Alejandro Campos, ‘24, highly values the different relationships he was able to build at Purdue University Northwest (PNW). From friendships with classmates and mentees to the valuable guidance from PNW faculty and staff members, personal connections highlighted many chapters of his academic career.
“The people you meet are so valuable,” said Campos, a first-generation student from Hammond. “Creating all those relationships can help you if you ever struggle as well as create more opportunities for you. I made many connections and had opportunities to help the community all while getting a college education.”
Campos’ drive as an Electrical Engineering Technology major and initiative to network has also opened many doors for him. Connections with students, faculty, and staff have all helped and led to new opportunities to provide community service, as well as earn an internship and job offer from Cleveland-Cliffs — Indiana Harbor.
“Throughout my four years, I learned to be a leader — not just in college, but also in life,” said Campos. “Farther down the line in my career, I want to rise to a supervisor and help mentor other young engineers so they can become great.”
How did you become interested in your subject?
“It stems from my father, whom I really look up to. Growing up, I saw how he worked on electricity and power for house projects. It inspired me to pursue my major because I wanted to know how to do the same.
Right now, my favorite things are working with programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and microcontrollers to understand the different programming languages and making electrical devices work together.”
Did you have a pivotal experience while attending PNW?
“A couple classmates and I joined the SICK $10K Challenge, which is a college student robotics and automation competition. We were provided a sensor from SICK and had to create a project around it. We created a robot programmed to collect golf balls at driving ranges.
Although we did not earn one of the top prizes, it was still cool to participate. Dr. Hassan Hayajneh enjoyed our project idea and wants to help us continue to develop the technology and try to get it patented.
During my internship last summer, I was assigned different projects. But my main responsibility was creating and designing a panel for the hydraulic system involved with steel coil processing.”
Were you involved in student organizations or other activities on campus?
“I was an honors student in high school, so I wanted to be a part of the Honors College as well at PNW. During my time, I served as a peer mentor, which was probably one of my favorite parts about Honors College.
I like helping to be a leader and showing new students around campus, helping them with homework and talking with them about their lives and goals. My own peer mentors were also studying to be engineers and I was able to talk to them about any of my issues. To this day we still message each other.”
What words of advice would you share with prospective students looking to attend PNW?
“Get involved on campus or search for learning opportunities right away. I did not realize I could have worked on earning an internship sooner, and that is where you really learn the most and it makes you appreciate the concepts you are learning in the classroom. What your professors teach you is what you will find in the field, and that is where you can compare the two and see things start clicking.”
Was there anyone at PNW who inspired or encouraged you along the way?
Hassan Hayajneh
Assistant Professor of Mechatronics engineering technology
“He is a great person to have a relationship with because he will help open up opportunities for you, see your talents and want you to succeed.”
Maged Mikhail
Chair of the department of engineering technology and associate professor of mechatronics engineering technology
“He was my main instructor for my minor classes in Industrial Robotics. Even though his classes were hard, I loved them. He had high expectations and really pushed me.”
Jorge Lopez
Director of TRIO student support services
“He is a really good friend, not just an advisor. He is someone you can talk to about your issues and he will take the time to listen. Even after I graduate, he said I can stay in touch and reach out anytime.”
