Major: Aerospace Engineering, Astronautics Concentration
Hometown: Aurora, CO
What made you choose engineering?
I have always been a problem-solver ever since I was little, and engineering was the path where I would be able to solve some of the biggest problems that we’re facing today, some of which haven’t even been thought of yet. Engineering is a constant process of learning, failing and trying new things until you figure out something that works, and that is going to keep me interested in it for a lifetime.
What is your favorite place in San Luis Obispo County and why?
My favorite place is Prefumo Canyon. Any time I’m driving back to SLO from Avila, I love driving through the canyon and taking the long way home because there are so many sites to see. From the little orchards tucked into the canyons to the views from the top of the mountain, it makes you feel like you are in a different world, and it really can’t be beat.
What was your earliest engineering project?
My earliest engineering project was the first project I got involved with in Cal Poly Space Systems. I was helping our Alka Rocket team in a competition to see who could make a rocket powered by Alka Selzer tablets that went the highest. I helped with assembly and testing and flew down to Florida to represent CPSS at the final competition.
Where do you like to hang out on campus?
I’m thankful this year to have access to the Spacecraft Design Lab open to seniors in the astronautics concentration, but when I’m not there I like to hang out in the back corner of the third floor of the library. There are always other AERO students up there, so it’s a great place to study because I know there will be another person working on the same thing as I am who can answer questions.
What are your hobbies?
Outside of engineering, I am most involved with Mustang News here on campus. I am a video producer for Mustang News, and I focus on helping produce live events and sports recaps for them. I take my photo and video skills outside of the newsroom and have been focusing on film photography recently too.
What has been your favorite class and why?
My favorite class so far has been our Spacecraft Attitude, Dynamics and Control class, AERO 421. This class goes over how to figure out where a spacecraft is, where it’s pointing and how to point it where you want. This is a very intuitive thing for humans to do but becomes incredibly complex when you have to explain it to a computer. The challenge of trying to convert something from our own human intuition into something more concrete is what is super fascinating to me.
What’s your dream job after graduation?
I have been interested in rocketry since I started here at Cal Poly, and I want to be involved for long after. The most exciting part of it for me is launching. My dream job after school is to be a launch controller for a rocket and be in mission control where all the excitement is. Hopefully, I will even be able to use my experience in Mustang News to help with the launch livestreams.
What do you think engineering’s biggest impact on the world will be in the future?
I think engineering’s biggest impact is going to be in shaping the world around us. It’s the engineer’s job to bring ideas to reality, and there are a lot of ways that engineers are going to be instrumental in shaping how our cities look and how we maintain the world that we live in that are going to be the most important.
