Ross Newland is a junior at Hope College, pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering.  He chose Hope for it’s smaller size.  “Because Hope is a smaller school, I’m able to get a more personal and intimate experience out of my education.  The small class sizes allow me to get the attention I need to reach my potential.  Not only can I get to know my professor, but my professor can get to know me.”

At Hope, he is a tutor for Intro to Engineering students and supervises the Engineering Intro and CAD labs.  Ross is also a member of Hope College’s Formula SAE Team (FSAE).  FSAE is a chapter of the Society of Automotive Engineers, where teams design and build scaled down Formula One racecars and compete them every year at Michigan International Speedway.  Ross has worked on the design of the dash panel for Hope’s second generation car, as well as the fabrication of the rocker assemblies and mounts for the car’s suspension.  “My experiences with Hope’s FSAE have allowed me to continually develop proper engineering practices, enhance my communication skills through professional networking, and learn to solve real world problems.”  Ross also is a Dean’s List scholar.

This summer, Ross is further developing his engineering portfolio with an engineering internship at Disher Design in Zeeland, MI.  Upon graduation, Ross plans to begin a career focused on product development.  He also is considering further education through graduate school and professional certifications.

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