Graduate Spotlight: Love of artistic design, mathematics leads Hill to engineering degree
Kim Chaudoin |
From an early age, Summar Hill has known two things. One, she appreciates art and creativity, and two, she loves mathematics.
When considering what pathway she wanted to take to pursue a college degree, Hill found engineering to be the ideal blend of those two things. On Saturday, May 6, she will walk across the Allen Arena stage to receive her degree as a double-major in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics.
“My love for artistic design and mathematics are what prompted me to pursue a degree in engineering,” explains Hill, from Craselton, Georgia. “Engineering is an art form and from it beautiful intricate things can be created. I wanted to learn and develop my technical skills to an advanced level, and my engineering education has allowed me to explore my creative and curious side.”
One of the reasons Hills says she chose to pursue her education at Lipscomb was because of its close-knit community, the faith-driven atmosphere and for the opportunity to serve through the Raymond B. Jones College of Engineering’s Peugeot Center for Engineering Service in Developing Communities. A focus of the engineering program is to inspire students to view the practice of engineering as a vocation. The Peugeot Center provides opportunities for engineering students and professionals to use their skills to meet critical needs in underserved communities by providing sustainable solutions in missions in Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras and Malawi.
“Lipscomb is such a welcoming and encouraging community, and the professors and students will welcome you with open arms and encourage you every step of the journey. Faith is deeply rooted in this community and it has helped me grow and develop as a person of faith as well as help me build a supporting community of friends,” says Hill. “The opportunity to participate in mission work was a major factor in my decision, and through the Peugeot Center I have been able to use my skills and profession to solve problems in developing and underserved communities.”
The ability to work on a project that will make a real difference in a developing community has been an incredible blessing. — Celia Hill
Hill has participated in three different Peugeot Center projects in Honduras: a solar project for a school, a solar project for a clinic, and the design and construction of a biomedical waste incinerator for a hospital through my senior design project. Last year she participated in a spring break mission to help install a new set of solar panels at a school in rural Honduras. Through the local partner, Honduras Outreach International, Hill and her team were able to complete a portion of that project which continues to make a difference in the community.
“My main task for that trip was formulating a set of lesson plans for the teachers surrounding alternative and solar energy so that they could teach their students about the system we were installing at their school,” she adds. “I loved the educational aspect, and getting to work with the teachers was an amazing experience.”
In May, Hill will go to another part of Honduras to install solar panels at several rural clinics that need a more reliable source of energy. In addition, the team will help with the construction of a biomedical waste incinerator which Hill’s senior design group was working on over the last school year.
“The ability to work on a project that will make a real difference in a developing community has been an incredible blessing, and I am looking forward to seeing the project come to fruition,” says Hill.
In addition to her studies, Hill has been involved in the Society of Women Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, served as an officer in Lipscomb Women in STEM student club and as vice president of Lipscomb’s chapter of Tau Beta Pi national engineering honor society, and worked as an intern through the Peugeot Center.
I would not trade my experience here for anything,” concludes Hill. “I think that God placed me here for a reason and I have enjoyed it so incredibly much. I am excited to go into further education and career and am confident in my abilities leaving the program. — Celia Hill
Hill says she has found a very supportive environment in the College of Engineering.
“I have been inspired by the female faculty in the college of engineering, especially Dr. Kirsten Dodson who has always encouraged me,” she shares. “I also want to thank Dr. (Fort) Gwinn, Dr. (Richard) Gregory, Dr. (Max) Collao and all the rest of the mechanical engineering faculty for encouraging all of your students and challenging us to grow and learn to be better engineers and better people.”
“I feel so blessed to have had an incredible support system through the College of Engineering and through all the friends I have made along the way,” continues Hill. “I look forward to staying in touch with all of my friends and seeing where life will take them and their careers.”
This fall, Hill will begin her pursuit of a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at Clemson University, where she will either be working in a lab as a graduate assistant or as a teacher’s assistant. After graduate school, she plans to work for an engineering nonprofit or as a sustainability/humanitarian engineering consultant.
“I would not trade my experience here for anything,” concludes Hill. “I think that God placed me here for a reason and I have enjoyed it so incredibly much. I am excited to go into further education and career and am confident in my abilities leaving the program.”