The University of West Virginia is where future professionals belong – international educational

Students at the University of West Virginia continue to work for some of the largest companies today. John Walker (86th grade) is President of Houston Dynamo FC, a football team competing in the Basic League football; Rick Lugher (Class of ’94) is Vice President of Global Product Communications for GoPro; Jeff Hertrick (class of ’91) is the director of digital video operations at National Geographic. The list goes on.

The recent graduate Stephen Jacobs is the most recent one that will be included in the SpaceX job list as a flight controller. “I am excited at SpaceX to run the boundaries of the human space flight into the Starship program,” he says. “I am glad that with my hard work, I not only approach humanity until the day when there are steps on Mars, but also support the creation of the largest satellite constellation in history to provide the internet to millions of people around the embarkation of a world that would otherwise not otherwise was connected. “

Jacobs has the Benjamin M Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources to thank for his current position at the US Space Technology Company. Here he pursues not one but two bachelor’s degrees – mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering – both gave him the necessary skills and resources to stand out from the demanding market.

At Statler College you will have the opportunity to solve real -world problems and achieve goals together as a team. Source: University Western Virginia

“Statler’s college provided me with both the technical knowledge and the practical experience that helped me stand out in my work,” he says. “There are countless opportunities in WVU to get involved and to be a leader and take advantage of these opportunities, you get much more than college and stand out so much for employers.”

It was during this time that he had an attempt to represent the University of Utah as the leader of the University Rover Challenge 2023. Under his leadership, the team won first place in the same year, along with the best points in several categories: the perfect result in the scientific mission, First, in the mission for extreme extraction and delivery and second highest in the mission to review the equipment acceptance and servicing system. These victories attracted the attention of Spacex and the company did not waste time offering Jacobs a job on the way home from competition.

Statler college teams provide opportunities and prepare you to become a professional in the industry. Jacobs proudly holds the trophy of the world champion of the URC race. Source: University Western Virginia

Finding your people and goal at the University of West Virginia

There are various student organizations and groups other than the University Rover Challenge team. With over 450 of them at the University of West Virginia, you will surely find a few that are aligned with your interests and values. The student of biomedical engineering Sonia-Frida Dandon found hers when she first stepped into the campus as a freshman. Ndifon does not waste time to join by participating in more than five student organizations – the African Student Association is one of them.

From the Secretary to the President of the Organization, NDIFON organizes many events under its leadership, including the annual cooking year, the annual African night and a trip to Washington in collaboration with other organizations. As a member of biomedical engineering, she presented her project for oseointegration, a surgical procedure that can reduce skin irritation and pain for amputated Excel conference in San Antonio, Texas.

Ndifon admits that being active as in the classroom, helps her develop the necessary soft skills such as leadership, communication, teamwork and organization, all important for the pursuit of her medicine at the University Medicine School. But most importantly, joining these clubs, organizations and service as an ambassador of Statler College gave her a memory that she will never forget.

“Some of my most memorable moments at Statler College are interacting with future and arriving students,” she says. “We recently had a day to visit high school where we had high school students to come to the campus. I served on the student panel, answering questions from students and their parents about my WVU experience. It was beautiful to be able to encourage students to come to WVU for school while pursuing my goal of becoming a doctor. “

You will experience the university’s community and belongers in the classroom – and outside. Source: University Western Virginia

The tight community, not only in the classroom, but also outside it, is what makes the university feel like a home away from home. With your professors and peers ready to translate you through your academic trip, you will experience a community of senses and belonging to the University of Western Virginia, which is second.

“The prevailing feeling I got was that WVU people really wanted to share the beauty of Western Virginia and WVU values ​​with as many people as possible,” says Jacobs. “The hospitality of West Virginia is also a little different than what I was used to in Tennessee, but I think any of my hometown would recognize it as the same kindness.”

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