Tumolva pursues goal of becoming mechanical engineer
From military to mechanical engineering, Tumolva continues to use his talents to serve others.
Kim Chaudoin and Courtney Grable |
Kevin Tumolva (‘23), a Waipahu, Hawaii native, has always enjoyed math and problem solving.
He utilized those skills when he joined the U.S. Army five years ago, working as an aircraft mechanic working on F/A-18 Super Hornets and E2-C Hawkeyes.
Tumolva’s journey began five years ago when he joined the U.S. Army, working as an aircraft mechanic. “I spent half of that time working on F/A-18 Super Hornets and the other half on E2-C Hawkeyes,” Tumolva says.
After serving in the military, Tumolva knew he wanted to go to college. “I wanted a degree through which I could turn what I like to do into something that can help people,” he recalls. After learning about Lipscomb’s well respected Raymond B. Jones College of Engineering and touring campus, Tumolva decided to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering at the university.
The engineering program offered him several opportunities to take what he learned in the classroom and apply it to the real world to help others.
Through the college’s Peugeot Center for Engineering Service in Developing Communities, he was part of a mission team that went to Honduras to restore solar panels to clinics with faulty systems. Initially, he says he only understood the basics of the solar panels. But after working alongside David Elrod, dean of the College of Engineering, and locals, Tumolva began to understand the concept in more depth.
Additionally, Tumolva was a member of the NASA University Student Launch Initiative during his time at Lipscomb.
“Several people have inspired me during my time at Lipscomb. However, the person who made the most impact is Dr. Elrod,” he reflects. “When I was on the mission trip with him, I saw a very knowledgeable and humble person. You just know that you are in the company of a good person if he is present.”
“My experience at Lipscomb has been great. The professors are doing a great job in producing good engineers who can use their skills to serve others." — Kevin Tumolva
“It is exciting to finally graduate and to be able to apply what I have learned in real life situations,” Tumolva continues. “My experience at Lipscomb has been great. The professors are doing a great job in producing good engineers who can use their skills to serve others.”
After graduating in May, Tumolva began work with an aerospace company. He also plans to attend graduate school in the near future.