Athena Abate

“Penn State Engineering Diversity has helped me find other women in the same field as me. I started out at the Penn State Hazelton campus and was eager to meet other women engineering students. My participation in WEPO helped create a network of female engineers that I can reach out to and turn to for comfort and understanding. After having served on the WEPO Leadership Team for the last three years, WEPO has become the perfect, and the only way, to start school each year regardless of the campus I attend.”

My name is Athena Abate. I am an electrical engineering senior from Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania in the Poconos. I’ve had the amazing opportunity to enjoy 3 co-op rotations with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland working on the Attitude Control Systems of unmanned spacecraft. I’m involved in a number of College of Engineering organizations including leadership in WEPO (Women in Engineering Program Orientation), an Envoy in the Career Resources Program, a sister in Phi Sigma Rho engineering sorority, an Engineering Ambassador for the College, a Transition Leader for Change of Campus students, and Envoy for the Electrical Engineering department. I also work part-time in the Engineering Career Resources and Employer Relations office.

Anne Branson

"WEP taught me that no matter how challenged you are, there are other women feeling EXACTLY the same way as you. These are also the same women who are willing to go eat massive amounts of chocolate with you and not pass judgment.  WEP helped me find my Penn State family and life long friends."

Terri Creech

“The Penn State Women in Engineering Program has given me a unique opportunity to explore various areas of Penn State, develop professional skills, and equip me with the tools that I'll need for the future. The WEP community is one of encouragement, empowerment, and excitement for women in engineering. I have made some of my very best friends through the program and love the mentorship opportunities available.”

Kaylee Damico

"When you surround yourself with great people you become an even greater person.  The Women in Engineering Program allowed me to gain the confidence and camaraderie to become a better woman, and engineer, than I ever thought I could be!”

My name is Kaylee Damico and I am a fifth year architectural engineering student with a minor in Architecture.  Growing up in Maryland, Penn State has become my home away from home with the help of WEP and my other school experiences!  I have been involved in WEP and WEPO since my first year moving my way up the WEP leadership ladder to Computer Lead in WEPO ‘09.  Additionally, I have been able to gain leadership experience as president of the Student Society of Architectural Engineers (SSAE) and treasurer of ASHRAE.   Being involved in other organizations, such as Society of Women Engineers, has helped me gain more experience and lifelong engineering friends.  In summer 2008, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Rome, Italy, and earned my Architecture minor.  This experience helped me grow and appreciate international travel.  I can’t wait to visit Italy again when I graduate in May 2011!

Haley Darst

“The skills and knowledge I’ve acquired through involvement with the Penn State Women in Engineering Program have been vital to my engineering success.  I have not only learned valuable tips and hints from upper-level women, but have been inspired to be the best I can be, and gained the confidence in myself to accomplish more than I ever imagined.” 

My name is Haley Darst and I am a fifth year senior in Architectural Engineering from Summerfield, North Carolina.  I graduate in May 2011 with a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering (B.A.E.) with a specific focus on lighting and electrical design in buildings.  Due to my passion for architectural lighting design, I was selected as a 2010-11 Ambassador for Project CANDLE Outreach; our goal is to educate high school students on the lighting design profession.   I’m also heavily involved with the Student Society of Architectural Engineers (SSAE), the Penn State Chapter of the Architectural Engineering Institute (AEI), where I currently serve as Historian (2010-11) and previously served as Public Relations Chair (2009-10.)  Since participating in the Women in Engineering Program Orientation (WEPO) as a first-year student in 2006, I have been fortunate to serve on WEPO Leadership Teams over the years which allowed me to develop important leadership skills.  I was selected as Rover, Mentor for two years, and as the 2010 Resource Innovations Lead.  I was also privileged to gain real world experience since my first-year, obtaining four different architectural engineering internships.  I worked as an AE intern for Light Defines Form, Burt Hill, KlingStubbins, and Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design, all in different states along the east coast.  No goal is too big if you set your heart and mind in the direction of your dreams!

