Undergraduate Student Spotlights

Notre Dame Rocket Team Reaches New Heights

The Notre Dame Rocket Team earned the highest scores in the team’s history to place in the Top 10 of NASA’s 2018 Student Launch competition in Huntsville, Ala., and received its first ever perfect score on presentation professionalism.

Concrete Canoe Team Takes Student Conference by Storm

Notre Dame ASCE teams, including the Concrete Canoe team, headed to Chicago for the ASCE Great Lakes Student Conference.

Faith and Engineering

When asked “What is the most important thing you have learned as an engineering student,” most undergraduates talk about the technical side of engineering. Many mention the benefits of teamwork. Senior environmental engineering major Claire Nauman believes the most important thing she’s developed at Notre Dame is a more authentic faith life.

Internship Experience Leads to Change of Major and SMART Scholarship

Steven Eisemann began his time at Notre Dame intending to major in electrical engineering. Three internships later, he is studying computer science and has just been awarded a SMART scholarship by the Department of Defense where he will continue his pursuit of a career in national security.

A Passion for Technology and the Betterment of Society

Matthew Perez began his engineering career as an electrical engineer. But after taking some introductory courses, he found he enjoyed coding and the skills it developed. That’s also when he became interested in undergraduate research and how it could help him make a difference.

Real People. Real Friends. Real Life.

A double major in mechanical engineering and math, Katherine Shih says, “People talk about how hard engineering is, and it is not a cakewalk. But it’s worth it, especially if you go out of your way to find new friends and new experiences. You have to focus on the big picture.”

No Experience? No Problem

When Theodore Dilenschneider came to Notre Dame, he knew he loved three things — chemistry, math, and problem solving. He also knew he’d need some practical experience and help applying his talents and love for those things to a career. Hands-on research as an undergraduate gave him the experience to succeed and the confidence to thrive.

Perseverance Pays Off

“I began my time at Notre Dame as a mechanical engineering major, but I switched to aerospace engineering,” says Jean Pierre Clarke. It hasn’t been an easy or a straight path, but that doesn’t bother Clarke. “I try to not get narrow minded in life by working out defined pathways to my long-term goals because things never work out how you plan them. Instead I embrace opportunities and work with the resources I have to the best of my ability.”

Waking up to Big Ben

London, England, is a long way from Brighton, Mich., but Mary Kate O’Leary felt right at home. A chemical engineering major who is also pursuing a concentration in biomolecular engineering, O’Leary spent a summer studying in London, which according tower was “the best experience of her life.”

Senior Design Projects: A Fitting Capstone to Four Years

Every senior in the College of Engineering is required to complete a capstone project. It's a different challenge in each department, but all projects start from the ground up. Some, like the projects for aerospace engineering majors, really take flight.

Even before Graduation, Engineers Bring Solutions to Life

At graduation engineering students step away from the classroom and into the engineering profession. Often, however, they have already had experiences working as engineers and coming up with solutions to real-life challenges.

Dual Degree. Singular Focus.

According to Katrina Gonzales, "it's all about fit and balance." For Gonzales, finding the balance between her dual degrees in computer science and economics while fully immersing herself in the university experience is a great investment for her future.

ND Undergraduates Score off the Gridiron

Since the days of the Four Horsemen, the Fighting Irish have been known for their activities on the gridiron. Robot football at Notre Dame, which has been supported by The Boeing Company, offers rousing competition against other universities. More than that, it is a chance for the students to gain hands-on experience.

Senior Ian Tembe Talks about Research, Pursuit of Fellowships, and His Experience with CUSE

Although The Flatley Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement works with over 1,000 Domers each year, not everyone knows about all of its services. Even then it’s good to get the perspective of someone who has experienced those services, like the College of Engineering’s Ian Tembe.

Fellowships Can Lead to Working at High Frequencies

Students like Nicolas Garcia are finding that fellowship programs are golden opportunities to gain valuable skills, especially in areas like nanoscience and nanoengineering.

The Flip Side of Rebuilding Infrastructure: Engineering with Neighbors

There’s a side to service projects that you might only get to see if you’re an engineering student working as part of a community initiative like the Bowman Creek Educational Ecosystem Project. It may take you out of your comfort zone, you’ll definitely get your hands dirty, and your life will be forever changed.

"A Letter to My Freshman Self": Be There. Do This.

Two Notre Dame students, Jingting Kang and Iam Tembe, have edited an anthology of letters through where graduating seniors and Notre Dame alumni talk to their freshman selves. A total of 65 letters reflect on the undergraduate experience, providing tips and encouragement along the way. Their book was published in June 2016.