Engineering | Mechanical Engineering | Undergraduate studies

Engineering Convocation
Exit interview 2005

Director of Undergraduate Studies Prof. Mitchell Smooke said at the Engineering Commencement Convocation:

Mechanical Engineering offers three degree programs: B.A. degree in Engineering Sciences (Mechanical) requiring 8 classes plus four prerequisites. B.S. degree in Engineering Sciences  (Mechanical) requiring 12 classes plus 6 prerequisites and a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering (ABET) requiring 17.5 classes and 6 prerequisites. The degree choice for a student depends upon factors such as career plans, his/her background upon entering Yale as well as the possibility of double majoring in another program.

In 2005, we had eleven majors. Eight chose the ABET degree, two chose the B.S. and one chose the B.A.

Prof. Smooke introduced the graduates present at the Engineering Convocation:

Charles Ambler:

Charlie is graduating with the ABET degree. He is also the recipient of the McCroskey Prize in Mechanical Engineering. While at Yale, Charlie was a trip leader and officer for the Yale Outdoors Club, and he was active in intramural sports in Calhoun College, serving as an Intramural Secretary for the past 3 years.

To graduate with distinction in the major, a student needs an A/A- on his/her senior project and A/A-‘s in 2/3’s of the major’s core classes. This is routinely achieved by over 50% of the Yale College graduates but not in Engineering. Typically, only 10-15% of our Mechanical Engineering students achieve this honor. While we have a number of students that came close this year, Charlie is the only one who met the rigorous requirements and will graduate with Distinction in Mechanical Engineering.

Next year he will be working for Northrop Grumman in Washington, DC.

 

Abena Asare:

Abena is graduating with the ABET degree in Mechanical Engineering. She has served as a Yale College Freshman Counselor; she has been a board member at the Afro-American Cultural Center and has served as the Secretary and membership Chair of the National Society of Black Engineers. In addition she was a member of the Yale Scientific magazine staff.

In the fall she will be working at Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn, MI.

 

Murray Carson:

Murray is graduating with the B.S. degree in Engineering Sciences. During his four years at Yale, Murray became the only Yale MechE student in recent history to travel to the North Pole. His picture is on the cover of the Engineering "Orange Book" [it is one of the enlarged covers hanging on the wall of the Engineering Business Office]. In addition, Murray participated in Living Water, Yale's Christian a capella group, the Yale College Chess Club, and several martial arts clubs. 

He is very happy to have gotten the chance to work in two machine shops during his time at Yale and to have received the experience of working with such a diverse staff in the Mechanical and Electrical Engineering departments. All of the above led to the building of two functioning robots. He is most proud, however, to have been able to keep his faith during his four years at Yale.

Murray plans on attending graduate school some time after graduation and he hopes to work on a NASA project this summer.

 

Daniel Conner:

Dan is graduating with the ABET degree in Mechanical Engineering. While at Yale, Dan was extremely involved with the MechE design program. He was both a competitor and a Teaching Assistant Afor MENG 185, and he was the student who spearheaded the 'better keg tap' design in the Senior Design Class. Dan also built a toxin-seeking dog for Lecturer Natalie Jeremijenko in MENG 386.  

While at Yale, he was an active member of the Men's Club Water Polo team for four years (captain senior year) and the Yale Surf Team (officer for junior and senior years). The water polo team managed to achieve top 4 finishes at the Nationals his junior and senior years.

Dan hopes to pursue a design career most notably with Bechtel Engineering.

 

Justin Elliott:

Justin is graduating with the ABET degree in Mechanical Engineering. During his four years at Yale Justin was a member of the Air Force ROTC. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant and pilot-in-training on May 6th, 2005. Justin is the recipient of the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) award and was selected as the Air Force’s Detachment 115 Blue Chip candidate to attend graduate school this coming fall. He also was a member of the varsity swimming team from 2001-2004.

His long-term plans are to obtain his MechE masters degree, fly fighters for the Air Force, and ultimately to apply to NASA to be an Astronaut.

 

Amanda Kendrick:

Amanda is graduating with the ABET degree in Mechanical Engineering. While at Yale, Amanda was a member of the Yale Women’s Crew Team. One of her proudest moments in her career at Yale was taking 2nd place in last year's (2004) NCAA Rowing Championships, but as good as this was, they won the championships this year. 

After graduation she will be competing at the NCAA Rowing Championships and then the team will travel to England to race in the Henley Royal Regatta.

 

Aaron Shelley:

Aaron is graduating with the B.S. degree in Engineering Sciences with a double major in Economics. While at Yale, Aaron was a member of the Varsity Football team freshman year. He was a tenor in the Living Water a capella group for 4 years and he raced on the Alpine Ski team for 4 years. He was the Founding Father and Chaplain of Sigma Phi Epsilon the CT Delta Chapter (frat) and he was the Freshman Bible Study Leader for Yale Students for Christ during his senior year.

After graduation he will be working for Acxiom in Conway, AR, as a Unix system administrator, engineer and architect. 

 

Yusef Syed:

Yusef is graduating with the ABET degree in Mechanical Engineering. During his time at Yale he was a Yale Student Outdoors Club Leader, a Staff Photographer for the Yale Daily News, the President of the Yale Cricket Club, and a member of Engineers Without Borders. Over the summer he will continue working on the assembly of an ultra high vacuum chamber that is a continuation of his senior project.

In the fall, he will attend graduate school in Mechanical Engineering at UCLA.

 

Ryan Wickre:

Ryan is graduating with the ABET degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is the President of the Team Lux Solar Car project and is getting the club’s 5th car ready for a 2500 mile race in July from Austin, Texas, to Calgary, Alberta.

He hopes to work in the automotive field once the summer is over.

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Last modified: May 25, 2005. (ev)

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