Nearly 98% of Padnos College of Engineering grads from the Class of 2025 are either employed or continuing their education according to the most recent data, demonstrating how the classroom learning and real-world experience that PCE offers successfully prepares students for the modern world.  Dozens of 2026 Padnos College of Engineering graduates will complete their studies this year and take the knowledge and skills they’ve acquired at GVSU into the next phase of their lives.  A GVSU engineering degree continues to open doors at some of the country and region’s top companies, as seen by these stories from a few of this year’s grads.

Kyler Cope - SpaceX

SpaceX is well known for its forward-thinking work around rockets, spacecraft and interplanetary travel. The company’s innovative spirit and modern approach appealed to Product Design and Manufacturing graduate Kyler Cope, (pictured above on the left) who will start at SpaceX in late August working in Non-Destructive Evaluation Engineering. In this role, he will support inspection methods that assess material integrity, identify defects, and ensure the reliability of flight-critical hardware.

Cope said his coursework in materials science, manufacturing processes, and material failure analysis drew him to the field by deepening his understanding of material behavior, performance, and failure mechanisms. He also credited his co-op experience at Advanced Medical Device Innovations, a Grand Valley State University startup that grew into a private biomedical research and product development firm, with giving him hands-on experience in experimental validation and test development.

That combination of academic preparation and applied experience strengthened Cope’s ability to evaluate technical problems systematically and make data-informed engineering decisions. He said those skills will translate directly to nondestructive evaluation, where careful analysis and sound judgment are essential.

While the opportunity to work for SpaceX is both exciting and demanding, Cope sees it as a meaningful next step. He is eager to apply what he has learned in a highly technical aerospace environment where engineering decisions directly affect performance, reliability, and mission success.

“There’s a significant amount for me to learn in this role, and I’m excited by the opportunity to grow and develop as an engineer in such a technically demanding environment.”

Quinton Bauer - Lockheed Martin

For Quinton Bauer (pictured above in the middle), flexibility has been the key to the success he’s had at GVSU and to accepting a job at Lockheed Martin. As a member of the GVSU Track and Field team, Quinton has had to balance his sport with the classroom and co-op requirements. He says his coaches and his co-op employer provided scheduling accommodations that allowed him to both train and learn which worked well  with the flexibility within PCE that allowed him to go the interdisciplinary mechatronics route.

“My initial advisor, Ryan Krauss, had a way of selling the interdisciplinary program that made me excited to pursue this direction,” said Bauer. “This program provided me the opportunity to combine my passions for electrical engineering, hardware and software.”

Bauer, who earned a Mechatronics Engineering B.S.E. degree, says he’s “hyped up” to start at Lockheed Martin as an Entry Level Electronics Engineer.  Quinton says this moment has a similar excitement to when he selected GVSU five years ago, a decision that he says was the right one.

“The co-op program here is special,” Bauer said.  “I got my education in the real world and that hands-on experience set me apart in the interview process and helped me get my dream job.”

Hailey Siwek - Stryker 

While many engineering students arrive at GVSU with a background in STEM or another engineering-adjacent area, Hailey Siwek (pictured above on the right) didn’t follow that trend. Hailey came to Grand Valley wanting to focus on a program where she would help people and thought business or health would be her landing point.

Instead, she will leave GVSU with a B.S.E. in computing engineering and an M.S.E. in biomedical engineering and will begin work at Stryker as a software engineer for emergency care. 

“I love this role because it allows me to be in the health field and help people without being a doctor or a nurse,” Siwek said.

Hailey appreciates that GVSU gave her the chance to cultivate a wide range of engineering skills and knowledge, especially as someone who didn’t think she would end up as an engineer.   From learning that she loved writing code, to the experience she got at each co-op, to holding a leadership role with GVSU’s Society of Women Engineers, it’s all played a role in her growth. 

“The exposure to the different types of engineering not only developed my technical skills but also professional skills that have served me well in the job interview process.”