Danielle DaSilva

“The Women in Engineering Program provided me with all the information I need to transition from a student to a professional engineer. Thanks to the long lasting friendships and support network I've created with the help of WEP, I have the confidence to achieve my engineering career dreams, no matter how big or small.”

My name is Danielle DaSilva and I'm a fourth-year senior from Hellertown, PA double-majoring in mechanical engineering and bioengineering.  I’ve had two internships with General Electric (GE), one in GE Healthcare and one within GE Transportation. At Penn State, I've held many leadership positions within the Society of Women Engineers, Penn State Lion Scouts, Biomedical Engineering Society and Engineering House. This past year, I served as Spirit Lead for the Women in Engineering Program Orientation (WEPO ‘10) where I had the chance to arrange lot of fun events for incoming first-year women engineers. In addition, I'm actively involved with the Engineering Ambassadors where I've given College of Engineering tours to prospective students, traveled to high schools to speak about engineering as a career path, and journeyed to Norway to assist with a technical communications workshop.  Lastly, I served as a dancer in THON last year which is hands down my biggest accomplishment as a Penn Stater.  All my experiences over the past four years have prepared me to excel as a Penn State engineer in the future.

Alyssa Dilsaver

“The Penn State Women in Engineering Program has given me countless resources, networking opportunities, and mentors that have helped me advance personally and professionally.”

My name is Alyssa Dilsaver and I’m from Nazareth, Pennsylvania.  I’m a senior in mechanical engineering, graduating in December 2011.  I currently serve as the 2010-11 president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and formerly served as ASME Public Relations executive (2009-10.)  In summer 2009 I served as a Counselor for the WEP MTM ’09 Engineering Camp for Girls. As an undergraduate engineer, I also work as a teaching assistant for Engineering Design 100, a required first-year class.  I am an active member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and the recipient of a 2010-11 Boeing Scholarship.  In addition, I worked for The Boeing Company from January to August 2010 as a manufacturing engineer co-op student for V-22 Operations.  I look forward to returning to Boeing in summer 2011 for another co-op rotation!   I enjoy running half-marathons, working out, and spending time with my friends and family.  My four years at Penn State have been incredible!

Krystal Doheny

"Being a part of Penn State Women in Engineering Program has given me boundless resources, friendships and great memories -- all of which have shaped me into a successful engineer today with confidence for tomorrow."

My name is Krystal Doheny and I’m a junior in civil engineering (structural option) from Hellertown, Pennsylvania, a small town in Lehigh Valley.  My accomplishments at Penn State have been immeasurable; I consider every positive moment an achievement -- from doing well on an exam to being selected as recipient of the coveted Roland J. Wotring Scholarship.  I serve as the 2010-11 Society of Women Engineers (SWE) vice president of Corporate Relations, and formerly served as SWE Social Director.  I currently serve as Mentor on the WEPO ‘10 Leadership Team, and served as a WEPO Rover last year. I am also an Envoy and student assistant for the Engineering Career Resources & Employer Relations Office, a proud participant in Penn State THON, and active intramural volleyball and flag football teams. Overall, I am bursting with Penn State pride as an involved engineering student!

Megan Fisher

“Penn State has shown me that engineering can be used for more than the typical cars and bridges, but is applicable to every aspect of our world.  The programs available to students have shown me the shear magnitude of career options that are available to engineers.  If there is something you want to do, there is probably a way to do it with a Penn State engineering education.”

Hola!  My name is Meghan Fisher and I am a junior in mechanical engineering.  Hailing from the exciting Boyertown, Pennsylvania, I grew up wearing Penn State onesies and would not have gone anywhere else.  I’m very involved with several engineering organizations on campus including Engineers Without Borders (EWB), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and the Women in Engineering Program (WEP). As president of EWB, I had the opportunity to travel to Sierra Leone, Africa in summer 2010 where I worked with an impoverished community to implement engineering projects in an effort to improve their standard of living.  On this trip I was able to see how my engineering education can be used to solve world problems, and to help improve the lives of others.  Additionally, I worked for Dixie and as engineering intern where I gained manufacturing experience and took home some “sporks!”

