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(The Cadet Experience, Class of 2012) Permanent link All Posts

1/c year is finally year! It has been a hectic couple weeks; but school is well under way, I have begun work on my yearlong Mechanical Engineering capstone/senior design project, and graduation is just nine months away!

While I am beginning to be tied up with school work and the events of the coming year, it is well worth mentioning the events of my exciting summer. The first half of my summer was spent aboard the CGC Blacktip, an 87 foot patrol boat in Southern California. I learned a lot about operations while on board, and had the chance to participate in several patrols in the waters I grew up in including Catalina Island. One noteworthy experience was a response to a rescue case during a small craft advisory, heading straight into 10 foot seas. The second half of my summer was spent working as an intern in Sandia National Labs in Livermore, California. I had the privilege of taking on an interesting project in the field of homeland security, as well as had the chance to attend several seminars to learn what other exciting projects the lab is undertaking to protect the homeland. Of course, I had plenty of work between the patrol boat and Sandia to stay busy for the summer; but I did get plenty of down time to attend some concerts and a NASCAR race, take a few wakeboarding trips, and spend some time at home in San Pedro.

Following my summer work in California, I got the chance to take a trip I have been looking forward to since I first got here over three years ago – a cross country drive from California to Connecticut. My best friend and I split the 3,000+ miles over the course of six days, making stops including Las Vegas, Mount Rushmore, Niagara Falls, and few spots in the desert and mountains for a little off-roading and adventure.

As my final year unfolds, I will keep you updated on the events of 1/c year.

More about Alex.

Posted by Leann Strickland at 2/10/2012 11:50 AM