Emily Ford
Emily Ford is a 4th-year undergraduate mechanical engineering student at the University of Florida. Emily has been a part of many extracurriculars while holding leadership positions. One notable leadership includes being titled secretary for a design team called Aggregator which competes in NASA’s yearly lunar robot competition. She helps lead the undergraduate engineers, as well as organize any communication platforms the team uses. She is also currently working as an operations assistant at the University of Florida’s Office of Admissions and Registrar, where she assists in administrative tasks for staff.
This past summer, Emily completed her first engineering internship at West Fraser lumber company, the largest lumber producer in North America. She spent this time in Perry, Florida working as a full-time reliability engineering intern. Emily worked directly with contractors in implementing the saw mill’s first vibration analysis technology. She also composed root cause failure analysis reports for most downtime events to the sawmill and would present these to the general manager and other engineers across other mills. She got to learn some technical work including how to MIG weld, stick weld, and torch cutting. Ultimately, Emily wants to work in the field and get her hands on the products and machines, and this internship fulfilled that desire.
Emily developed a passion for engineering because of the positive impact it can have on others. More specifically, she is interested in sustainable practices within mechanical engineering pertaining to energy, infrastructure, and materials. She tries to think actively about sustainable practices she can integrate into her own life.
Allison Porras
Allison Porras is a mechanical engineering student at the University of Florida, who held an internship with the United States Postal Service in the Engineering Systems department. During her internship, Allison evaluated the system for manually changing locks on PO Boxes and proposed a solution involving contracting a smart locker company to make PO Boxes keyless. She earned a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt by showcasing her skills with problem-solving, communication, and public speaking. Allison also had the opportunity to present to the Chief Technology Officer/Executive VP at USPS.
When finished with her project at USPS, Allison spent time programming a collaborative robot and sharpening her skills in the manufacturing lab. Some of her favorite courses at UF have included Introduction to Aerospace Engineering, Astronomy & Astrophysics, and Design & Manufacturing Lab. Some of Allison’s professional skills include technical writing, Solidworks, MATLAB, and a conversational level of Spanish. Allison enjoys engineering because she’s interested in knowing how things work and approaching the challenge of designing something new. She hopes to be an engineer who creates things that improve people’s lives while considering sustainability.
Outside of engineering, one of Allison’s greatest passions is teaching children how to swim and stay safe in the water. For each child she teaches, she produces a lesson plan and adjusts the lessons to suit each student’s learning style and skill level. She communicates efficiently by breaking down concepts in a way each student can understand. These experiences have helped Allison hone her skills of problem-solving, communication, and responsibility that she now brings to her engineering career.
Ryan Pytosh
Ryan Pytosh is a fourth-year student at the University of Florida studying chemical engineering and business administration. During his four years at UF, he has developed knowledge on a range of subjects including energy transport, economic principles, and blockchain functionality. He began his UF journey in 2019 focused on chemical engineering with a specific interest in energy processes. His interests have expanded as he gained experience in other disciplines such as project management, team collaboration, and emerging technologies.
Ryan has been fortunate to be involved with campus organizations and clubs including the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and Gator Blockchain Club. Through these experiences, he has cultivated relationships and learned from peers outside of the traditional classroom setting. He spends his spare time earning his private pilot license.
Ryan has a passion for learning and varied experiences. Since the Fall of 2021, he has worked part-time as a community ambassador for The Standard Gainesville. Work experience has improved his communication and teamwork skills. His international experience traveling abroad to 16 countries makes him a global ambassador with an appreciation for diversity while developing a unique perspective on culture and international affairs. His favorite experience is his view from flying solo over Central Florida.
Words from Ryan’s father that he lives by, “Make it a Journey.”