Powered by Innovation: VSU Event Ignites Ideas, Inspires Future Engineers

Valdosta State University’s College of Science and Mathematics recently recognized National Engineers Week (Feb. 22-28) with its annual Engineering Night, a celebration of Blazer Nation’s commitment to providing a well-educated engineering workforce. It was an opportunity for VSU to share its unwavering commitment to graduating students who have the skills necessary to create, build, and maintain infrastructure; solve problems; drive economic growth and innovation; overcome challenges; and improve quality of life for all. Anh Ho, an international student from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, was recognized for earning the Outstanding Student in the Regents’ Engineering Pathways Program Award. As an Engineering Studies student, she will soon transfer to Georgia Institute of Technology, Mercer University, or University of Georgia to complete her studies in mechanical engineering. She hopes to pursue a career in spaceship creation. She is pictured with Dr. Krishnendu Roy, head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering Technology. Ian Bittinger of Martinez, Georgia, was recognized for earning the Outstanding Student in Engineering Technology Award. He will graduate from VSU in May 2027 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology. As a cadet in VSU’s United States Air Force Detachment 172, his goal is to commission into the Air Force and become a pilot. He is pictured with Dr. Krishnendu Roy, head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering Technology.

VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University’s College of Science and Mathematics recently recognized National Engineers Week (Feb. 22-28) with its annual Engineering Night, a celebration of Blazer Nation’s commitment to providing a well-educated engineering workforce.

Dr. Barry Hojjatie, professor and Engineering Studies Program coordinator in VSU’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering Technology, said Engineering Night is designed to help students understand engineering and technology careers available to them across South Georgia (and even around the world), connect them with role models they can relate to, provide them with an opportunity to share their research with a diverse audience, and increase interest in engineering as an academic field of study.

Demand for engineers grows from year to year, Hojjatie said, and through events like Engineering Night and National Engineers Week, VSU is able to share its unwavering commitment to graduating students who have the skills necessary to create, build, and maintain infrastructure; solve problems; drive economic growth and innovation; overcome challenges; and improve quality of life for all.

Students in attendance were able to network and engage with industry leaders and technical representatives from Saft America Inc., Salvus LLC, Georgia Power, Packaging Corporation of America, and more during the nearly two-hour event. Hojjatie said this interaction is important because it transforms engineering education from purely academic learning into career-ready preparation. It equips students with knowledge, networks, perspective, and confidence, giving them a significant advantage as they enter the workforce after graduation. 

Engineering Night activities included:

• Anh Ho, an international student from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, was recognized for earning the Outstanding Student in the Regents’ Engineering Pathways Program Award. As an Engineering Studies student, she will soon transfer to Georgia Institute of Technology, Mercer University, or University of Georgia to complete her studies in mechanical engineering. She hopes to pursue a career in spaceship creation.

• Ian Bittinger of Martinez, Georgia, was recognized for earning the Outstanding Student in Engineering Technology Award. He will graduate from VSU in May 2027 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology. As a cadet in VSU’s United States Air Force Detachment 172, his goal is to commission into the Air Force and become a pilot.

• Lynette Hepburn-Richardson with VSU’s Office of Career Opportunities and Volunteer Services talked to attendees about the power of networking and how it directly impacts career opportunities, personal growth, and long-term success. She said networking helps students move from just earning a degree to building a career.

• Representatives from Packaging Corporation of America shared how they rely on almost every type of engineer to produce containerboard and corrugated packaging products; the majority of their workforce holds some type of engineering degree. They said that engineering is in high demand, and economic forecasters predict that there will be more vacancies than qualified engineers in the next decade.

To help meet the growing demand for engineers, PCA offers paid experiential learning opportunities for current college students. The company also offers scholarships that cover the full cost of college for high school students interested in pursuing a career in engineering, with a full-time job at PCA waiting for them after graduation.   

• Hojjatie presented a brief overview of his research, “Energy and Materials Sustainability in Papermaking.” He said the average person has no idea what it takes to make a simple piece of paper, and making the process more sustainable can help reduce climate impact, protect natural resources, lower costs, and keep the industry viable long term.

