- Name:
- Ryan Staab
- Major:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Year:
- Senior
- Home:
- Marshfield, WI
Many students come to Platteville to study engineering but UWP offers so much more then classroom lectures. Semester projects, associated with many of the engineering classes, allow you to develop leadership and build strong teamworking skills while learning the necessary topics. The mechanical engineering program, specifically, offers a great mix of theory, hands on applications and supplemental extracurricular activities.
I had the opportunity to do a co-op with 3M in Prairie du Chien. I worked to design components and efficiency for manufacturing abrasives. My co-op gave me a better idea how engineering is used in the workplace and what is expected of an engineer on a daily basis. This experience was definitely a step in the right direction to a successful career as an engineer. I am now even more excited to finish school and further pursue a career in engineering.
I have become actively involved in the UWP chapter of Engineers Without Borders as the organization’s first president. We use the engineering skills of students and professionals to help those who do not have technologically advanced resources available to them. Dr. Samuel Owusu-Ababio, our advisor, and I hope to organize the first trip overseas, potentially during the summer of 2007. Not only will students be able to learn more about engineering by participating in projects such as storm water retention and waste water management, but they will have the opportunity to leave lasting impressions on small communities who have not yet received this technology.
Platteville is a great community for people who enjoy spending time outdoors. I enjoy cycling and frequently ride with people from the UWP Cycling Club sponsored by a local bike shop. My involvement with this organization has allowed me to participate in a variety of different bike races, including criterions which are timed road races. The Platteville area is full of roads that are well paved, have low traffic and offer great terrain for biking. There are also numerous mountain bike trails that offer anything from easy gravel trails to challenging single track mountain biking. Biking is a competitive sport that allows me to stay physically fit, mentally focused and gives me an opportunity to socialize with friends and community members.
As a college student, I have learned a lot about when and where I can most effectively study. I have found that it is important to maintain a healthy mix of studying, exercise and socializing to be successful. Once a student can find a balance between these freedoms, the transition from high school to college will go much more smoothly.