Kennesaw State engineering student leverages aerospace interest into high-impact internships

KENNESAW, Ga. | Sep 18, 2024

Reflecting on her childhood, Lucile Duncan can see that much of her interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) was nurtured by her engineer father.

Her early exposure to the field came from frequent interactions with his colleagues and visits to their workplaces. She spent weekends with these professionals and joined them for lunch during summer breaks, which introduced her to engineering at a young age.

It was those interactions that ultimately led her to pursue mechanical engineering at Kennesaw State University’s Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology . Since stepping foot on campus, she has gained valuable classroom experience and has leveraged that into high-impact internships at Gulfstream Aerospace, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and Delta Airlines.

She credits KSU, particularly its strong campus culture and faculty, for helping her along the way.

“There are several options for engineering schools, but KSU stood out because of its supportive culture and dedicated professors,” Duncan said. “I liked the personal touch here. The professors genuinely care about teaching and helping students understand the material.”

Duncan is among many students who are pursuing in-demand degrees in KSU's Department of Mechanical Engineering. According to the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), mechanical engineering is one of the most popular undergraduate engineering fields in the U.S., and KSU ranks 22^nd nationally in the number of degrees awarded. The ranking highlights the university's commitment to providing a robust foundation in engineering that prepares students for fruitful careers.

As for Duncan, her academic journey at KSU has been distinguished by a strong focus on core engineering principles. She excelled in courses like Strength of Materials, which she credits with preparing her for her internships. At Gulfstream Aerospace in Savannah, for example, she supported stress engineers and gained practical experience with aircraft repairs.

Her experience at NASA’s JPL in California gave her a different perspective. Working in the Telemetry Tracking and Command (TTC) department, Duncan focused on integrating new CubeSats – small satellites – into their systems.

“NASA was a fantastic experience,” she said. “I worked on creating standardized interfaces for small spacecraft, which involved developing communication software and managing data systems. I also had the chance to explore JPL’s campus and witness the innovative work being done in space exploration.”

More recently, Duncan held an internship with Delta Airlines in the cabin maintenance engineering department, a position she secured through a career fair at KSU. At Delta, she contributed to long-term projects related to cabin maintenance, observing the impact of her work on the department’s broader goals.

Looking ahead, Duncan has set a short-term goal of securing a full-time position in aviation engineering after graduation. She is considering opportunities with various aerospace companies, driven by her passion for aviation and interest in working on larger aircraft in the future.

Marwan Al-Haik, chair of KSU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, said that students like Duncan serve as role models for others on campus.

“Lucile is a remarkable example of the caliber of students we nurture here at KSU,” he said. “Her dedication and accomplishments not only highlight the quality of our program but also serve as an inspiration to her peers. Lucile’s journey reflects the high standards we strive to uphold and the transformative impact of our educational environment on aspiring engineers.”

– Story by Raynard Churchwell

Photos by Darnell Wilburn

Kennesaw State engineering student leverages aerospace interest into high-impact internships

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