My name is Jared Miller and I a senior majoring in Mechanical Engineering while also minoring in Math and Business.  I chose SMU since I saw the greatest potential here due to all of the opportunities here. With the Hunt Center for Engineering Leadership and the Lockheed Martin Innovation Gym, the possibility of getting involved with things that I not only enjoy, but can also apply to my degree and field of interest. This was the perfect fit!   With the implementation of the Innovation Competition my sophomore year, I was even more excited at the chance to build something from scratch and getting real hands-on experience.

Not many engineering schools have as many hands-on projects like the Lyle School of Engineering.  In my time here I have done several things, such as:

• In the summer of 2010, I built an unmanned ground vehicle as part of a Lockheed Martin project in the Innovation Gym.
• I helped fabricate a rowing machine that could capture energy as a part of the SMU Innovation Competition during the summer of 2010.
• In the fall of 2010, for an Immersion Design Experiment in the Innovation Gym, I led a group of Mechanical Engineers as part of a multi-discipline project to ward off pirates off of the coast of Somalia.
• Currently, for my senior design project, I am redesigning an M-16 upper receiver as a prototype to minimize jamming.

While all of these experiences have been great, there is something here at SMU that has made my time here amazing.  I am referring to the atmosphere I live in. My freshman year I learned there was an Engineering Community on the fourth floor of Cockrell-McIntosh and applied to be on it when I filled out my housing application. I was lucky enough to make it onto the floor.  I loved it so much that I spent my entire college career living here.

It isn’t as nerdy as one would think when thinking of a bunch of engineers living next to each other. The floor itself always has something happening and whether you are looking to study together with people in the lounge (because engineers actually study), find a good conversation, or kill some time with a video game, you can always find someone willing to join you.

One of the benefits of living here is first hand access to upperclassmen who have taken a lot of the classes the freshman will have to go through so they can offer advice on professors and help with homework. Another benefit is being a local majority of engineers, events happen on the floor that aren’t offered elsewhere: Innovation Gymnasium Presentations and Recruitment, Pancakes with Profs, Dinner with the Dean.  The opportunities go on and on. 

I love SMU.  I love the Engineering Floor in Cockrell-McIntosh.  I love being a Lyle engineering student!