Undergraduate Student Spotlights
Bridge Builder
For Christian Dennis, everyday moments and close friendships amplify the quality of life. Those experiences make a difference. Likewise, it is the time he invests and the work he is doing as an engineering student that is making a difference in people's lives.
Dreamer and Doer
For Patty Dirlam, a junior majoring in civil engineering, engineering to make a difference means getting your hands dirty and experiencing life.
Active Researcher
On-campus research opportunities and summer internships have provided invaluable real-world experiences for Zachary Kowalczyk, a double major in electrical engineering and computer science engineering.
Difference Maker
A junior from Lagos, Nigeria, David "Seun" Odun-Ayo has a passion for technology and a heart for people, two of the key factors in any successful engineering career.
Power Connector
Annalise Arroyo, who is pursuing a degree in electrical engineering with a concentration in multimedia, has taken advantage of several opportunities to tap into the engineering community and hands-on experiences while at Notre Dame.
Problem Solver
Pairing an engineering major with a corporate practice minor was a logical choice for Seth Cattanach. He will graduate with a degree in computer engineering in 2020 at which time he hopes to work with big data and machine learning.
Team Player
According to Holly Miller, a chemical engineering major from Canton, Ohio, the camaraderie and support she has found among her classmates and the accessibility of the professors for students are two of the things that make Notre Dame engineering special.
Care Giver
César Martín Moreno has a passion for learning and giving back — connecting his career goals with the community that is so important to him. A Balfour-Hesburgh Scholar, he's pursuing a dual major in chemical engineering and neuroscience behavior.
Cool Classes: Software Development for Drones
For seniors Bart Janczuk and Daniel Guerra and junior Tim Blazek, their drone coding class has turned into a high-tech game of “Simon Says.” At least, that’s what they’re hoping they’ll be able to get their drone to do when they test-fly it in late April.
Mover and Shaker
Jorge Luis Melendez Erazo opted to earn two degrees: one in physics from Stonehill College and one in mechanical engineering from Notre Dame. Earning two degrees has kept him pretty busy, but it has also given him some unique opportunities and opened up a variety of career options.
Path Finder
Katherine Cameron, a part of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps at Notre Dame, is studying aerospace engineering. She has found that the best way to reach a goal and measure success is to learn little lessons along the way.
Lifetime Learner
Cristina Chavez, a junior studying mechanical engineering, believes learning something new and sharing those experiences with others is what it's all about.
Back to Basics
What started as a project focusing on access to electricity in rural Tanzania morphed into a pilot program targeting dangerous cooking practices.
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.
