Inside…
Engineering Graduating Senior Tells why
HU was the Best University for Her
By November of my senior year of high school I was all set to attend Georgia Institute of Technology as an incoming freshman majoring in chemical engineering. I was one of the few students at my high school who knew where they would be attending college before the first semester was over. My mentor kept encouraging me to apply to at least three additional schools. I finally decided to apply to Virginia Tech University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Hampton University. I was accepted into all of the schools with a scholarship; however, Hampton University offered me the most amount of funding. Although I had already accepted my offer to Georgia Tech, I made an agreement with my parents to attend Hampton for two years and then transfer to my university of choice.
At the time, I thought this was the best decision for me because the first two years of engineering programs are very similar throughout universities nationwide. I became very active in the engineering organizations my first semester at Hampton and fell in love with the family atmosphere amongst the engineering students. I was afforded two opportunities to travel to conferences and held two positions in engineering organizations, all in my freshman year. My involvement did not negatively affect my grades, and I was chosen as the Hampton University recipient of the AMIE (Advancing Minorities in Engineering) Scholarship, sponsored by NAVSEA (Naval Sea Systems Command) for being the engineering freshman with the highest grade point average. This award came with a $10,000 annual scholarship. The family atmosphere, low student to faculty ratio, and the abundance of opportunities were all reasons I fell in love with the engineering program at Hampton University and decided to make it my alma mater.
Reflecting back on my four years at Hampton, I have been awarded many opportunities to travel, present my research, and have received many awards and additional scholarships for my organizational involvement, academic achievement, and research. I currently serve as the Chemical Engineering Student Ambassador, student president of SWE (Society of Women Engineers), AIChE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers), and Omega Chi Epsilon (Chemical Engineering Honor Society); I am also a member and Membership Chair of NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers).
If I had the opportunity to change my educational path, I would do it exactly the same way. I love Hampton University and the School of Engineering and Technology and will be proud to be called an HU-alumnus after Sunday, May 8, 2011.
-Courtney Mitchell
Courtney Mitchell is a senior chemical engineering major from Chesapeake Va. She will attend Vanderbilt University in Nashville in the fall where she is enrolled in the Ph.D. in chemical and biomolecular engineering program.