Tylor White

How did Pima/UArizona program support and contribute to your success as you pursued STEM at UArizona?

The STEM Bridge program provided me with the most meaningful contribution one could offer, financial support. I cannot understate the significance of that. Through the generous scholarship I was provided, I was able to focus on my school work and not on whether I could afford to continue college. In addition, the program's encouragement to pursue undergraduate research and internship led me to land some pretty important positions, both as an undergraduate research assistant and as an engineering intern. I am currently leading a research position in Dr. Missoum's lab in the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering department, where I'm studying topology optimization of wind turbine blades for additive manufacturing. I am also doing a year-round internship and Raytheon Missiles & Defense. Additionally, I have completed summer internships at Bernhard TME and at Sargent Aerospace & Defense. Finally, the support from the Bridge Program has led me to pursue a master's degree, which I am currently halfway through thanks to the accelerated master's program.

How did receiving mentoring support from a STEM faculty member positively contribute to your success in STEM as a student at UArizona?

I come from the AME department, where faculty support is essentially nonexistent. So, I relied primarily on support from my peers and from the Bridge program to maintain motivation through my studies.

How did the mentoring you received in the Pima/UArizona SSTEM Bridge program positively contribute to your overall STEM identity and career goals?

My UA faculty mentor, Kevin Hainline, was a huge support during my schooling. He was always available to answer questions, offer letters of recommendation, or proofread personal statements at a moment's notice. His down-to-earth attitude made it very easy to connect and relate to him, which made me feel more included and welcomed. Thank you for all your support, Kevin!

Tell us about your post-graduation plans, what are your post-graduation plans, and how did the Pima/UArizona SSTEM Bridge program support these future endeavors?

After graduation, I will continue working in the AME department for Dr. Rastgoftar as I finish my master's degree, studying robot-human interactions. After which, I will work as a simulations engineer for Raytheon. The support of the Bridge Program gave me the confidence needed to step out of my comfort zone and pursue goals that I would otherwise consider too ambitious.

As a final statement, I again want to reiterate that I would not be here without the financial support that the Pima-UA Bridge Program has given me. Thank you to everyone involved in the program.