On Friday, April 26th, 29 computer science alumni served as judges for the senior capstone projects of current students at the Engineering Projects Expo. Each judge spent half an hour with three different groups, offering valuable feedback on the students’ presentations, demos, and code architecture as professionals in their respective fields.
During the event, Ryan Dowell (CompSci’11) from Melco, an industrial textile machine company, was particularly impressed by the diverse range of projects created by the students in collaboration with their capstone clients. He emphasized the real-world application of the capstone course in understanding the transition from academic to commercially-focused projects. Dowell hoped that the experience would help the students grasp the direction their careers could take after graduation.
Meanwhile, Erika Bailon (CompSci’20), another judge and an alumna working at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, felt nostalgic as she remembered her own experiences working on similar projects. She highlighted the importance of teamwork and evolution in the field of computer science, demonstrating how effectively these students were collaborating. Bailon aimed to inspire and showcase women having a voice in industry through her role as a judge.
Derek Rieger (CompSci’99), a judge from Accelerate Learning, found judging to be enjoyable and inspiring. He was impressed by the students’ dedication and passion for their projects. Rieger encouraged others to take time out of their schedules for activities like judging as it can be incredibly fulfilling and worthwhile. He emphasized that creating margin for such activities if possible is important as they provide valuable insights and opportunities for growth.
Overall, this event provided an opportunity for current computer science students to receive valuable feedback from professionals in their respective fields while also showcasing their skills and hard work to potential employers.
