Scholarship Recipient Profile: Hannah Mas
When Hannah Mas transferred to Purdue from a small community college in California, it was a big step forward toward achieving her dream of becoming an aerospace engineer. She’s well on her way already – as the first person in her family to attend college and as the winner of a John Gleiter Scholarship for Aero-Astro Engineering Perseverance.
Why did you choose to study AAE at Purdue?
I always knew I wanted to study aerospace engineering and I wanted to attend a university that was going to offer me the most in my major. When I was attending community college back in California, I was extensively researching the best schools – and what better place to go than to the school also known as “the cradle of astronauts.”
What are the biggest advantages to being a student in AAE?
The best thing about being in AAE is the unlimited amount of resources that are offered to the students. Purdue offers opportunities for students to gain experience traveling, conducting research, being part of engineering project teams, meeting astronauts, attending lectures from representatives in the space and aerospace industry and attending career fairs that give us the opportunity to have face time with prestigious companies. Also, an aerospace degree from Purdue opens so many doors for us, even past graduation.
What have been some of your favorite experiences at Purdue?
My favorite experiences at Purdue have been the study abroad experiences. I did my first study abroad in South India, where I studied Engineering Practice and Education. I also had the pleasure of being part of Prof. Dumbacher’s study abroad in Austria and Switzerland where we studied the Global Perspectives on the Uses of Outer Space. Having the opportunity to travel the world has shown my passion for international development and led me to obtain a minor in Global Engineering.
What are your career goals?
I recently accepted a full-time offer from Accenture as a Consulting Analyst and will be taking on the position after graduation. I hope to expand my knowledge in the engineering field and hope that consulting will give me the opportunity to continue working on engineering projects and fulfill my passion for traveling at the same time. I want to grow as an engineer and as a business woman, and continue furthering myself more than I ever expected.
How does it feel to be awarded a scholarship?
It is always a very rewarding feeling to receive a scholarship. It further reassures me that my hard work has been paying off and I am lucky enough to be at an institution that continuously pushes me to my full potential, while acknowledging my efforts at the same time.
For more information on supporting student scholarships, visit the AAE Giving page.