ALUMNI IN THE NEWS

What is your current position? How long have you been in this position? Can you give us a brief overview of what it is you do in your work?

I am currently a student going into my senior year at Manhattan College majoring in chemical engineering. This summer, I worked for Kraft Heinz Company (think Kraft Mac and Cheese and Heinz Ketchup) as a manufacturing management intern. I am currently working in a Capri Sun manufacturing plant to improve and optimize the production process. Specifically, my project is to work with secondary machines that package and bundle the product into pallets.

What skills do you need to do the work you just described?

Communication, teamwork, and problem solving are the most important skills needed. Also, you need to be able to work calmly under pressure and be flexible with the problems that arise. In my experience, these outweigh any knowledge-based skills. The industries that I worked in taught me everything I needed to know about their operations. It sounds cliche, but the most important part of the job is to come in with a good attitude.

Please describe any experiences at Westlake High School that influenced your career decision?

When I was a junior at Westlake, I took AP Physics. It was the first time it was being offered and I enjoyed the challenges that came from the class especially since I bypassed Regents Physics and went directly to AP level. These classes pushed me to levels of determination and learning that I had never experienced. My choice to study engineering was solidified when Mr. Amann handed out application forms to Manhattan College's Summer Engineering Awareness Program for rising high school junior and senior women and minorities. My enrollment in the program exposed me to all the different avenues and learning opportunities that engineering as a whole had to offer.

What might someone be surprised to know about you?

Before junior year of high school, I was convinced that I was going to major in music. Once I was exposed to engineering, my path drastically changed and it only took one moment to show me my future career path.

What advice do you have for students interested in going into your field?

You don't have to love chemistry to study chemical engineering! Chemical engineering extends far beyond the periodic table. There are roles that require extensive knowledge of chemistry, such as in some pharmaceutical positions. Similarly, there are roles that require minimal knowledge of chemistry, such as in some food and drink industry positions. There are so many different paths you can take within engineering, so take the time to figure out what you want to do.