Dwayne D’Souza

Major: Mechanical Engineering
Year in School: Senior
Other activities: I am involved with the ISAO (International Student Affairs Office), ISA (Indian Student Association), Focus Missionaries.
Why you chose UMKC: UMKC has a well accredited course in mechanical engineering in undergraduate and graduate studies. UMKC has some student teams such as the Baja Buggy team and the Human Power vehicle which has captured my attention. I will be joining these teams immediately after completing the safety classes.
Best thing about SCE: The professors here are very helpful, there’s always help for the courses that we are taking like the SASS building that provides help in calculus and in chemistry, and there is a tutor that helps us in our engineering classes

Matthew Mohler

Major: Electrical & Computer Engineering
Year in School: Sophomore
Other activities: IEEE Robotics Team - Hardware Team Leader, Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers - Webmaster, Association for Computing Machinery
Why you chose UMKC: UMKC, in addition to being a well accredited school, located in the Greater Kansas City area, offered many opportunities for me to excel, from cutting edge research projects, to a multitude of student organizations.
Best thing about SCE: The professors at UMKC are approachable, accessible, knowlegeable, and engaging. The School of Computing & Engineering also offers many student teams and organizations in which to participate.

Sierra Shipley

Major: Mechanical Engineering & Mathematics
Year in School: Junior
Other activities: National Society of Black Engineers - Senator.
Why you chose UMKC: I chose UMKC because it has an excellent engineering program. UMKC also has many club and organizations for the students to join and participate in.
Best thing about SCE: I love that fact that UMKC has fairly small class sizes. This makes it easy to ask questions in class and get more one-on-one help. I also like that the tutors are available at any time of the day. If they are not holding office hours, you can email them and get all answers quickly and efficiently.

Victor Skulavik II

Major: Electrical & Computer Engineering
Year in School: Graduate Student
Other activities: IEEE Robotics Team - Financial Team Lead, IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu (Electrical Engineering Honor Society) - Theta Pi Chapter Past President, Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honor Society) - MO-Delta Chapter Past President, NSPE/MSPE Student Chapter - Past President, UMKC Salsa Club - Co-Founder and Instructor
Why you chose UMKC: UMKC was local which allowed me to keep my job, and I also had family and a girlfriend at the time. In addition to those reasons, and besides being offered a full-tuition scholarship, it was simply not financially feasible for me to go to another school. I also chose UMKC over an area technical college because of the ABET accreditation and career benefits offered with that accreditation.
Best thing about SCE: Small classes; knowing the instructors personally and them knowing me. Being able to participate in research and projects.

Ashlee Warnke

Major: Civil Engineering
Year in School: Junior
Other activities: UMKC Society of Women Engineers - Secretary, UMKC Society of American Military Engineers - Vice President, American Society of Civil Engineers
Why you chose UMKC: UMKC provides a range of diverse opportunities, giving me the opportunity to choose my career path, to grow as a person and utilize a number of associating student organizations.
Best thing about SCE: The engineering department at UMKC provides consistent exposure through different student organizations to professional engineering firms resulting in familiarity to local firms and increasing opportunities upon graduation.

Cody Kaspzyk

Major: Mechanical Engineering
Year in School: Sophomore
Other activities: SCE Student Council - Comptroller, UMKC American Society of Mechanical Engineers - Treasurer
Why you chose UMKC: UMKC, specifically the School of Computing and Engineering treats you like a valued customer and patron. Other schools I went to I was just another number but here i am recognized as a student who is here for, above all else, a quality education.
Best thing about SCE: I love SCE. It has become almost a second family to me. Only after one year, I already know alot of the faculty and staff, including the dean himself. Its always easy to find an advisor that is genuinely concerned about the decisions you make when it comes to class schedules.

