of the American Society for Engineering Education. The winner will be sent to our annual conference, this year to be held in Savannah, Georgia, in February 2014. The winner will receive recognition at our annual conference along with a plaque and check for $500. We have won this award twice and have had many outstanding finalists.

The criteria for Co-op Employer of the Year are:

1. Sustained commitment to cooperative education at the University of Pittsburgh

2. Quality of projects and assignments

The Co-op Employer of the Year and all Pitt Co-op of the Year nominees will be honored at our annual recognition dinner scheduled for Friday, December 6, 2013, at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association.

We look forward to accepting your nominations. Please submit your nomination by Friday, October 11, 2013, to Maureen Barcic at [email protected]. Feel free to contact her with all questions pertaining to the nomination process.

NSBE Leaders Sossena Wood and Ashley McCray

“ask as many questions as you can. Immerse yourself in the culture. If you do not feel that you are doing value added work, talk to your manager and find out what you need to prove to get assigned to that work. Create measurable goals and a plan with him/her to ensure that you get the most out of your rotation. Co-op is your in-person interview, so be motivated, inquisitive, and don’t waste this opportunity!”

Laura (Chessna) Natal

BSChE ’07

The four Chessa siblings (left to right) – Stephan (anticipated BSIE ’14), Laura (BSChE ’07), Julia (anticipated BSIE ‘16), and Ray (BSChE ’12).