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Zachary P. Bibik 2015 SME Education Family


Scholarship Recipient SME Member Since 2015


SME SPEAKS GUEST EDITORIAL Attending College is a Dream Come True W


ithout SME and the SME Education Founda- tion’s generosity, I would not be in school today. I thank SME and the Foundation for allowing me to


pursue my dream of becoming a manufacturing engineer. My fi rst year of college has been informative, stressful and stimu- lating. At Colorado State University (CSU; Fort Collins, CO), I have found extremely educated peers and professors to learn from and discuss ideas with. Professors and graduate students are very involved and committed to their respective fi elds and provide additional teaching outside of the class- room. By attending these separate lectures, I have learned more about specifi cs on engineering topics that instructors are passionate about. CSU has proven to have faculty com- mitted to educating students sincerely. In my fi rst year of college, I have discovered that the majority of engineering students have very little hands- on experience pertinent to engineering. My background knowledge with machining, welding and small engines has proven to be useful for conceptual learning and discussing applications with professors. Professors are slightly stunned when I am able to exchange engineering-related jargon. I have only found two or three other students that share a comprehension of what their studies imply for a career. This has led me to ponder ways to improve the education of students prior to secondary education to provide real experience in the workplace for their respective fi elds. My prior knowledge of entry-level industrial work continues to propel my education.


The college experience has allowed me to make intel- lectual connections with peers, expand my understanding of calculus and physics, and develop maturity. The largest challenge of being a full-time student is balancing responsi- bilities by managing time. I fi nd myself being accustomed to a scheduled lifestyle from habits of being a student and an


employee. The key to succeeding in a collegiate environment has been proper time management and prioritization. Being introduced to SME has been an absolute honor. My SME student membership has allowed me to use a research specialist, to stay updated on relevant manufacturing news and feel accepted by a community of like-minded individuals. I am excited to further my involvement with SME and hope to establish a student chapter at CSU. Winning the SME Education Foundation Family Scholarship has boosted my credibility toward professors and possible employers. The scholarship was the only reason I could choose to pursue an education. The best part of my freshmen year was simply connect- ing to an intellectual, engineering community. The faculty and fellow students have revealed a determined attitude toward each engineering student’s education. The balance between lecture, labs, recitations and homework have been an effective, formulated process for me. Although I have had some poor professors, I have taken their courses as an opportunity to take more responsibility for my own educa- tional experience. I understand that my comprehension is my responsibility. Yet the collegiate environment has proven to be a system


requiring some refi nement. I have found the study of engi- neering to feel slightly exclusive; most students enter with advanced courses. As a student who focused on gaining hands-on experience in high school, I am now completing introductory-level courses, unlike my fellow students. I hate to think a student starting at lower-level courses would be treated less seriously as an engineering student. I hope to see that future education systems are willing to value intel- ligent manufacturing workers seeking to study engineering. I believe the key to successful manufacturing is operating with well-educated employees in all positions.


July 2016 | AdvancedManufacturing.org 17


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