Athena Abate
	2011
	Electrical Engineering
	The SI Organization
	Systems Engineer

What do you do in your current position? I will be working on a variety of different projects. For the beginning, I'll be shadowing individuals on some work concepts that deal with government consulting. I will also be a large part and the main connection to The SI's Virginia location for their Branding department. The SI divested from Lockheed Martin a little over a year ago and they are working to get their name recognized. So I will be a part of that endeavor. I will also be working a lot with business development by assisting with proposals for future contracts.

How has your PSU engineering education/experiences helped to get you where you are today? A Penn State engineering education has allowed me to know that I can solve any problems that come forth. Because of opportunities that I was provided at Penn State through Engineering Ambassadors and Women in Engineering, I realized that I had such a strong desire to work with people and deal with technical communications. I do not believe I would be as sure of things that I love today if it were not for Penn State's wide variety of curricular and extra curricular opportunities.

How has your experience as an EA impacted your professional life so far? EA helped shape my speaking and presentation skills which shone through at my internship with The SI in Summer 2011. It was through this experience that I was offered a full time position that will match many of my current career interests. Through EA I have received critiques, dealt with different schools and diverse students plus those quick deadlines, I know that I have many skills that allow me to be more well rounded in the workforce. EA helped me shape into a linchpin so that I will work to show, I cannot be replaced!