June 4, 2024
A Beaver, Ohio native, Kaylee Engle is double-majoring in Plastics Engineering Technology and Computer Aided Design & Manufacturing Technology at Shawnee State University. Enrolling in SSU because it was close to home, Engle received a scholarship through ASCENT – the Appalachian Semiconductor Education & Technical Ecosystem. The ecosystem is designed to prepare students for upcoming careers with the new Intel plant in Ohio.
“Receiving this scholarship has made a huge impact for me,” said Engle. “Not only do I get the financial help, but it helps motivate me to work hard.”
Taking engineering courses in high school through the Pike County Career Technical Center, Engle found a passion for engineering.
“I’m a very hands-on person, so getting to work on the machines and materials is my favorite part,” she said.
Inspired by the good reputation of the Engineering Technologies department, Engle decided to continue her education and double-major at SSU.
“After research and touring the Plastics Lab at Shawnee, I knew that’s where I needed to be,” she said.
Learning hands-on from her first semester in the programs, Engle is grateful for how her engineering courses are preparing her real-life situations and procedures.
“My classes are preparing me by getting familiar with the machines early on, writing reports, and learning in detail about the processes,” she said.
Looking towards her future, Engle is excited to be entering a fast-pace field, but to also serve as a mentor and motivator for others like her wanting to be in the engineering industry.
“Getting to be a Plastics Engineer is my dream, but my number one goal is to inspire other women in STEM to become what they set out to be,” she said.
Scholarship grants funded by Intel and awarded through the ASCENT partnership are being used throughout the southeastern Appalachian region to prepare students for career opportunities that will be created by Intel’s arrival to Ohio and the growth of the semiconductor and advanced manufacturing industries in the Midwest.
Scholarships for incoming freshmen entering select Engineering Technologies programs at Shawnee State University are still available for Fall 2024. Applications received by July 1 will be given priority consideration. To learn more, visit shawnee.edu/intel.