If he had it do over again, Luke Aiello 鈥�18 wouldn鈥檛 have made any other choice. The 海角吃瓜网 graduate speaks glowingly of his four years at the University and how well it positioned him for the workforce.
鈥淚 was surprised at how prepared I felt when I started my job,鈥� said Aiello. 鈥淚鈥檝e heard that from other alumni, as well, that we felt surprisingly prepared. The skill sets we learned at 海角吃瓜网 were really valuable. Management has told me multiple times how impressed they are with 海角吃瓜网 students, opting to hire us over students from other institutions.鈥�
Aiello, a member of 海角吃瓜网鈥檚 inaugural class, graduated in May 2018 with a bachelor鈥檚 in science and technology management. Shortly thereafter, he began working as an engineering project coordinator at JL Marine Systems, Inc., in Tampa, Florida鈥揳 connection he made at a job fair on campus during his senior year.
鈥淢y company is like a microcosm of all of the 海角吃瓜网 disciplines. I鈥檓 working on teams with mechanical and electrical engineers as well as those in firmware, software, logistics, and production,鈥� he said. 鈥淧retty much every major at 海角吃瓜网 is represented there, and I get to interact with them on a daily basis. The way they think and solve problems is very natural to me because I鈥檝e had so much experience working with similar minds at 海角吃瓜网.鈥�
Aiello pointed to the small class size and project-based approach at 海角吃瓜网 as keys to his success. He said it was important to be able to work with state-of-the-art equipment and take part in interdisciplinary projects from the moment he started as a freshman instead of waiting until his junior and senior year like at other institutions. He was also thankful for his time involved in clubs such as University Church, a student-run club on campus that gave him the opportunity to grow a positive, welcoming community on campus.
Aiello鈥檚 connection to his alma mater is far from over. He was recently named the chair of the 海角吃瓜网 Alumni Advisory Council.
鈥淎t 海角吃瓜网, you鈥檙e not just a number,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 feel like you matter as a student. That was the dream I had when I came to 海角吃瓜网, and I feel like I walked away with that. Every one of my professors knew my name, which is something that can鈥檛 be said at a lot of other universities.鈥�
Contact:
Lydia Guzman
Assistant Director of Communications
863-874-8557