Kara Gallo

“The Women Engineering Program has given me the keys to a successful Penn State career and professional career. It’s great to know and to be a part of such a supportive, encouraging and helpful group of young women.  As a first-year student, participating in WEPO ’07 was an empowering experience!  Several years later I still hang out with some of those women I met at WEPO during my first few days at Penn State.”

Hello!  I’m Kara Gallo and I am a civil engineering senior with a minor in environmental engineering.  I’m originally from Marion Center, a small town in western Pennsylvania, but my Penn State experiences have taken me many other places.  In addition to serving as WEPO Mentor, I am currently the president of the International Association for the Exchange of Students with Technical Experience (IAESTE), and the publicist for the Penn State Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).  My organization involvement has taken me to conferences across the country and introduced me to people from different countries and cultures.  In my spare time, I enjoy playing on intramural football, volleyball and soccer teams at Penn State.  I have had several internship experiences including PennDOT, Nucor Steel in Arkansas, and Alcoa.  My Penn State career has given me so much experience and so many opportunities; I can’t imagine pursuing engineering anywhere else!

Kim Harrison

“Being a Penn State WEP engineer is a point of pride--the women who have come before me have set such a great example and inspired me to try and achieve more than I ever thought possible."

Lauren Heisey

"My involvement in WEP has been an amazing experience and has provided me with a wealth of relevant knowledge. Penn State WEP has helped me to align my career goals and the intermediate steps necessary in order to achieve those goals. If I ever need anything it is also reassuring to know that I have several hundred WEP members, and alumni, who are willing to lend a hand.”

My name is Lauren Heisey and I’m an industrial and manufacturing engineering senior from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania graduating in May 2011.  I began my college engineering studies at the Harrisburg campus.  Over the years on both Harrisburg and UP campuses, I’ve been involved with WEP, Lion Ambassadors, IIE, Blue and White Society, Club Cross Country, SWE, PSPEC, SWIS, Rube Goldberg Competition, International Affairs Association (IAA), Women’s Soccer (PSH), and more.  I believe involvement in diverse activities optimizes the college experience, and have enjoyed everything at Penn State!  Additionally, I was an engineering intern at Sikorsky Global Helicopters in summer 2010 where I applied my academics in a career path that I absolutely loved! The best advice I can extend to a new Penn State engineering student is to step out of your comfort zone and get involved!

Stephanie Hemphill

“I began my WEP involvement before I even stepped foot in a Penn State classroom with WEPO ‘07.  I met my best friends in WEP and the support system is priceless.  Serving on the WEPO Leadership Team the last three years has empowered me to grow as an individual and as a professional.  As I consider the opportunities I’ve enjoyed and accomplishments I’ve achieved, I know they are all due to the skills and network that WEP offers to each of us.”

My name is Stephanie Hemphill and I’m a senior in chemical engineering with a minor in international agriculture from Nottingham, PA.  I’ve been fortunate to have a chemical engineering co-op with Kimberly Clark and an internship with Oxy; I plan to return to Oxy in California this summer! At Penn State, I’m involved as a member of the WEPO Leadership Team, SWE, and AIChE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers). I am the alumni chair for Phi Sigma Rho engineering sorority and an outreach volunteer with WEP.  I have been competing in equestrian activities since I was eight years old, and continue to train and compete my horse in eventing and dressage while at Penn State.  I traveled to Paris, France the summer following my freshman year to attend the 2008 IIWE Conference where I worked on international sustainability projects.  In 2010, I traveled to Puerto Rico to develop a strategy for rural development in agricultural operations.

Katie Kirsch

“Penn State WEP has shown me that becoming a successful engineer means so much more than academic success –- it means increasing your personal network, gaining professional development tools and growing your self-confidence. The WEP mentoring program helped me accomplish these tasks and more; participating in WEP is one of the most fulfilling of my college career.”

