Prepared through a Unique Perspective

Melanie Longanecker ′14, who will be starting a Ph.D. program in polymer engineering at the University of Akron in the fall, shares her Geneva story:

I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to study with professors so committed to showing students that all areas of study fit into our faith. Doing research constantly shows you the beauty and complexity of the world around us. Things fit together so perfectly, and we recognize this knowing that they didn′t fall together by accident. This perspective on science and research is one of the most useful things I learned at Geneva.

 

I decided on chemical engineering during high school because chemistry was a topic I found very interesting, and I realized that this was an area where I had been given a talent. To be honest it was quite a leap to commit to a major in chemical engineering merely from liking chemistry class, but I was continuously assured that I had chosen the right path; I could never imagine anything else I would rather be studying.

 

I chose Geneva for the same reasons that many people do—the close community and opportunity for spiritual development at a school that offers a wide variety of programs. While at Geneva, I studied chemical engineering and chemistry with two departments full of excellent faculty.

 

During my junior year, I studied polymer chemistry with Dr. Stahl. This was the hardest chemistry class I took, but I also found it to be unique and exciting. The applications of polymers truly seem endless. The next summer I had an internship where I did research in The University of Akron′s Polymer Engineering Department. Of course I learned a great deal about polymers, but I also found that I really enjoyed research and continued polymer research for my senior design project

 

Melanie concludes, “It′s going to be a long journey ahead, but Geneva has prepared me well through outstanding chemistry and engineering programs, as well as its unique biblical perspective on the sciences.”

by Jolynn Frey