Come to class, build a guitar. In Purdue Polytechnic, a college that strongly emphasizes hands-on learning, is it any wonder that Professor Mark French’s “guitar lab” course is a student favorite?

Angel Price, senior manager of engineering services at Walt Disney World Resort, dreamed of a career in the entertainment industry working in special effects. She found her way into our Mechanical Engineering Technology major and then to an internship at Disney — leading to a full-time career after graduating in 2007. Today, Angel leads a team of over 90 people at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, including engineers, mechanics, ride show technicians, computer experts and others.

Purdue Polytechnic’s Brittany Newell and Jose Garcia-Bravo and their colleagues created a novel wet-mixing method that allows for embedding sensors within the structure of 3D-printed parts. Their patent-pending method will aid industry in manufacturing functional parts.

Veronica Brems, Blaise King, Raul Molina and Autumn Yang, Purdue Polytechnic students majoring in construction management technology, have been named as inaugural Kiewit Scholars.

Purdue Polytechnic’s Jason Ostanek is collaborating with colleagues at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) on research to establish laboratory testing capability, enhance performance and improve the safety of lithium-ion batteries.

Purdue Polytechnic and Purdue Motorsports partnered to host “Test and Tune,” an event for high school students to test and improve their electric go-karts, last month at Purdue Polytechnic South Bend. The event provided high school go-kart teams a chance to practice for the Purdue evGrand Prix.

Mike O’Gara, director of operations for Chip Ganassi Racing and a 1994 Purdue mechanical engineering technology graduate, helped coach race car driver Marcus Ericsson to victory in the 2022 Indianapolis 500.

Bill Pappas, a 1983 mechanical engineering technology graduate, has been part of two Indianapolis 500 victories — including serving as chief engineer during Juan Pablo Montoya’s win in 2000. Today, Pappas is vice president of competition and race engineering for the IndyCar series.

Purdue Polytechnic faculty in the “Realizing the Digital Enterprise” research impact area are working to pair technological capability and social responsibility, creating successful cyber–physical experiences.

Gozdem Kilaz, associate professor of engineering technology, received Purdue Polytechnic’s Outstanding Faculty in Discovery Award. Much of Kilaz’ research has focused on alternative liquid transportation fuels, including development, testing and approval of biofuels.