I’ve learned tremendously throughout my time on the team, developing my engineering, teamwork, and leadership skills, and I’ve made friendships I hope will last a lifetime.
Senior Yonatan Ferneau received 2021 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Senior Award. He a member of the QUEST Honors Program and the Composites Subteam Lead for Terps Racing
What does winning this award mean to you?
My time volunteering for Terps Racing, the University of Maryland Formula SAE team, has been the most impactful experience during my college career. I’ve learned tremendously throughout my time on the team, developing my engineering, teamwork, and leadership skills, and I’ve made friendships I hope will last a lifetime. Winning this award is incredibly meaningful to me as it recognizes my commitment to the team as well as the positive impact I’ve strived to make during my time here.
What is your favorite moment in Mechanical Engineering?
My favorite Mechanical Engineering moments would have to be seeing our car run for the first time each year. As a freshman, the first time I saw our car race go around a track I was hooked; I loved the excitement, hearing the noise of the engine and the squeal of the tires. Every spring semester since then, seeing our car hit the track for the first time has been the highlight of my year - my excitement has only grown since then, as I get to see all of the hard work our team has put into the car pay off.
What are your future goals or aspirations?
As I prepare to graduate I am extremely excited for the opportunity to put the skills and knowledge that I’ve gained here at UMD and Terps Racing to use in the professional world. I’m thrilled to be working at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory after I graduate, and to apply my passion for engineering to my future projects there. I hope to be able to find a way to continue supporting Terps Racing throughout my career, to give back to the team that has inspired me and helped me grow so much.
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