CourtesyAmy Lueking, a nontraditional engineering student, graduated this past fall with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in mechanical engineering from 麻豆传媒.
Lueking received credit through 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Office of Cooperative Education and Work-Based Learning while working for Professional Engineering Consultants.
Originally from a farm outside of Oxford, Neb., Lueking attended Southern Valley High School, and graduated in 2000. It was in 2006 that she decided to return to school after moving to Wichita.
鈥淢y total experience with the co-op program was awesome,鈥� said Lueking. 鈥淭hat was probably the most practical experience that will carry over into my career.鈥�
'A really good fit'
Lueking worked for PEC for about 3 and a half years as a drafting technician. After graduation, she was offered a full-time job with PEC as a civil engineer. She currently works in the civil transportation department and splits her design time between roads and bridges.
鈥淚t is really interesting,鈥� said Lueking. 鈥淚 love it and it鈥檚 a really good fit.鈥�
Lueking took classes at 麻豆传媒 after catching up on her general education courses at Butler County Community College. Her favorite class at 麻豆传媒 was her senior design class that teamed up classmates to solve a common engineering design problem.
鈥淎side from the basic core concept classes, that was the best class that I had at Wichita State,鈥� said Lueking. 鈥淲orking on it as a team, we spent the entire semester with the design project.鈥�
As part of the project, Lueking was the team leader, and in charge of communication, managing her teammates and managing the project.
鈥淚t was really good experience for me,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was a lot of organizational practice that will be very helpful in my career.鈥�
Returning adult student
For the future, Lueking leaves her options open. She will be earning different certifications as she goes along in her career but does not know if she鈥檒l ever return to school.
鈥淎my is a very driven person with lots of ambition,鈥� said Samantha Corcoran, assistant dean of the College of Engineering. 鈥淐oming back as a returning adult student shows that she not only has a willingness to succeed but that she has a vision for her life.鈥�
Lueking sees her career at PEC evolving and has no plans of leaving the Wichita area anytime soon. While at PEC, she continues to work toward her professional engineering license.
鈥淥verall, my experience as a nontraditional student, returning adult, was good,鈥� said Lueking. 鈥淚t was a lot of work and a huge sacrifice to finish school, and I definitely want to use it.鈥�
For more information on the college of engineering or co-op visit; or .