Given this background, Hailey targeted Stryker as a strong match for her skills and interests. After not being able to make the scheduling work for several years, she was able to join them for a three-month internship in her final year on campus which helped pave the path for her post-graduation employment.

“I’m grateful for the opportunities at Grand Valley, both inside and outside the classroom,” said Hailey. “Everything I’ve done has prepared me for what’s next.”

As these graduates begin their careers at globally recognized companies, they reflect how Padnos College of Engineering prepares students not just to earn degrees, but to earn opportunities at the forefront of industry.

It’s not uncommon for graduating students to talk about how they’ll stay connected in their post-GVSU lives.   For Padnos College of Engineering grads Casey McKellar and Robin Petersen, they not only kept their promise, they turned it into a business!

McKellar and Petersen (pictured left to right in the above photo), who both graduated in 2019, will soon celebrate the public launch of their company, Kimberlite.  Kimberlite produces flexible, outdoor gear that is modular, lightweight and durable.   Their initial offering is a tree table that comes with a range of accessories to help organize and support any outdoor setup.

McKellar and Petersen both came to GVSU as non-traditional students. Starting college later than many of their colleagues, they connected in classes at Grand Valley and were particularly hooked when hearing professor Dr. John Farris talk about GVSU’s Product Design and Manufacturing (PDM) program.  McKellar says the PDM program, which was relatively young at the time, was a perfect fit, as it exposed them to multiple disciplines and taught them that “they can figure anything out” by introducing them to a variety of projects and helped them learn that it’s okay to “try and fail.”

As they completed their studies, Petersen told McKellar that they should spend the next five years working as engineers and then reconnect to start their own company.   In that time period, Robin, who like Casey enjoys the outdoors, developed a widget to get his belongings and food out of the dirt while camping.  This widget eventually became the tree table and in 2024, Petersen and McKellar fulfilled their graduation day goal and created Kimberlite.  

In recent years, the duo has continued to develop the company, all while working full time at their regular jobs.  In 2025, they took part in a Start Garden competition for entrepreneurs and won $20,000 for their company.  In addition to the financial reward, the pair says the contest paid off by forcing them to design a business plan, including marketing and communications, that showed how starting a business is more than just an idea.   A successful Kickstarter campaign followed and orders from that effort are currently being filled with a public launch for Kimberlite targeted for the first few weeks of June.

McKellar and Petersen both believe that GVSU is at the foundation of all of the company’s growth.   Petersen says that the critical thinking that they developed as Grand Valley students has allowed them to not only navigate the many twists and turns that come with starting your own business, but to make crucial decisions that go beyond their engineering skills. 

And as for the next five years?  McKellar and Petersen hope that Kimberlite becomes a leader in the outdoor space, pending deals with major retailers may make that possible  You can learn more about Kimberlite here: https://kimberlitetech.com/

I was born and raised in Holland, Michigan, and I used to dream of becoming an architect. My dad, Bob Bonczyk, has been involved with FIRST for more than 20 years now, so it's always been around my life. My mom, Michelle Bonczyk, a 14-year mentor, used to take me to FIRST events when I was little and I would see just how fun robotics was. Naturally, when I got to high school, I joined Team 107 and fell in love with engineering and the idea of being an engineer.

After high school, I went to Grand Valley State University (GVSU) for Product Design and Manufacturing Engineering. I had developed a passion for mechanical engineering while on the team in high school, and GVSU was a great fit. Being that GVSU hosted a FIRST event (now the West Michigan District Event), I had a chance to see the university and its passion for FIRST. GVSU has a great Co-op program, and I got work experience before I graduated through my internship at JR Automation. After graduation, I continued to work at JR Automation and shifted from an intern to a full-time mechanical engineer, which is really a dream job! Not only did I already know tons of people there because so many employees volunteer at FIRST events, but I get paid to play with robots all day – can you think of a better job?

Read more of Nicki's story.