My name is Katie Kirsch and I’m a mechanical engineering senior from Maple Glen, PA. I also earned a minor in Engineering Leadership Development and Management (ELDM). Through my minor, I have had the opportunity to travel to Morocco to study water resources.  In addition to being a WEPO Mentor, I am the treasurer for the Society of Women Engineering (SWE), an Engineering Ambassador introducing young children engineering, vice president of International Association for the Exchange of Student for Technical Experience (IAESTE), an international exchange program. Additionally, I am vice president-elect for Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society, and member of the Controls Team on Penn State Advanced Vehicle Team (AVT) which is making a fully functional hybrid electric vehicle. Through these clubs, I’ve traveled to conferences across the United States and engaged in short-term study in Germany.  I’m involved in THON and danced for Engineering House in my sophomore year. Apart from club involvement, I have participated in undergraduate research since my first year.  I’ve had the incredible opportunity to present my research, and polish my public speaking skills, in the United States and in Europe. Upon graduation in May 2011, I will begin graduate school at Penn State, studying mechanical engineering and working on gas turbines.

Lauren Knobloch

“The Penn State Women in Engineering Program fueled my competitive desire for bigger and better experiences as an undergraduate engineer: study abroad, internships, co-ops, concurrent majors, and finally the job of my dreams upon graduation in May!  We all want to land our “big fish” – our dream career – upon conclusion of our undergraduate journey, and WEP provides the tools for your toolbox to achieve it!”

Bonjour!  My name is Lauren Knobloch and I am a fifth year senior.  I will graduate in May 2011 with a B.S. in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, a B.S. in French Language, and a minor in Six Sigma.  I participated in numerous Penn State organizations including Engineering Co-op and Internship Envoys, Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE), Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and MTM Engineering Camp Counselor; however, my most significant involvement was in WEPO Leadership Teams.  I was a WEPO Rover in ’07, a Mentor in ‘08 and ‘09, and Professional Development Lead in WEPO ‘10.  Throughout my Penn State career, I participated in a number of professional experiences including WISER research with Professor Freivalds, a six-month co-op with McNeil Consumer Healthcare (Johnson & Johnson) in 2008, and two internships with Accenture in Chicago (2009) and Philadelphia (2010).  My favorite college experience is my study abroad semester in spring 2010 at Université Paul-Valéry III in Montpellier, France (near the French Riviera).  Living with a host family, traveling through Europe, and studying with French peers, I learned volumes about different cultures and enjoyed every moment of my European adventures!  I am looking forward to graduation in May and the start of my full-time engineering career with Lockheed Martin OLDP rotational leadership program in July 2011!

Kasha Kultys

“The Penn State Women in Engineering Program has been a support system for me throughout the past five years.  The knowledge, skills, networks, and friendships I have gained from this program are invaluable.  WEP has been a major contributor to my success and achievements throughout my academic career. I hope to continue my involvement in WEP and to give back upon graduation in view of how much I’ve garnered from it.”

Stephanie Kunkel

“Thanks to WEP, I’ve acquired a network of remarkable friends, immeasurable belief in myself and my endeavors, and incredible tools for me to thrive professionally.”

Alessa Makuch

“WEP is more than just another organization to be involved in; it has provided me with so many opportunities.  Penn State WEP has given me confidence in the career choices I’ve made, and provided a support system to keep pursuing them. WEP has also enabled me to build life-long friendships.”

My name is Alessa Makuch and I’m from Danville, PA.  I am an aerospace engineering senior with a minor in Information Sciences and Technology.  Currently, I serve as Coordinator of WEP Facilitated Study Groups, which provides free academic assistance to women engineers in first and second year classes.  Besides WEP and school, most of my time is taken up by my involvement in Air Force ROTC.  Within AFROTC, I’m a member of Arnold Air Society, a service organization heavily involved with THON and community service projects, and Wild Blue Yonders, our a cappella group.  Following my first year at Penn State, I participated in a summer study abroad in Australia, which was amazing!  In summer 2010 I interned with the Air Force Research Laboratory at Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts, tracking space debris.  I will graduate in December 2011 and commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.  I’m not sure what base I will be sent to, but I’m looking forward to the adventure ahead!

