December 4, 2015
According to Kevin Tyler, there are three types tylerof people that choose a career in engineering: those who want a high-paying job, those who are good at math and science, and those who genuinely want to change the world. Tyler associates himself as the latter.
Tyler joined the Grand Challenge Scholars Program because “the idea of focusing on real, important, and global issues during [his] undergraduate career was a huge draw for [him].” He was a perfect fit for the program, as his goals aligned with those of GCSP.
After four years as a Grand Challenge Scholar, Tyler looks back and recalls that he enjoyed being a leader to the younger members; when he joined, GCSP was still fairly new, so there were few older members for him to look up to. Though he admits that it is difficult to struggle with your own program requirements while simultaneously leading younger students and encouraging them to keep going, he’s glad that he made it through to the end. At the end of the day, not only did he complete his undergraduate engineering education, but he also gained extensive leadership experience; such as serving as an undergraduate teaching assistant for FSE 150, a summer institute camp counselor, and the Vice President of the Grand Challenge Scholars Alliance.
As he ventures into the real world, Tyler recalls that the interdisciplinary approach of the program developed him into a well-rounded individual, prepared for life after college. He has multiple plans for the future; though he will be attending graduate school in the Fall 2016 semester, he is also considering working on the materials of multi-junction solar cells under Dr. Richard King, and plans on pursuing a career in renewable energy after graduate school.
Tyler encourages Grand Challenge Scholars, current or future, not to hesitate or fear about the program. “Small achievements over time will eventually create an avalanche of success…with careful planning and diligence in completing one component each semester, graduating as a Grand Challenge Scholar is very manageable.”