Meet Garvey Chu, a first generation transfer student who is about to complete his degree in mechanical engineering at UMBC at the Universities at Shady Grove. He’s also the recipient of a Mechanical Engineering Trailblazers scholarship. When he’s not in class, you might find Garvey enjoying some recreation time. We’re excited to see what he does next. Take it away, Garvey!
Q: Briefly introduce yourself. What’s one essential thing you’d want another Retriever to know about you?
A: My current area of study is mechanical engineering and I attend the Shady Grove campus. Outside of that, I enjoy going to the gym or just playing sports like golf and basketball. Currently I am in the final weeks of my undergraduate degree.
Q: Tell us about the support you’ve gotten as a student, or someone in the community who has inspired you or supported you, and how they did it.
A: The advisors at Shady Grove have been great. And, I feel that the professors at Shady Grove have played a significant role in introducing me to new fields and aspects of engineering. Specifically, Prof. [Adam] Bridendolph and Dr. [Joseph] Washington have shared their personal experiences in areas that I was previously unaware of. Professor Bridendolph has expertise in the automation side of engineering, while Dr. Washington specializes in biomechanics. Both of them have really opened my eyes to new possible areas in my future career.
Q: What brought you to UMBC in the first place?
A: I came to UMBC because they offered mechanical engineering and also because the convenience of the Shady Grove campus, which was really close to my home. I also heard that the professors in the STEM programs were very good.
“[My professors] have really opened my eyes to new possible areas in my future career.
Q: Tell us about what excites you about your academic program, what you hope to do after graduation.
A: I’m excited about having the ability to design machines or products. And, I really enjoyed the senior capstone project, where the team was tasked with developing an automated sortation machine. Not only myself, but the team members had limited exposure to many of the components the system consisted of such as pneumatics, PLC programming, and wiring. It was a totally new experience for us. Because of our selected project, we even had the opportunity to visit a technical college that had a department specializing in automation in West Virginia. I really enjoyed that visit. After graduation, I’m hoping to work in a field related to the automotive industry, satellites, or defense.
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UMBC’s greatest strength is its people. When people meet Retrievers and hear about the passion they bring, the relationships they create, the ways they support each other, and the commitment they have to inclusive excellence, they truly get a sense of our community. That’s what “Meet a Retriever” is all about.
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Tags: COEIT, mechanical engineering, Meet a Retriever, Universities at Shady Grove
