December Engineer of the Month grows through UC experience

Ana Schauer (mechanical engineering ’19) was initially drawn to the University of Cincinnati because of the financial benefits of its cooperative education (co-op) program. After four years, though, she’s gained a lot more than just a paycheck.

Through a co-op rotation with Gulfstream Aerospace, three rotations with Honeywell Intelligrated and an internship with the Air Force Research Laboratory, Schauer has seen a diverse sampling of engineering in practice. Just as important, she has learned to come out of her shell.

“My biggest takeaway [from my first co-op] was professional communication,” said Schauer. “I’m pretty shy generally and have a hard time making my voice heard sometimes, so the experience that stood out most for me was when I did a project about radar antennas.”

Since much of the project depended on radar functionality (something Schauer had no experience with), she had to collaborate with various departments and report back to her project team.

With Honeywell Intelligrated, a materials handling and logistics company based in Mason, Ohio, Schauer had another telling experience. She was in a group responsible for cradle-to-grave projects, meaning she saw the progression of projects from conception to completion. Through this experience, she not only grew comfortable in the professional field but also found her passion for design and innovation. 

“My co-ops have made me realize that I want to be ahead of the technology curve,” she said. “I’ve learned a little about advanced manufacturing techniques, and I think it’s really interesting how that ties in with design.”