Tag: alumni stories

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Visionary Speakers: Jake Loosararian

Not only does Grove City College have an Entrepreneurship major and department, but there is also a Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Entrepreneurship students are so blessed to have this Center because it connects us with great people and opportunities. One of my favorite activities sponsored by the Center is the Richard G. Staley ’62 Visionary Speakers Series. Each year, the college brings in some incredible people to share with students their wisdom and experience. This November, we got to hear from Jake Loosararian, a fellow GCC alumnus.

Jake’s Story

Jake graduated from Grove City College in 2013 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. While at the Grove, Jake along with some friends participated in VentureLab, a program funded by the Center. VentureLab provides seed grants and coaching to help launch new businesses. Ultimately, Jake and his friends post-grad co-founded Gecko Robotics, Inc. His company uses robots to scale walls and inspect power plants. Gecko’s products save money, time, and human lives.

Shortly after Gecko launched, they were accepted to Y Combinator, one of the most respected tech business incubators in the county. Jake and his team were paired up with mentors, and were named the #1 Top Startup from Y Combinator’s Winter ’16 Demo Day. His company is fast growing, and currently innovating a space that not only has a monetary impact, but also changing the landscape of safety.

Major Takeaways

I found Jake’s talk to be insightful and inspiring. It is inspiring to see someone not too many years ahead of you succeeding and following their passions and dreams. Jake spoke about courage, and his story truly is courageous. I loved hearing how his time at Grove City prepared him for this crazy adventure.

Overall, I was encouraged by Jake’s talk. I’m thankful that my school sees the value in giving students the opportunity to learn from those a few steps ahead and pass on their wisdom.

Gecko, the company Jake co-founded is saving lives and making an impact.
Gecko is saving lives and making an impact
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Alumni Insights: Electrical Engineering After College

Alumni picture

Graduating college is a huge honor and accomplishment that deserves recognition and celebration. Our alumni are some of our greatest resources for career advice, handling student life, and encouraging those still currently completing their undergraduate degree. Recent graduate of the class of 2016, Abigail Liff is an alumna of the Electrical Engineering program and was willing to share her experiences and advice about life after Grove City.

Experience at Grove City College

Abbi works as an electrical engineer for FirstEnergy in Ohio. While at Grove City College, Abbi enjoyed her time living in a small town similar to her hometown in Kent, OH. “I loved the people and the small school atmosphere,” she explains. Each of our engineering programs at Grove City complete a senior capstone project where students are put into team to conduct research and design something to be used in a practical setting. Being passionate about research, Abbi went beyond the classroom to get more hands-on experience in electrical engineering research through summer internships. She explained how she felt very prepared for life outside of college because of these internships that she held both in high school and during college summers.

Getting More Experience

Being in the field of engineering is no easy job, and it can be difficult to find where your interests lie in a broad field. Abbi explains, “Electrical engineering is very rewarding, but it is very difficult and requires a can-do attitude to make it all the way through the program.” She had the opportunity to study abroad in Nantes, France with the European Study Center program with other electrical and mechanical engineers. During this time, she worked with her senior capstone group to create a better food refrigeration system with the help of some French students who studied food engineering. Together they worked in labs and collaborated information to bring back to America to use to finish their senior capstone project. Being in different environments and research groups in and outside of our campus has provided wonderful experience in the field that has helped her get the job she has today.

Life After Grove City College

After obtaining her degree, Abbi began working at FirstEnergy in Ohio through an experience at the Grove City College Career Fair. She said, “The Career Fair helped me get my job because I met a FirstEnergy representative who was very interested in Grove City College students and knew about the engineering program at our school.” Making these connections during college have made all the difference in finding a career path that has worked out for her.

When it comes to deciding on a college major, there are many factors to consider in developing a career to build on for the next four years and beyond. One of the best pieces of advice Abbi gives is practicing perseverance. She advised, “If you want to get this degree, you have to go in to the program telling yourself ‘I will stick with this. I am going to get this degree.’ I told myself that at least once a week, and I got through it, but it’s definitely not for everyone. I saw a lot of people leave because they didn’t have the right attitude.” Always consider the hard work and dedication it takes to obtain a college degree.