My Beyond These Towers Story

When Elizabeth (Schofield) Vass ’16 chose WPI she had the distinction of being the first student from Hereford High School in Parkton, Maryland to attend WPI. Luckily however, she was not the last…

“It was a bit intimidating being the first student from my high school to attend WPI, but I was really happy to learn that high school alumni had followed my path to WPI. For Vass, it was the project-based learning and hands-on curriculum that made WPI her first choice school. “Theory and Practice were what drew me to WPI; I liked the idea of having a hands-on project-based component to everything we were learning. And I believe having a balance between depth and breadth is important in your academic journey, but being able to focus on areas you’re interested in is also valuable. I was able to take writing classes which I enjoyed and could stay far away from subjects I did not enjoy. At a regular school, I would have wasted time and money on classes I didn’t care about, but that wasn’t the case for me at WPI.” says Vass.

WPI’s smaller size and intimate community feel were also a draw for Vass. “I didn’t want to go to a large school, I wanted something small, and engineering focused. With a smaller school, you end up having the same people in your classes once you reach major specific classes. This is important for building relationships and support networks, and who knows, one day your paths might cross in the professional world.” Adding, “Outside of my MQP, the classes I took for my concentration in Biomechanics have been the most important for me. They introduced me to my desired field and gave me the background I needed to be successful.”

As a product design engineer for Seat King, LLC, Vass works to develop materials, designs, and products that will lead the next generation of seating solutions. She explains how WPI prepared her for her professional journey saying, “The education from WPI absolutely enabled me to start my career. In fact, when I was offered my first job, I was told I was hired due to the work I did on my Major Qualifying Project (MQP).” Beyond academics, WPI prepared Vass for her career in other ways as well. “ At WPI, I learned early to be comfortable being the only female on a project, to be sure my voice is heard, and to stand up for myself.”