Alex Sherry
	Chemical Engineering
	Class of 2014

Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

High School: Chartiers Valley High School

Extracurricular Activities: THON, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS)

Why did you choose to come to Penn State? When it came to choosing the right college for me, academics was my top priority. I chose to come to Penn State because Penn State University is one of the best academic institutions in the entire nation. More specifically, when it comes to pursuing an engineering degree, there is no better place to go than Penn State’s College of Engineering. With its top of the line faculty and professors and always increasing research efforts, a degree from Penn State’s College of Engineering will do wonders for anyone’s future. Besides the academic side of Penn State, I chose Penn State because as soon as you step one foot on to the campus, you immediately feel a sense of community and school pride. You are no longer just a college student pursuing his/her degree. You are a part of something so much larger than you could possibly realize. Because of this is why I truly understand the reason behind “WE ARE . . . PENN STATE!”

What has been your best memory as an engineering student? My best memory as an engineering student was being accepted into the Engineering Ambassador program. As an Engineering Ambassador, we pride ourselves on becoming world class engineers while changing the conversation about engineering to students, alumni, and industrial partners. I love the fact that we are the ones who strive to show what engineering is all about and what it could mean for our future. I know that by being a part of this program that I will gain great communication and leadership skills while hopefully inspiring others to want to be a part of Penn State’s engineering programs.

What advice would you give a first-year engineer? The advice I would give to a first-year engineer is to keep your priorities straight. College is a lot of fun and you get involved in many different things and meet many different people, but academics should always remain your first priority. You or your parents are paying good money to give you the best education possible, and everything else that you get involved with outside of academics is just part of the college experience. It is so important to have a nice balance between your school work, your extracurricular activities, and your social life. If you are able to do this successfully, then college will be the best four years of your life.

What do you plan to do after graduation? After graduation, I plan to get a job with a prestigious company that is in high demand for chemical engineers. As of now, there is no one particular company I would like to get involved in, but the top two fields of chemical engineering that I would like to get involved with are energy and fuels and bioprocessing. This might allow me to be employed by such companies as Shell, Exxon, or Bayer. At some point I might want to get my master’s degree in chemical engineering, but as of now, I want to get a job first. With a chemical engineering degree from Penn State, I know that I will have plenty of opportunities to show my expertise.

What has been your best experience outside of engineering at Penn State? My best experience outside of engineering at Penn State is getting involved with THON. The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon otherwise known as THON is the world’s largest student run philanthropy where Penn State students raise millions of dollars every year for children with pediatric cancer who are a part the Four Diamonds Fund at the Hershey Medical Center that culminates into a 46 hour no sitting, no sleeping dance marathon. I have never felt more a part of the Penn State community than when I am involved with THON. I find so much joy in being a part of something so selfless that saves so the lives of so many innocent children. THON is what separates Penn State apart from any other university. I have never seen so many people let alone college students give so much time and effort to something as wonderful as raising money for children with pediatric cancer. Because of Penn State and THON, I know that I will have the college experience of a lifetime.