Engineering, at the end of the day, is a collaborative process, so learning it in a collaborative way is just as important as doing every calculation correctly.
Student Spotlight: Emma Farren
This semester we are introducing a Q&A style profile series to highlight some of our aerospace engineering students and share their inspirations, aspirations, and motivations.
This month, meet aerospace engineering senior, and Naval ROTC midshipman, Emma Farren from Rockville, Maryland who is on her way to becoming a U.S. Navy pilot.
Why did you choose to study Aerospace Engineering?
I chose to study Aerospace Engineering at first simply because it sounded like the coolest thing in the world to me.
I've always loved STEM and had an interest in planes since I moved around a lot and was in a lot of airports, so I figured it would be a good fit. Now as a senior I can definitely say it is the coolest thing ever. Having the opportunity to study such a relatively new field in science is still exciting to me every day.
What student groups or clubs are you a part of, if any, and what do you enjoy about them?
I am the project lead on the Solar Gamera team, a project that is building a manned, solar-powered helicopter.
Being a part of this project is one of the most interesting things I have ever had the privilege to be a part of. My favorite part of the project is when the team has a flight test.
The aircraft is so large that it takes over 15 people to make the flight test go smoothly, and I love seeing so many members from engineering (and outside of it too!) come together to help our team have a successful flight.
What are your post-graduation plans?
I am a midshipman in the Naval ROTC unit here at UMD, and after graduating I will be commissioned as a Naval Officer. I was selected to be a Student Naval Aviator, so I am looking forward to having the opportunity to go to flight school to help serve as a part of Naval Aviation. Fly Navy!
What advice would you offer others who might be interested in pursuing aerospace engineering?
Build a network of support. I would not have made it through the majority of my classes without the help and support of my study group. Engineering, at the end of the day, is a collaborative process, so learning it in a collaborative way is just as important as doing every calculation correctly. Being able to work as a team, accept feedback from your peers and support your classmates is extremely important both in college, and beyond!
Emma and the Solar Gamera group.
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