A leader of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education, Middlesex Community College hosted an Engineering Panel Night on Monday, November 4. Held on the college’s Bedford Campus, the event featured a panel of professional engineers, including MCC alumni.
“The event promotes student success and motivates students to continue their education, even when it feels difficult to do so,” said Cris Algarra, MCC’s Chair of Engineering. “Our students work and study, they’re parents, they have different struggles. When they hear people on a panel sharing that they also had these challenges but were able to overcome them and become an engineer, they will see themselves reflected in those people.”
Organized by Algarra, MCC’s Engineering department welcomed five professionals in the field to share their personal stories. Panelists discussed how they decided on working in engineering, where they went to school, their career paths, and the challenges they faced. The panelists included Gage Overby, Klismann de Azevedo, Elijah LaVancher, Justin Murphy and Shiv Thakur.
Overby, of Somerville, studied CAD at Middlesex before transferring to UMass Lowell as a plastics engineer. He earned his bachelor’s in engineering and now works at Jabir Healthcare as a manufacturing engineer. In this role, Overby prepares new plastic injection molds for production.
“MCC granted me time to prioritize both work and academics, opening the door for me to pursue internships and potential careers while in school and without undue stress,” Overby said. “I want to return to reconnect with the friends I made while attending MCC. Hopefully I can answer a question while there that influence someone else’s life positively.”
Interested in pursuing all that the mechanical engineering field has to offer, de Azevedo, of Peabody, chose to pursue the major in college. At MCC, he attended an engineering panel that motivated him to continue his path.
“The engineers speaking at the time made me realize that I can be successful too,” de Azevedo said. “That is why I accepted to come in to speak to the students. I wanted to share my story and hopefully inspire young engineers the same way I was inspired when I was in the audience.”
An MCC alum, Murphy graduated with associate degrees in computer aided design (CAD) and mechanical engineering before transferring to UMass Lowell to earn a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. Currently a plumbing engineer at Avid Engineers, Murphy designs plumbing systems for commercial projects.
“My experience at the panel night was great, I was able to discuss my experiences in school and some of the obstacles that I faced,” Murphy said. “Additionally, I discussed how students should be open to new opportunities that might not be what they originally had planned. Engineering is so broad and diverse and is in every facet of daily life in one way or another. I would encourage students that are interested in engineering to find something that they are passionate about and research what role engineering plays in that field.”
A second-year biomedical engineering Ph.D student at Tufts University, MCC alum LaVancher works in the Kaplan Lab developing biomaterial-based 3D human stem cell models. After graduating from Middlesex, he transferred to UMass Lowell to study biomedical engineering.
Thakur, of Arlington, is founder and CEO of Summit Global Consulting Inc. After starting at a community college, he continued on at Northeastern University to earn a bachelor’s in chemical engineering with a minor in entrepreneurship, as well as a master’s in engineering management.
“Like many students [at MCC], my path started with challenges and a need for support,” Thakur said. “Having come to the U.S. as a teenager, I faced many obstacles – learning English, working long hours, and navigating an unfamiliar environment. Community college played an essential role in helping me gain confidence, pursue my goals, and eventually reach higher education. I know firsthand how transformative this support can be.”