RIT mechanical engineering graduate made career connections through K-12 University Center
Carlos Ortiz/RIT
Opportunities through RIT’s K-12 University Center led RIT mechanical engineering graduate Julia O’Gorman to Robins Air Force base.
As a graduation gift to herself, Rochester Institute of Technology alumna Julia O’Gorman is taking a solo grand tour through Japan, South Korea, parts of Europe, and Ireland. When she returns at the end of summer, she will relocate to the Atlanta, Ga., area to start her new job at Robins Air Force Base.
O’Gorman, in May, earned her mechanical engineering BS/ME degree from RIT and accepted a job offer from the 78th Civil Engineering Group. As a civilian employee, she will work for the base in construction management with a specialty in mechanical systems.
Opportunities through RIT’s K-12 University Center enhanced O’Gorman’s engineering education and experiential learning opportunities. K-12 University Center’s partnership with the U.S. Department of Army Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) gave O’Gorman the advantage of governmental educational programming and internships. It also led to a connection with her mentor Donna Burnette, executive director of the K-12 University Center.
O’Gorman reflects on her RIT experience and looks forward to the future.
What did K-12 University Center mean to your RIT experience?
It’s because of K-12 University Center that I was first introduced to RIT through a summer program during COVID, so it kind of guided my whole college experience from the very beginning. It was also interesting to work with K-12 University Center for a semester. I got to see the other side of administration and all the different organizations on campus that K-12 is involved with.
Your connection with K-12 University Center led you to win a federal SMART Scholarship-for-Service award during your first year. How did that affect your time at RIT?
It was another opportunity that shaped my path. The SMART Scholarship-for-Service program supports students in STEM fields by covering full college tuition, offering a generous stipend, and even guaranteeing a civilian job after graduation. The scholarship gave me both the support and stability to focus on academics and truly enjoy college.
I’ve learned a lot about my own future prospects, but I’ve also seen how my work connects with professionals across disciplines, from environmental engineers to logistics analysts.
What are you looking forward to about your new job?
I’m excited to be trusted with my own projects. It will definitely be scary at first, but I know the people around me will help guide me and ensure I have a good product at the end. There are a lot of moving parts in our office and a lot of different groups working together, so it will be fun to be a part of it.