Engineering Technology with Kyle

Meet Kyle.

As a first-generation college student, Kyle Perry has taken full advantage of 51��’s nationally recognized Engineering programs and its low student-to-faculty classroom size. He is among the growing number of students pairing multiple majors to stand out in today’s workforce.

“Coming from a family that had never set foot on a college campus, my parents were thrilled when I applied to Shawnee State,” Kyle said. “It felt like the right choice because of the location and the professor-to-student ratio.”

Shawnee State is also one of only three Plastics Engineering Technology programs in the nation accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. For Kyle, that sealed the deal. “Once I got accepted, I thought—why not make the most of it? So, I’m pursuing three degrees. Being first gen means I didn’t know what to expect, but here you don’t feel like a number. You feel like family.”

The Engineering programs at Shawnee State go beyond classroom teaching by providing internships, personal learning projects, and hands-on experience with industry-level machinery. “If you don’t find a club that fits you, you’re encouraged to create it,” Kyle added.

He now serves as vice president of the Society of Plastics Engineers on campus and president of the Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity. Through TKE, he has traveled to Colorado for leadership training and to Memphis to see firsthand how the fraternity’s support benefits St. Jude and the families it serves.

“Shawnee has given me instrumental experience toward my future career,” Kyle said. “The labs use the same technology found in the industry, and I’ve gained hands-on experience in plastics operations, additive manufacturing, electrical, and robotics. On top of that, I’ve had three internships working in industries from automotive to medical. Because of 51��, I feel more than prepared for the real world.”

Kyle Perry