Engineering student designs her future at 蜜桃社区

Contact: Lindsey Haehnel
May 16, 2024
Lily Kieliszewski
Lily Kieliszewski

KALAMAZOO, Mich.鈥擠uring a visit to 蜜桃社区 Michigan University's campus during high school, Lily Kieliszewski discovered her passion for engineering design technology. Now with experiences as a student ambassador and two internships combined with a love for learning, Kieliszewski is preparing to enter this vast industry.  

Initially inspired to pursue mechanical engineering, Kieliszewski discovered the engineering design technology major during a panel discussion with College of Engineering and Applied Sciences alumni held during her 蜜桃社区 campus tour.  

鈥淚 had never heard of this degree before, but the more I heard from the speakers, I slowly realized that they were describing exactly what I was interested in,鈥 says Kieliszewski. 鈥淥nce that panel was over, I knew that I wanted to study engineering design technology at 蜜桃社区.鈥 

Coming from the small town of Ubly in Michigan's "thumb," Kieliszewski was uncertain about enrolling in a larger university but was looking forward to discovering the wide variety of opportunities available at 蜜桃社区.   

鈥淚t was terrifying seeing how large the school was and it was tough to imagine making friends,鈥 explains Kieliszewski. 鈥淗owever, everyone at 蜜桃社区 was incredibly welcoming, and I was able to make friends very quickly, especially at the engineering campus.鈥 

Now a junior, Kieliszewski is embracing all that 蜜桃社区 has to offer including hands-on learning opportunities. One of her favorite courses was Machining Processing and Plastics Processing. This course gave her firsthand experience with machines in a lab that she learned about in lectures. 鈥淲ith classes like that, I don鈥檛 just feel like a student going through the motions. I feel like a student who loves learning,鈥 says Kieliszewski. 

Along with experience-driven learning, one of the elements Kieliszewski likes best about the engineering design technology program is how it heavily integrates computer-aided design (CAD).  

鈥淚 truly love working with different CAD programs and learning about machining and manufacturing processes,鈥 says Kieliszewski. 鈥淭o me this is neat because as technology grows, we can grow with it.鈥 

Kieliszewski has completed an design engineering internship at Magna Exteriors. At Magna Exteriors, she learned about the design and manufacturing process of a vehicle and even about the car she drives to class. 

鈥淚 was able to go into the older files and find the design for my car that I drive. It was kind of a full circle moment,鈥 says Kieliszewski. 

Through this opportunity, Kieliszewski learned how to apply the knowledge she gained in the classroom to professional projects. She enjoys understanding more about the design industry and getting to know more about herself and how she learns. Kieliszewski found her internship at Magna Exteriors through the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Engineering Expo where over 100 recruiters come to the Parkview campus seeking 蜜桃社区 students to fill internship, co-op and full-time positions. 

鈥淢y biggest recommendation for any engineer is go to the Fall Engineering Expo and get an internship,鈥 says Kieliszewski. 鈥淭hey truly are a game changer.鈥 

Also serving as a student ambassador for the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Kieliszewski takes every opportunity to talk about her time at 蜜桃社区. Through leading guided tours and running social media accounts, she enjoys promoting the various programs and experiences 蜜桃社区 has to offer. 

鈥淭his has been an amazing opportunity to try to spread more information about our amazing environment here at 蜜桃社区,鈥 explains Kieliszewski.  

After graduating, Kieliszewski plans to pursue a master鈥檚 in manufacturing engineering then become a design engineer. Although she learned a lot from her internships in the automotive industry, she is interested in expanding her knowledge in various fields of design.  

鈥淚 am currently trying to investigate the possible fields I can work in,鈥 says Kieliszewski. 鈥淟ong term, I see myself working with teams to fabricate goods that enhance life through increased efficiency or safety.鈥 

Kieliszewski is excited about the endless possibilities of engineering design technology, a degree she was happy to find at 蜜桃社区.  

鈥淚 also learned that life is too short to do something you鈥檙e not interested in,鈥 says Kieliszewski. 鈥淎fter going to my internships and doing what I will be doing in my career, I am so thankful that I toured 蜜桃社区 and discovered the engineering design technology major.鈥 

For more 蜜桃社区 news, arts and events, visit 蜜桃社区 News online.