Each week, the College of Engineering highlights an outstanding member of our engineering community. This week, we are featuring general engineering student William Walz.

What made you choose engineering?

From a young age I always asked "how?” How does an engine work? How does my refrigerator keep my food cold? How did we land on the moon? Sometimes it was excessive, but I am truly cursed by curiosity, and no field enables the discovery of how quite like engineering. As I grew older, I took over my family’s dining room table and got my hands on a 3D printer, remote-controlled cars and any broken items that had screws on the outside so I could take them apart. Entering high school, I had the chance to be part of an engineering-focused pathway that included three years of classes to fuel my curiosity. By that point, I knew that an engineering degree would be my starting point for going out into the world and answering the question “how?”

What was your earliest engineering project?

After many years of building Lego Technic 4x4 trucks and cars, I was gifted a 3D printer when I was 11 years old. This technology was new in households at the time and, frankly, I was probably too young to use it, but over time I learned how to troubleshoot errors and failed prints. After I got the hang of designing simple parts, my brain was full of project ideas. At the top of the list was building a mini fridge. Armed with YouTube videos and parts sourced from China, I created a small thermoelectric mini fridge using 3D-printed hinges, a handle and a built-in bottle opener. Unknowingly, I was learning research and development at a young age: I researched different design options, tested different Styrofoam coolers and implemented safety around AC power. In the end, I built a compact electric fridge with a thermostat using an undeniably inefficient technology. But efficiency was never the goal of the project; the goal was to create something that had once been just a vision in my mind.

Where do you like to hang out on campus?

The Cal Poly campus, with its many outdoor spaces and greenery, was a huge selling point for me. I enjoy hanging out on the lawn outside Engineering IV, and every so often, I’ll use the rear-facing deck on the third floor when I just need a quiet place to unwind between classes.

What has been your favorite class and why?

Hearing about Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing philosophy and participating in it are two very different things. My first true hands-on course was MATE 215 with professor Christine Kurtz. Working alongside two peers, we conducted eight different labs using furnaces, liquid nitrogen and real-world materials testing equipment. This three-hour lab would go by quickly when I was busy taking thermometer readings with my groupmates to map the phase diagram of an alloy. Professor Kurtz gave clear instructions on using the machinery and encouraged us to pull together our knowledge as a group before asking a question about the lab report. Another great class I enjoyed just as much was IME 144 with professor Brian Lutz. We started using the lathes on the first day of the lab, and although it was a bit intimidating, Professor Lutz did an excellent job and always welcomed questions. I thrived in this space, learning how to use the mill and lathes, making my own threads on parts and assembling my own air motor. The course truly had us actively learning and making mistakes side by side in a way traditional lectures do not. I left with industry skills, parts I made myself and friendships.

What engineering project are you currently working on?

This summer I am working with professor Nicole Johnson-Glauch on a SURP research project. We are focusing on how the complexity of our engineering programs impacts engineering students’ success at Cal Poly. After meeting early on, we agreed to narrow our research to the General Engineering Program at Cal Poly, investigating why its graduation rate is lower  compared with other engineering degrees. This project has introduced me to curricular analytics while engaging my personal interest in learning sciences. Being a general engineering major and working alongside my program director offers me a unique experience full of one-on-one lessons and professional development opportunities. We will present our research at the SURP+ Symposium in October with the goal of revising how general engineering students are advised.

Are you part of any extracurriculars on or off campus?

I am a member of the Cal Poly Competitive Roundnet Team. As an avid casual Spikeball player in high school, I never thought that I would have the opportunity to join a competitive team. I was unsure at first, but my teammates assured me it would be a great time. One weekend we traveled to a tournament, played against other teams and enjoyed the competition. The next week, we were playing at Avila Beach and getting lunch together. Having a group of peers from different backgrounds has been helpful in navigating the new environment that is college life. Needless to say, I am excited to get back on the field with my teammates and continue our legacy as the best team in the West!