• A representative from Saft America Inc. shared how the company is committed to having a positive impact on the world every day. This includes making systems work better, finding ways to meet the changing needs of customers, as well as designing and developing new methods or products.

A subsidiary of TotalEnergies since 2016, Saft specializes in advanced technology battery solutions for industry. The company offers a number of experiential learning opportunities for students pursuing a career in a variety of types of engineering.

• Paul Lee, an international student from Daegu, South Korea, shared his experience working with Salvus LLC, where he helped develop a sample transfer flow box. He plans to transfer to Georgia Institute of Technology through the Regents’ Engineering Pathways Program and pursue a degree in electrical engineering.

“Since I was young, I’ve always been curious about how devices work,” he said. “I used to take things apart at home and put them back together to understand the mechanism behind them. I was especially fascinated by circuit boards. Over time, I realized that many assistive devices are deeply connected to electrical engineering, and that even though technology advances quickly, some people still don’t get to benefit from it.

“Last year, I designed a concept for an assistive device using LiDAR and an image sensor to help visually impaired people detect obstacles and navigate more safely. That idea advanced to the finals of a VSU business competition. After completing my degree, my goal is to attend graduate school to research sensor technology and autonomous robotics, and then found a startup focused on building assistive devices for people with visual impairments.”

• A representative from Salvus LLC gave a brief update on the company’s groundbreaking efforts to support and enhance the safety of people, animals, and the environment through its innovative on-site detection technology. He invited attendees to reach out about tours of Salvus or any of the other CJB companies, including CJB Industries Inc. and CJB Applied Technologies, to see how they are innovating and developing new technologies for chemical, biological, and life science industries.

• Representatives from Georgia Power Company discussed the various roles they play in delivering reliable energy to their customers. They company employs a wide range of engineers focused on power generation, transmission, and distribution. Austin Byrd of Hahira, Georgia, shared his work as a protection, control, and field services test engineer and how he hopes to remain at Georgia Power after completing his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. A first-generation college student, he previously pursued an Associate of Applied Science in Engineering Studies at VSU through the Regents’ Engineering Pathways Program.

• Izavious Bundrage of Sparta, Georgia, discussed an experiential learning project involving the modernization of a 1982 GMC C10 through powertrain integration. He said this real-world test of engineering technology principles “has been a process.” His biggest challenge at this point is maintaining proper alignment, driveline angles, and clearance while introducing a physically larger and heavier powertrain. He will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology. He hopes to attend Air Force Officer Training School or secure a position in automotive manufacturing or development.

• James F. Johnson Jr. of Winterville, Georgia, discussed his work with building critical thinkers through VSU’s Peer Alliance Learning (PAL) initiative. He anticipates earning his Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology from VSU in May 2028 and plans to spend the next couple of years gaining job-ready skills and clarifying his career direction through internships.

• Dr. Pierre-Richard Cornely, dean of the College of Science and Mathematics, said that VSU is committed to graduating career-ready graduates by aligning degree programs with workforce and employer demands. He said community and industry partners, like those attending Engineering Night, are “the lifeblood of what we do” because they provide guidance on how the university needs to evolve.

Cornely reflected on the unique role the College of Science and Mathematics plays in South Georgia and described it as the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) hub of VSU and its 41-county service area.

“STEM is the future, and that future is being built right here, right now at VSU,” he said.

Hojjatie has organized and hosted Engineering Night at VSU for 15 years.  With support from his colleagues at VSU, the community, and engineers from local industry, he said it has grown every year and had great success in helping students secure career-building opportunities. 

"I love National Engineers Week, and I love the VSU Engineering Night because it generates interest in and excitement about engineering among students,” he said. “I hope that other faculty members of engineering at VSU will continue to support such a wonderful event for many years to come."

VSU offers an Associate of Applied Science in Engineering Studies, a traditional two-year program. These students typically transfer to the Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Georgia, or other Georgia institutions of higher education through the Regents’ Engineering Pathways Program.

VSU also offers a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology, a traditional four-year degree program with a concentration in Industrial Engineering Technology.

On the Web:
https://www.valdosta.edu/cset/