Laura Pickering '19

Major: mechanical engineering
Next Port: cab engineer at Daimler Trucks North America

What are you most excited about for your Next Port?

I am most excited to be in a new environment and apply all of the knowledge I have gained from my last four years at UP, while still learning more. I’m excited to meet new people and gain more experience.

What is your favorite memory from UP?

Although all of my memories from UP are my favorite, the one that specifically comes to mind is not necessarily a memory yet, but will for sure be a top memory in the future. My capstone project was to adapt a child’s Power Wheels car so that a child with mobility impairments targeting their arms and legs could be able to drive it. We, as a team, have been meeting with the cutest 6-year-old boy who has severe mobility impairments, limiting him to movement only in his arms and legs, and his family for a few weeks to make sure the car works for him, and they will be taking the car home for him after our final presentation. This experience has been so rewarding, and to be able to see our project be put into action and make the child so extremely happy will be a memory I will cherish forever.           

Was there a faculty or staff member, or department that specially helped you land your Next Port?

I actually got my job through the SWE national conference over fall break of this year. I hit it off with the company representatives during the career fair and they interviewed me on the spot, and then offered me the position the Monday after. I also think that all of my professors have taught me such important things regarding team work, design processes, and all of the technical knowledge that will get me so far in engineering and life in general.