Christine Hildenbrand
	Mechanical Engineering
	Engineering Leadership Development, Energy Engineering
	Class of 2014

Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

High School: North Allegheny High School

Extracurricular Activities: Women in Engineering Program Orientation, Engineering Orientation Network, Engineering House, Society of Women Engineers, WEP Girl Scout Saturdays Outreah, THON OPPerations, Campus Crusade for Christ

Internship/Co-op Experience: Disney College Program, Phillips 66

Why did you choose to come to Penn State? I chose to come to Penn State for several reasons. I wanted to come to a school that has great academics with opportunities for student-faculty interaction and undergraduate research. The College of Engineering has several programs to assist incoming freshmen, students seeking internships, and upper classmen with career preparation. Penn State also has diverse activities and clubs, strong athletic programs, and a vast alumni network. The strong school spirit creates a fun and exciting atmosphere on campus. I chose Penn State for many reasons, and I’ve never looked back!

What has been your best memory as an engineering student? My favorite memories as an engineering student are my experiences with other students through my engineering clubs and classes. You have the opportunity to network and interact with students from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. I now have friends working as engineers on several continents and with some really interesting companies. All of these interactions have shown me ways to expand my engineering education.

What advice would you give a first-year engineer? Enjoy your time at Penn State! I know that coming to college can be very intimidating, but you can do it! The first few weeks may be overwhelming, but once you get a handle on things, you’ll be fine. Don’t stress out and always feel free to ask for help and advice!

What do you plan to do after graduation? After graduation, I plan on working for an energy company with green energy initiatives and sustainable energy goals.

What has been your best experience outside of engineering at Penn State? I love the opportunities that Penn State students have to expand their learning outside the classroom! I spent the summer after my freshman year studying engineering in Central America through the Semester at Sea program. I spent a semester working in Walt Disney World as part of the Disney College Program. This past summer, I had an internship in an oil refinery where I learned about the refining process and the machinery in the plant. All of my experiences have taught me more about engineering and have made me even more excited about my studies at Penn State!