As a founding member and the Mechanical Engineering Lead for our university’s first Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) team, I had the incredible opportunity to shape something entirely new. Our team, driven by passion and innovation, earned the Best New Entry award at RoboNation’s prestigious RoboSub Competition. My role extended beyond just technical work; I became a spokesperson for our team, sharing our journey through local television interviews, representing us at international conferences like “The Atlantic What’s Next,” and even featuring in a Boeing ad. I also built vital connections with local businesses to secure partnerships that funded our equipment and travel expenses.
One of my proudest achievements was designing and hand-building the submarine’s first prototype out of PVC. This prototype laid the groundwork for our subsequent designs and the final version that competed. This experience not only honed my engineering skills but also taught me the power of leadership, collaboration, and perseverance in turning an ambitious idea into a tangible success.
