Major: Mechanical Engineering
Minor: Mathematics
Hometown: Moon Township, Pennsylvania
Scholarships: Penn State Provost Award
Why he chose Behrend: In high school, I benefited from knowing my teachers, so when looking for colleges, I wanted a place with small classes to allow me to know my professors. I wanted to get good value for my money from college, and Behrend had a good balance of price and academic reputation.
Why he chose his major: I have always been fascinated by how things work and have a passion for problem-solving. Mechanical engineering offers the perfect blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application, allowing me to turn ideas into tangible solutions.
Campus involvement: Tau Beta Pi (vice president of PA Mu Chapter since April 2024), American Society of Mechanical Engineers at Behrend (treasurer since April 2024), Behrend Robotics Club (vice president since April 2024, previous positions: president, treasurer, and University Rover Challenge (URC) team lead), Behrend Engineering Ambassadors
Awards and honors: Undergraduate Student Academic Year Research Grant (2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years), Penn State Behrend Undergraduate Student Summer Research Fellowship (Summers 2023 and 2024), Penn State Behrend Sigma Xi Conference Best Engineering Presentation Award (2024), Schreyer Honors College (since June 2023), Behrend Honors Program (January 2022 – May 2023)
His proudest accomplishment at Behrend: In May of 2024, I got the opportunity to travel to Long Beach, California, to present my research on “Nature Inspired 3D Printed Geometries for Enhanced Resistance to High Velocity Impacts” at the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering 2024 Conference. This research was then later published in the SAMPE journal in September.
On overcoming challenges: Balancing research, club responsibilities, work, and academics has been challenging at times. Learning to manage my time effectively and prioritize tasks has been crucial in navigating these commitments.
What makes him unique: I think that my interdisciplinary interests make me unique. Even though I am a mechanical engineering student, I am involved in other engineering disciplines. During my time at Behrend, I took 12 credits of computer engineering classes that weren’t required by my major so that I could learn more about the subject. In both of my internships with Wabtec, a majority of my work has been based around computer programming. Additionally, my role in my senior design project involves designing and programming a control board.
What people might be surprised to know about him: When I started college, I had little interest in completing an honors program or doing research. This is hard to believe now that so much of my time at Behrend has been spent working on research projects.
His top priority for the coming years: My highest priority is to continue learning. While my learning at Behrend is coming to an end, I know that I will have plenty to learn as I start at Wabtec.
His passions: I am passionate about continuous learning, constantly challenging myself, and using my skills in a way that will improve the world.
Advice for first-year students: Embrace every opportunity that comes your way. Engage in various activities, seek out leadership roles, and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. These experiences will shape your personal and professional growth in ways you can’t yet imagine.
After graduation in May, Adam will work at Wabtec as part of their LEAD engineering program.