Enter your email Address

Giving To Mason Giving To Mason-Stacked
  • Vision
      • gmu-arrowVision
      • Make Your Difference
        • Students
        • Research
        • Campus
      • More
        • See the Impact
        • Give Now
  • Impact
      • gmu-arrowImpact
      • Impact Stories
        • Faster Farther Recap
        • Donor Recognition
      • More
        • See the Impact
        • Give Now
  • How To Give
      • gmu-arrowHow To Give
      • Giving by School
        • Athletics
        • College of Education and Human Development
        • College of Health and Human Services
        • College of Humanities and Social Sciences
        • College of Science
        • College of Visual and Performing Arts
        • Hylton Performing Arts Center
        • Honors College
        • Antonin Scalia Law School
        • Schar School of Policy and Government
        • School of Business
        • Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
        • University Libraries
        • University Life
        • College of Engineering and Computing
      • Corporate Giving
        • Overview
      • Make A Planned Gift
        • Overview
        • Explore More
      • More
        • See the Impact
        • Give Now
  • Connect
      • gmu-arrowConnect
      • Ways to Connect
        • Contact Us
        • Alumni Engagement
        • George Mason University
          Foundation, Inc.
        • Impact
      • Questions?
        • FAQ
      • Policies
        • Donor Bill of Rights
        • Administrative Fee Policy
      • Contact Our Team
        • Contact University Advancement And Alumni Relations Staff
        • Contact School, College, And Unit Advancement Staff
  • Visit
    Gmu.Edu
  • GiveNow
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
Engineering and Computing

Fund Helps Students Engineer Career Path

12/01/2017
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail

Mechanical engineering student Jay Park had a realization while working on his senior design project last year. Assigned by the Department of Defense, Jay and his teammates had to design and build a robot that could detect corrosion in hard-to-reach places, such as inside a ship’s fuel tank.

Part of Jay’s work was to connect the mechanical and electrical parts of the robot, giving it the ability to move. Jay loved the challenge and was spurred to pursue a career track in mechatronics—a field combining mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science.

The mechanical engineering program at George Mason University’s Volgenau School of Engineering is relatively new. The first classes were offered in 2014. A top priority for this program is positioning students like Jay on the pathway to becoming a licensed professional engineer.

Mason engineering students who pass the exam can now be reimbursed through the newly established Washington Gas Light Pathway to Professional Licensure Fund.

One of the first steps is passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. Many students put off this tough exam until after graduation; some never follow through, due to its cost (currently $225) as well as other factors.

Thanks to a gift from WGL Holdings, however, Mason engineering students who pass the exam can now be reimbursed through the newly established Washington Gas Light Pathway to Professional Licensure Fund.

Jay, whose family moved to Virginia from South Korea when he was young, was the first student to take advantage of this fund. An alumnus of Centreville High School, Jay started at Mason as a biology major before adding mechanical engineering as his second major. Despite having a heavy course load his senior year (19-20 credits per semester), Jay was motivated to take the Fundamentals of Engineering exam before graduating when he learned that reimbursement was being offered.

Jay passed the test. Then he began encouraging his nervous classmates by emphasizing that at Mason “the professors do a great job explaining the topics that are questions on the exam.” Now that Jay has graduated and is halfway to becoming a licensed professional engineer, he is searching for a job in mechatronics.

As for current Mason engineering students, Jay hopes to cheer them on. He says, “Everyone should take this opportunity and get this exam done now, especially with the reimbursement for students.”

December 1, 2017 / Diana Sanchez

Tags: engineering, fe exam, Jay Park, mechanical engineering, reimbursement, senior design project, students

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail

Related Posts

Featured
03/02/2020

Hine Family’s Mason Legacy Keeps Growing

The Hine Family Scholarship Endowment will foster student-alumni connections.
/by Rob Riordan
Engineering and Computing
05/30/2019

To Honor Lloyd Griffiths, Donors Embrace Plan to Beautify the Plaza

As the former dean of the Volgenau School of Engineering retires, a vision emerges for a new entry plaza at the Nguyen Engineering Building...
/by Rob Riordan
Engineering and Computing
08/23/2018

After Finding Success in the States, Kimmy Duong Supports the Next Generation

Philanthropist Kimmy Duong and George Mason University student An Nguyen share a background…
/by admin
Engineering and Computing
07/27/2018

A Mason Legend, John Toups Leaves Legacy of Service and Leadership

George Mason University is mourning the loss of one of its greatest leaders with the recent…
/by Rob Riordan
Giving To Mason Giving To Mason-Stacked
  • Vision
  • Impact
  • How to Give
  • Connect
  • Visit
    Gmu.Edu
  • GiveNow
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
Giving to Mason

George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university, located in one of the most important political, economic and intellectual hubs in the world. Our mission is to help students succeed, enrich our community, and contribute to solving the most complex global problems.

Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations

4400 University Drive, MS 1A3
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
703-993-8850

Copyright © 2022 George Mason University | www.gmu.edu

Privacy Policies | Sitemap

Scroll to top