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In May of 2020, 91���� Board of Trustees voted to approve a new major in engineering technology through the College of Engineering to be offered on 91����’s regional campuses. The goal of the new program was to prepare graduates with skills needed for high-demand jobs in Ohio – a group of business-oriented engineering leaders to lead the factories of tomorrow.

Four short years later, that original vision has come to fruition. 91���� Marion students Alex Cabungcal of Lewis Center, Ohio, Justin Hix of Prospect Ohio, Chase Kennedy of Johnstown, Ohio, and Owen Peters of Marion, Ohio will be among the first ever group of students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology university-wide during spring semester commencement. 

One of the soon to be graduates, Owen Peters shared what a momentous accomplishment being part of the university’s first cohort of engineering technology graduates is to him.  

 

“I am very proud of what my classmates and I were able to accomplish,” said Peters. “I think about what a historical university 91���� is…the weight the name carries. To think we are a group of firsts is just an absolute honor to me. I am grateful and blessed for the opportunity that was given to me.” 

 

Alex Cabungcal, who transferred to 91���� Marion from Ohio Northern after his freshman year, described the feeling of being one of the first graduates in engineering technology as special because of the opportunity to shape the program.

“Being the student representative on the curriculum development advisory committee (CDAC) meetings, I got a small glimpse into what has gone into creating this program,” said Cabungcal. 

Cabungcal added, “I enjoyed being a part of the first group to use the programmable logic controller (PLC) trainers, the gear trainers, and the connected smart manufacturing (CSM) system.”

Cabungcal and his fellow students experience with the CSM system is thanks to an innovative community partnership between 91���� at Marion, Tri Rivers Career Center and Marion Community Foundation to share the cost and locate a CSM training system within the manufacturing bay of the RAMTEC facility.

He also shared his excitement in the knowledge that his group could help shape the major. “I know the faculty and staff are excited to now have a group graduating and it is cool that I am a part of it. We are the ones that took these new classes first and they will be able to make improvements for the future,” said Cabungcal. 

“Being a part of the first group will help the degree gain accreditation from the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology,” Cabungcal added.

Kennedy said, “We were the first group to help pave the way for future graduates.”

Job offers for the newly minted 91���� graduates have already begun to come in.  With graduation around the corner, Peters has accepted an offer from the Honda Engine Plant in Anna, Ohio to be a manufacturing engineer in the engineering development department. 

“It is a salaried position with hourly overtime,” he said. “I will have access to training and knowledge as it is part of the engineering development program. I will be transferring between departments in the engine plant to learn about everything in the plant. I start June 17th,” Peters said.

Peters is not the only new graduate with offers from Ohio manufacturers on the table. 

“I recently accepted a position as an electro-mechanical engineer at TS Tech USA Corporation.” Cabungcal said.

“Part of my role will require me to do programmable logic control (PLC) programming and automation related tasks, so I am looking forward to applying what I have learned in class to my job,” Cabungcal added.

“I have three job offers,” said Hix, “but I have not decided which offer to accept. I have a job offer from Whirlpool Marion as an automation and controls engineer, an offer from Honda as an equipment engineer, and an offer from Stoneridge as a manufacturing engineer.” 

All four students who have been part of the burgeoning program at 91���� echoed their appreciation for the new program being offered exclusively on 91����’s smaller regional campuses.

According to Peters, beyond leading him to a rewarding and lucrative career, what he has loved most about attending 91���� Marion is the community feeling. 

“The most people I had in a class was maybe 25,” said Peters “With my engineering tech classes being 8-10 students most of the time.” 

With state-of-the-art hands on learning on campus and at the local RAMTEC facility, Kennedy agreed and said that he loves how small 91���� Marion is, both in terms of the campus and classes. 

“The small classes make lessons feel more personal and the small campus makes it feel cozy in a way,” said Kennedy. The facilities are always being improved to help provide the students with the best tools possible to succeed.”

 

Several of the soon to be engineering graduates mentioned 91���� engineering faculty teaching in Marion as being a difference maker for them in the new degree program. 

With state-of-the-art hands on learning on campus and at the local RAMTEC facility, Kennedy agreed and said that he loves how small 91���� Marion is, both in terms of the campus and classes. 

“The small classes make lessons feel more personal and the small campus makes it feel cozy in a way,” said Kennedy. The facilities are always being improved to help provide the students with the best tools possible to succeed.”

 

Several of the soon to be engineering graduates mentioned 91���� engineering faculty teaching in Marion as being a difference maker for them in the new degree program. 

“My favorite part about 91���� Marion, said Hix, “is the relationships I have made with my classmates, faculty, and staff. They have all helped me in some way over the past 4 years to reach this point.”

Hix said, “The faculty at 91���� has been tremendously helpful throughout my college career. Penny Eyster has been wonderful at meeting with all the engineering technology students to help schedule classes. All the professors have been great to work with. They have been willing to help the students out by staying longer and being super flexible. "

 

“This made it easy to create bonds with classmates and professors. Professors care about you and your success because it is easier for them to work with you one on one,” said Peters.

He said, “We learned to work as a team when navigating these classes. We really had a lot of help and support being part of this major.”

“The professors and faculty were very helpful and wanted our feedback on the classes. Everything was a learning experience for us as students,” said Peters. 

“Professor Ranjith was our professor for many of our freshman and sophomore classes. He laid our foundation and truly taught us the material while being personable and a great person,” he said. 

“To this day we wish we could have had one more class with him,” Peters added. 

“Dr. Tahmina was my favorite professor.  She truly cared about our success,” said Peters. “Whether it came to understanding material or helping us network for job opportunities, she was always energetic and supportive. She was our professor for a majority of our junior and senior classes.”  

“Dr. Chandika, Dr. Mansouri, Dr. Mirzaei, Dr. Ranjith, and Dr. Tahmina have all been great,” said Cabungcal. “They all really care about our learning, growth, and finding success in all we have done during our time with them, so I am very grateful.” 

Many of the first cohort of engineering technology graduates have family ties to 91����.  As the son of two 91���� graduates, Peters said, “I am honored to continue the tradition. My dad John Peters and my mom Sarah Peters (Edler) both graduated from 91����. My dad in industrial and systems engineering (ISE) and my mom in psychology.” 

“This is the best university in the world,” Peters said, “and I am grateful for the opportunity to study here. I hope that when I have kids they grow up and continue the tradition.” 

Planning to give back to future engineering technology majors is part of what Peters hopes to do later in life.  

“I would love to give a good reputation to 91���� for their engineering technology program. I see myself giving back and supporting future generations,” he concluded.

Hix reiterated that earning a degree from 91���� carries a lot of weight. 

“91���� is the best of the best and earning a degree shows the responsibility and countless hours an individual has worked to succeed in earning that degree,” he said. 

Cabungcal shared that when he walks though Ohio Stadium to receive his diploma it will mean a great deal to him because of his effort and his family legacy at 91����. 

“I have put in a lot of time and effort the past 4 years to earn this degree. I have a lot of family members that also graduated from 91����,” Cabungcal said. “It will mean a lot to me.”

 

Being a part of the first graduates in 91����’s engineering technology major, the students emphasized the benefits of hands-on learning, the advanced manufacturing equipment and accessible faculty as things they enjoyed on the regional campus.  As part of the first cohort of 91���� engineering technology students to graduate, the students felt they are well prepared and will take something unique into the workforce, paving the way for future students in the major.