Swanson School of Engineering Co-op Program Fall 2020 Newsletter

CO-OP ED

Fall 2020

Pit t Alu m n i Spot ligh t

CO-OPvs

M i k e Formi ca

Th er e is n o dou bt , Cor on a Vir u s created challenges for everyone. Every aspect of society has been affected. The Swanson School of Engineering (SSOE) CO-OP Program is no exception. But there is good news.

Unprecedented exceptions have been made by faculty , staff and employers for students to gain the experience and credit they seek through the co-op program. Employers helped by adapting work schedules to include flexibility, staggered work visits and in some cases, provided complete remote work assignments.

While this is not ideal, it is working. Students have reported positive feedback with the changes and are still able to learn and challenge themselves.

See some of their stories on the next pages.

Mike Formica, today.

As the President of Neya Systems, Mike seeks co-op students to mentor. He also assists entrepreneurs in start-ups of their own.

Mike was a student at Pitt from 1987-1992. In his four years , he majored in Electrical Engineering, was a 4-time All-Big East performer in Track and Cross Country, a member of the University Honors College and still had time to co-op starting his M ik e For m ica, 1987-1992 sophomore year.

On co-op, Mike worked for a company that developed products used in factory automation.

This is when autonomy and manufacturing became his passion.

After graduating, Mike received a commission from the US Navy and graduated from Nuclear Power School. But as Mike says, "I found myself wanting to get back to automation." So, he moved back to Pittsburgh and joined a company where he could continue his work in automation.

"M y co- op ex p osed m e t o a w or l d t h at t u r n ed i n t o a car eer an d a l i f el on g p assi on ."

Since then, Mike has started and sold several companies and continually looks for co-op students to mentor and hire full time. "I've been fortunate to be surrounded by great engineers over the years."

"When I hire new employees out of school, I always look for co-op experience. Those kids come out of school better prepared and with a stronger conviction and confidence in their skills. Plus, it's a great way to differentiate you from a stack of resumes." Sounds like solid advice, Mike.

Co- op Student of theYear Co- op Employer of theYear

Criteria:

Criteria: * * * Excellent academ ic record * * * Out st anding work cont ribut ions wit h co-op em ployer * * * Volunt eerism or cont ribut ions t o t he co-op em ployer or universit y com m unit y * * * Must have com plet ed all t hree rot at ions

Ideally, ther e will be one nominee fr om each depar tment. Students must be nominated either by their employer or by their academic depar tment.

* * * Sust ained com m it m ent t o cooperat ive educat ion at t he Universit y of Pit t sburgh * * * Qualit y of project s and assignm ent s The co- op pr ogr am is for tunate to have str ong employer par tner s and smar t, capable students.

The Co- op Student of the Year and Co- op Employer of the Year awar ds r ecognize the time, effor t, and har d wor k these par ties have contr ibuted. This is the time of the year to think about those outstanding companies and individuals and to submit nominations for the 2020 awar ds.

HARD HAT AREA " I was hired through SME USA to work for a contractor that is building a wind turbine park. I am in charge of the quality control operations for the turbine foundations and access roads." Each turbine is taller than a football field once it is topped out, so it is exciting to work on the foundations that hold the turbines up. Also, it is rewarding knowing I am working on renewable energy infrastructure."

Julia Jones, Civil Engineering

The Co-op Employer of the Year and all Pitt Student of the Year nominees will be honored at venue and date yet to be determined. We look forward to receiving your nominations.

Please submit by October 26, 2020 .

Submit nominations to Maureen Barcic at paub2m@pitt.edu. You may also contact Maureen with any questions pertaining to the nomination process or co-op in general.

Jared Renz , a chemical engineering student, located at Anheuser-Busch Research Pilot Brewery in St. Louis, MO

"Currently,everyone in the brewery has been required to wear a facial covering at all times. Everyday we step foot on the brewery campus, we have our temperature scanned."

Jar ed Ren z

Sara Kron working remotely for Philips Advanced Innovations.

Sara is in Research and Development.

Incoming Junior, Industrial engineer student , Victoria Likovich working remotely for FedEx.

"I

am currently on my first co-op rotation with FedEx working with the Safety and Performance Analytic 's team. They provided me with a laptop and a monitor and have been more than helpful. FedEx has done a great job keeping me engaged and productive during my first rotation."

Victoria Likovich

Joshua Young, a chemical engineering student, working in Quality Assurance with Mine Safety Appliances in Jacksonville, NC.

Am er ican Text ile Com pan y " In addit ion t o pr odu ct ion of n or m al com pan y it em s (pillow s, bed sh eet s, blan k et s, m at t r ess cover s et c), ATC m ass pr odu ced h u n dr eds of t h ou san ds of m ask s in t h eir El Salvador plan t , w h ich t h ey don at ed t o UPM C an d local bu sin esses." M alik Talaat .

Em i l y Ri ch ar d, elect r ical en gin eer in g

Malik Talaat

In du st r ial En gin eer Co-op

Daily du t ies in clu de AUTOCAD sh adow boar d dr aw in gs, case pack t est in g an d assist in g t h e sam ples t eam .

st u den t , at Pion eer Pow er Gr ou p in Wexf or d, PA. Th ey ar e a sm all st ar t -u p com pan y t h at pr ovides elect r ical syst em s an alysis st u dies t o it s cu st om er s. To h elp t h e com m u n it ies su r r ou n din g t h eir locat ion s in Pit t sbu r gh an d M ar ylan d, t h e CEO com m it t ed t o don at in g t en m eals t o local f ood ban k s f or ever y st u dy com plet ed.

PITT Proud Zoe Yar sk y showing her Pitt Pride while working at Bombardier Transportation in project procurement.

I mportant Dates Fal l 20 20 Co- op Vi r t ual Job Fai r Sept em ber 27, 20 20 Sept em ber 29, 20 20 Recogn i t i on Lun ch eon TBD

Representing PITT while working from home, Joseph Wr igh t , catches the live stream of Northrop Grumman launching their new Minotaur IV. (On screen behind him). Joseph is currently working on the NSROC III sounding rocket operations contract.

Nicole Th om pson , in the field with Rycon Construction.They are working on an apartment building in Pittsburgh that will be LEED Certified.

Rycon Construction staggers home and office work to help with social distancing.

Soph ia Napolit an o, a civil engineer student, on site at Procter and Gamble in West Virginia.

Sophia is working for Mascaro Construction.

CO-OP ED Co-op Ed is published by the Swanson School of Engineering Cooperative Education Program.

Co-operative Education Staff Maureen Barcic, Program Director

Olivia Nolt, Co-op Office student Intern.

paub2m@pitt.edu Chris Frankovic, Associate Director

Olivia, a chemical engineer student, completed a year long co-op with Johnson & Johnson. She has worked for the co-op office since Fall 2019. Olivia is scheduled to graduate this December. We will miss you.

caf54@pitt.edu Kristal Cheshire, Program Administrator krc120@pitt.edu Olivia Nolt, Student Intern oln5@pitt.edu