Catrina Vargo

“My involvement in WEP taught me how to seek out beneficial academic, extracurricular and career experiences.  The Penn State Women in Engineering Program provided a strong foundation from which I developed an amazing support system.  WEP allowed me to gain my confidence and develop great friendships while empowering me to be a woman engineer.”

Sharon Waxmonsky

"The Penn State Women in Engineering Program has given me guidance, training, and opportunities that no other university offers. I’m fortunate to have the WEP program to support me in my pursuit of an engineering career.”

Hi! My name is Sharon Waxmonsky and I’m a bioengineering junior from Shelby Twp., Michigan.  Although from Michigan, I grew up loving Penn State!  Currently, I am the president of Phi Sigma Rho, a social sorority for women in engineering, and member of a THON ‘11 morale committee.  I’ve been on the WEPO Leadership Team for the past two years as a Rover and a Mentor.  I had a six month engineering co-op in 2010 with Ortho Clinical Diagnostics (OCD), a Johnson & Johnson company located in Raritan, NJ.  OCD makes tests used by doctors to determine patient blood types.  I participate in research in the PSU biomechanics lab and am honored to be recipient of scholarships from the Michigan Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association and the COE Dixon Scholarship. WEP has given me tremendous opportunity to serve my community and grow as a leader in engineering.

Grier Wilt

"WEP has prepared me personally and professionally for a career in engineering while also serving as a springboard for my academic and career endeavors.  The friendships I made through WEP will stay with me for the rest of my life."

Hi!  My name is Grier Wilt and I’m from Sunbury, PA.  I will be graduating in May 2011 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, a B.S. in International Studies and a minor in Engineering Leadership Development.  My time at Penn State has been incredible and I have had some amazing experiences thanks to dear old State.  I was able to work four co-op rotations at the NASA Johnson Space Center, a dream of mine since I was five.  Additionally, I have participated in an international internship in Freiburg, Germany, and studied abroad in Perth, Australia.  In spring 2011, I will be traveling to Eastern Europe and Africa through the Engineering Leadership Development minor.  I have also served as president of Engineering House (Special Living Option) and have actively participated in THON and engineering outreach.  My journey at Penn State has been beyond exciting, and WEP prepared me to succeed in my career endeavors and leadership roles.

Brandi Wingate

“I chose Penn State as my university because of the Women in Engineering Program. This program is my home and its members are my family. Everything I know I’ve learned from them.”

Xiuhui "Cathy" Yu

“Without exaggeration, WEP has enabled me to achieve my first professional milestone: obtaining my first engineering internship!  WEP programs made a significant impact on me and my future career!”

Hi everyone! My name is Cathy Yu and I’m an electrical engineering junior with a minor in business from Lansdale, PA.   Thanks to WEPO, I went into my freshman year with good friends who were always just a phone call away.  Once classes started, I continued participating in WEP programs such as WEP Wednesday. This year I serve as the undergraduate student representative on the Penn State Campus Climate Task Force. Our committee engages in activities to promote a diverse and inclusive environment for College of Engineering (COE).  In addition, I serve as COE Student Activity Intern, Engineering Undergraduate Council (EUC) vice president of Student Relations, and Scholar Ambassador of Schreyer Honors College Scholar Advancement Team.  Undergrads also see me in Engineering House where I serve as a Resident Assistant (RA).  In my spare time, I participate in ballroom dancing, learn piano and do everything SWE (I haven’t missed a single national SWE conference.)  During the past two summers, I interned with General Electric in Erie, PA (2009) and JP Morgan in New York City (2010).   From Main Street to Wall Street, I got to try both sides.  I have to say, life as a Penn State WEP engineer has been pretty sweet!