Deepti Bankapur

Major: Electrical & Computer Engineering
Year in School: Senior
Other activities: UMKC Society of Women Engineers - President, Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society, UMKC & Rockhurst Relay for Life Committee.
Why you chose UMKC: I chose UMKC due to the professor-student ratio in the SCE program and that I was given a good scholarship.
Best thing about SCE: We have access to computer labs in Flarsheim Hall (Engineering Building) 24/7 and we have a huge print quota every week. Also, professors are approachable and available to help you anytime.

DeJon Slaughter

Major: Civil Engineering
Year in School: Senior
Other activities: UMKC National Society of Black Engineers - President, UMKC American Concrete Institute - President, Design Build Institute of America
Why you chose UMKC: Choosing UMKC was a great decision for me. I grew up in Kansas City and my heart belongs to this city. Having the opportunity to learn Civil Engineering, connect with various companies about potential careers opportunities and connect with community leaders, made my decision to attend UMKC a “no brainier”.
Best thing about SCE: UMKC’s SCE department is amazing. I really enjoy the environment for our engineering students. The class sizes allow students to form relationships with their fellow classmates and professors. These relationships will furthermore create lifelong bonds and everlasting friendships. Apart from the environment, SCE is an ABET accredited institution, which grants students the insurance that they will be tested and challenged throughout their time here.

Eric Gonzalez

Major: Computer Science
Year in School: Senior
Other activities:UMKC Association for Computing Machinery - Chair, IEEE Robotics Team
Why you chose UMKC: I've lived in Kansas City for a little over 20 years and always knew about UMKC, and when the time came to pick my final school I did my campus tour at UMKC and saw all that the school had to offer and the enthusiasm of the teachers and I was sold.
Best thing about SCE: The perks as an officer of a student organization are fantastic. I'm always aware of what's going on and get to meet and hang out with some really cool people!

George White Jr.

Major: Civil Engineering
Year in School: Senior
Other activities: National Society of Black Engineers - Vice President, UMKC American Concrete Institute - Treasurer
Why you chose UMKC: I chose UMKC because it was close to home and it is immersed in Kansas City. All of the other engineering schools in the area are not in close proximity to where the jobs are. I knew that this would be an advantage to getting work experience while I am at school.
Best thing about SCE: One of my favorite things about SCE is the ability to connect with faculty that are higher up in the administration. If a student shows a will to step up and make changes then the upper faculty are open to facilitate change.

Kelsey Knoche

Major: Electrical & Computer Engineering
Year in School: Senior
Other activities: Tau Beta Pi MO Delta Chapter - President, UMKC Society of Women Engineers, Vice President, Eta Kappa Nu Honor Society.
Why you chose UMKC: I picked UMKC because they have a great engineering school and I love the urban campus.
Best thing about SCE: My favorite things about SCE are the student organizations and the faculty.

Levon Saiyan

Major: Civil Engineering
Year in School: Junior
Other activities: Engineers Without Borders - President
Why you chose UMKC: UMKC was close to home, it was affordable, I got scholarships, and they have a great engineering program.
Best thing about SCE: The classes are great. The way things are set up encourage students to work together and learn collectively.

Meagan Malloy

Major: Civil Engineering
Year in School: Senior
Other activities: Engineers Without Borders - Vice President, UMKC Women's Soccer team.
Why you chose UMKC: I personally chose to come to UMKC because I was offered a scholarship to play division I athletics and there was an ABET accredited engineering program. I really liked that UMKC was located close to downtown and close to a lot of engineering firms.
Best thing about SCE: One of my favorite things about SCE is the small class sizes. I know everyone in my classes and I've had multiple classes with them. I also like the amount of opportunities given to students throughout the semester to get involved in organizations and events.

Victoria Wu

Major: Computer Science
Year in School: Sophomore
Other activities: IEEE Robotics Team - Secretary, UMKC Association for Computing Machinery - Secretary
Why you chose UMKC: I came to UMKC mainly because of its location and cost; the SCE school in particular caught my attention because it was a smaller school and was also ABET accredited.
Best thing about SCE: My favorite thing about SCE has to be the relatively small class sizes and the friendliness and openness of the faculty and staff. I definitely feel like I can talk to my professors and advisors.