Williamsport, Pa. Emily Okay. Cummins, an early graduate of the Pennsylvania School of Expertise, demonstrates {that a} profession path does not should be linear.
Cummins, at present in her 30s, is anticipated to be Penn School’s fourth feminine constructing automation engineering know-how graduate in twenty years. She enjoys the problem of mastering new abilities and she or he does not thoughts being the odd lady in a subject closely dominated by males.
Previous to finding out constructing automation, Cummins earned a plumbing certificates, a bachelor’s diploma in HVAC, and a bachelor’s diploma in promoting and communications. He at present maintains a 4.0 GPA in his pursuit of a bachelor’s diploma in constructing automation engineering know-how.
That is a formidable listing of accomplishments for any scholar, particularly one who’s returned to high school after a decade away from the classroom.
I have been a bit out of my consolation zone. Taking up that problem and succeeding has been actually highly effective and fulfilling, stated Cummins, an Arizona native who grew up within the Penns Valley. I got here right here pursuing licensed plumber to develop a brand new talent set. I am now growing a totally completely different talent set that I did not count on.
Maybe he ought to have foreseen such an end result. The seek for new abilities has been a lifestyle for the industrious Cummins since she graduated from Penn State in 2010 with levels in public relations, promoting and utilized communications.
Fairly than going into the communications subject, he embraced the hospitality business working at the back of the home in high-end eating places. I at all times felt like I had my palms in my meals, she stated.
Nittany Catering in Bellefonte has helped nurture this curiosity. Cummins labored for the full-service catering firm throughout his junior and senior years at Penn State. When the enterprise grew to become obtainable in 2013, Cummins, then 24, purchased it with help from his uncle.
To place your self ready the place you make it, it’s important to be a little bit uncomfortable, she stated. You have to be a little bit uncertain of what you are doing.
Finally, Cummins felt comfy operating Nittany Catering. A favourite restaurateur for Penn State, the corporate has grown every year below his management and has added occasion planning to his choices. When the coronavirus pandemic lowered restaurant demand in 2020, he had seven full-time and 7 part-time workers.
I am fairly good at operating a enterprise, she stated. I made some good choices. I have been instructed I am a great boss. It [the pandemic] it gave me a while and I received a little bit scared for profession safety, Cummins defined. The catering is something however. Folks can minimize it out of their funds. I wished a recession proof job. Additionally, I had some plumbing I wished to do in my kitchen.
These elements led her to Penn School to experiment with its utilized know-how training. Cummins handed over the day-to-day operations of Nittany Catering to her sister Rachel and spent a yr getting licensed as a plumber. After utilizing her newfound abilities to treatment her dilemma within the kitchen, Cummins moved to Williamsport, bought a restore store close to campus, and spent two extra semesters pursuing an HVAC diploma.
I am fairly uncommon due to my age and gender, she stated. An enormous a part of what saved me round was feeling actually supported by the school and different college students. The Wildcat neighborhood is one factor I actually really feel like part of. And I am in my 30s! I actually suppose this can be a particular place.
One of many Cummins HVAC Controls II-Business closing programs within the graduate affiliate diploma piqued his curiosity within the constructing automation engineering know-how diploma. His teacher, Todd S. Woodling, assistant professor of constructing automation know-how/HVAC electrical system, inspired this analysis.
I noticed her design and construct complicated electrical programs with ease, she recalled. I additionally know that constructing automation engineering is a really sturdy subject within the sense that it gives graduates an amazing wage {and professional} positions that require mature consideration to element.
An internship at Honeywell centered on constructing automation cemented Cummins’ choice to increase his keep at Penn School for his diploma.
Vitality programs have a big environmental influence. Constructing automation performs an enormous function in limiting that influence on the setting and on customers’ budgets, he stated. It’s fascinating to have the ability to use new applied sciences to make buildings extraordinarily environment friendly, clever and protected. The camp itself has been an inspiration to me.
For the required internship this summer time, Cummins might have returned to the familiarity of Honeywell. As a substitute, she selected a brand new expertise 2,700 miles away in Portland, Oregon. Cummins will intern for Clima-Tech Corp., a business constructing automation contractor with areas all through the Pacific Northwest.
I discovered the corporate on LinkedIn. They instructed me that I can be their first intern and that I can have a really full expertise, Cummins stated. I nonetheless do not know sufficient about my potential profession paths. This can be a aim I’ve for this summer time. I may very well be a programmer. I may very well be an engineer. I might set up. I might do challenge administration.
She likes these choices due to the distinctive Penn School main. College students are uncovered to the theoretical aspect of constructing automation, but in addition obtain in depth hands-on expertise with the programming instruments and software program utilized by the business.
Cummins has additionally turned his residence right into a laboratory of kinds. He is turning it into two items, one to reside in for an additional yr and the opposite to lease. This aim required vital plumbing and HVAC work. Lately, he retooled her boiler system, permitting her to set completely different temperatures for extra areas of the home.
It has been very good to implement the talents I’ve realized right here, Cummins stated.
These abilities are in demand.
We have now a 100% graduate placement charge. All of our graduate college students have work lined up earlier than they begin, Woodling stated. We’re one of many few faculties within the nation that provides a bachelor’s diploma in constructing automation science.
When she graduates subsequent Could, Cummins can be solely the fourth lady to earn that diploma throughout Woodling’s 19 years in school. She sees this as a chance, not just for herself but in addition for the business.
As a girl, you carry one thing completely different to the desk, like decision-making abilities, problem-solving abilities, Cummins stated. It makes you a little bit extra helpful within the business. Range is necessary to have.
Gender variety and abilities.