Aziz Gram Sarhan Jr., Class of 2022, always had a love for math and cars. It just seemed natural to study mechanical engineering. When it came time to find the right university, it was Grand Valley's hands-on learning environment that brought Aziz all the way from London, England to pursue his degree. “What drew me to Grand Valley was the hands-on aspect of the engineering program,” said Aziz. “I need that tangible feedback for me to feel like I can grow in my field.”

While everything seemed to be fitting in place, Aziz shared it hasn't always been easy. Especially when it came to physics. “When I first got here, one of the things I felt was a sense of confidence. I'm smart, so I thought I should be able to do well in physics.” said Aziz. “Immediately I hit a road block. I knew I was working hard, but I wasn't seeing any results. It was just a bunch of failed tests.”

Aziz's love for math stayed with him through his struggles. He practiced, persevered, and took the time to figure out a new way of learning. Soon Aziz went from needing a tutor, to being the tutor. He credits much of his improvement to the relationships he has built with his professors. “My favorite aspect about Grand Valley is the classroom size. It has allowed me to stop my professors in real time to ask questions. The professors really do want to help, and those relationships have definitely allowed me to grow,” he said.

Read more of Aziz's story.

Larry Logsdon was the first Occupational Safety & Health Management student at Grand Valley State University, and was instrumental in development of the curriculum. Larry's interest in Occupational Safety & Health began after the tragic death of his father in a work-related accident. After reading the accident report, Larry wanted to know as much as he could about occupational safety. While he began his career as a tool engineer for Herman Miller, he eventually became the company's first Corporate Safety Manager due to his interest in the topic. Looking to learn as much as he could in order to be successful in his role, Larry connected with two GVSU professors who had been considering developing a four-year health and safety program. That conversation led to a long-term partnership as the faculty invited Larry to help. They formed an advisory committee of local professionals to investigate industry needs and obtain feedback on the proposed curriculum. As soon as Occupational Safety & Health classes were available at GVSU, Larry enrolled.

For those unfamiliar with Occupational Safety and Health, Larry likes to describe the field in terms of loss prevention. “If I keep people safe, I save my company money in worker's compensation and the potential for other unwanted liabilities.” In reflecting on his career, Larry feels more undergraduate students should enter the field of Occupational Safety and Health Management. “It has been a great occupation for me and I loved it,” he said. Larry recommends current students consider OSH careers in both industry and government and feels loss prevention, industrial hygiene, and ergonomics are excellent pathways. “Take all the science you can as an undergrad,” Larry advised for those entering the profession.

Read more of Larry's story.

"While attending school at Grand Valley State University, I was originally pursuing a degree in the medical field. Over the course of three years, I changed my degree path four times. I reached a point where I felt like a medical career wasn't sparking my interest as much as another industry could. I just didn't know what that industry was yet! I found out about the safety industry and was surprised that it was something I didn't think of before. Growing up, I was always the "safety nerd" who made sure my friends would look both ways before crossing the street, volunteered as a "safety" in elementary school to help assist students on and off the bus, and even dressed up as a "Super Safety" for Halloween in 4th grade. Even in college I was a crossing guard on campus! So reflecting on my life, I realized safety had always been a passion of mine and I just didn't even know it. The same day I had this realization was the same day I applied for GVSU's Occupational Safety and Health Management program. During my final year in the program, I interned with Founders Brewing Co. which led to a full time position as their EHS Coordinator upon graduation."

"The thing I love most about my job is being able to use problem solving skills and creativity to find solutions to keep others safe. I really enjoy being able to work with the employees who are on the floor since they're the ones performing the hazardous tasks. That's why I think it's important to work with them, keep them involved in the incident prevention process, and listen to their ideas and concerns to create and implement effective and safe solutions. They usually have solutions and ideas of their own that they've thought of while doing the job, so I really value their input. If you listen to what they have to say, you can come up with a solution that is safe and is something the user will actually want to do. Doing this builds trust to the point where the employees feel comfortable voicing other safety concerns that they've had. This creates an opportunity to solve a problem that you may not have ever known about if that employee had not communicated it. I'd say that's what I'm most proud of - having that trust built with the employees."

Read more of Kasey's story.