Rice Engineering Alumni

Happy , everyone! Welcome back to our weekly series showcasing the experiences of our talented Summer Engineering Experience (SEE) participants and the impact of the REA SEE program! 👏 🚀

In this week's post, we are featuring Mechanical Engineering Junior and REA SEE Program participant Nicolas De la Colina about their experience interning with our partner and host company Blade Energy Partners.

“[During my internship], I worked as an Engineering Intern for Blade Energy Partners in Frisco, Texas, where the purpose of my project was to design a high-level feasibility study to provide electricity for an isolated village... Through my time at Blade, I learned how to apply engineering principles to real-world challenges and how engineering works in the real world beyond the classroom... The REA SEE program played a pivotal role in the success of my internship by providing consistent mentorship that equipped me with the confidence, readiness, and skills needed to excel... This experience also provided me with invaluable insight into the aspects of engineering that resonate most with my interests and wish to pursue in the future. I would like to thank my mentors, Suri Suryanarayana and Sharat Chandrasekhar, for their insightful advice and contributions along the way.”

Thank you, Nicolas, for sharing your experience and thank you to our partner Blade Energy Partners for supporting this opportunity!

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💡 Interested in supporting the program as a host company? We are always seeking additional partners! Contact us here: https://lnkd.in/gQr3HPKP

🧠 Want to learn more about serving as a REA SEE Mentor? SEE mentors provide our students guidance on the professional work environment, communication skills and developing resumes. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gkEt8KJq

🙌 Interested in making a financial contribution to the SEE Program and other REA programs? See our REA donation page: https://lnkd.in/gECys6NP

In this week's post, we are featuring Mechanical Engineering Junior and REA SEE Program participant Brandon Lozano about their experience interning with our partner and host company Unified Industries Incorporated.

“This summer at Unified Industries Incorporated, I worked as a Junior Metrology Technician, helping the Lab Manager, Thomas Rouan, update Quality Manuals in preparation for audits and assisting lab technicians with tasks such as calibrating Standard Platinum Resistance Thermometers. During my time at UII, I learned how to navigate life in an office and put my skills to use in unexpected yet rewarding ways. Along with fellow Rice student Callista Baker and lab technician John Wetjen, I created and presented two slide shows on uncertainty, how to construct uncertainty budgets, and how to operate the Measurements International Resistance Bridge... I’d like to thank my coworkers and the management team at UII for allowing me to learn new skills, improve old ones, and take full advantage of the beautiful scenery the DC and Northern Virginia area offers.”

Thank you, Brandon, for sharing your experience and thank you to our partner Unified Industries Incorporated for supporting this opportunity!

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💡 Interested in supporting the program as a host company? We are always seeking additional partners! Contact us here: https://lnkd.in/gQr3HPKP

🧠 Want to learn more about serving as a REA SEE Mentor? SEE mentors provide our students guidance on the professional work environment, communication skills and developing resumes. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gkEt8KJq

🙌 Interested in making a financial contribution to the SEE Program and other REA programs? See our REA donation page: https://lnkd.in/gECys6NP

Last week, Alumni in gathered for brunch and a thoughtful conversation about building and strengthening !🦉 👐

The group included alumni across several classes and disciplines, including CHBE, CEVE, and MECHE alumni from the classes of 2015 through 2020.

One important takeaway: showing up is easier when you know at least one person in the room. Having an “anchor” at an event can make a big difference, especially for alumni who may be new to Denver or new to the local Rice network. 🏔️ The conversation also generated several ideas for future gatherings, including outdoor activities like hikes, volleyball, community service events, sports games, and casual meetups afterward. Smaller recurring opportunities, such as intramural teams, book clubs, or a buddy-style network for alumni open to being contacted, were also discussed as ways to make connections feel more natural and approachable!

Thank you to our Denver Alums for sharing your ideas and helping the Denver Rice Engineering alumni community continue to grow! We’re excited to keep supporting events and initiatives where Owls can connect, reconnect, and support one another. 🦉✨

💙 Interested in getting involved with Rice Engineering Alumni? Learn more about our events and volunteer opportunities here:
Events: https://www.riceengineeringalumni.org/events
Volunteer Opportunities: https://www.riceengineeringalumni.org/get-involved

Join Houston area Rice Engineering Alumni for an indoor putt putt social on May 28th at the Puttery from 6-8pm! Registration link in the bio!