Tiahna Padilla is a senior majoring in computer engineering and animation. She is currently utilizing her skills as an intern at Textron Aviation as an IT business analyst.
More than 5,000 Shockers each year take what they’ve learned in the classroom and transfer that knowledge into real-world environments. Applied learning — which is required for every Wichita State student — happens in offices, factories, laboratories, nonprofits, industries and companies across the globe. Students work side-by-side with seasoned professionals to ensure that they’re fully prepared to make meaningful contributions to their employers and their communities when they graduate.
Hometown
Wichita, Kansas
Major
Obtaining a degree in computer engineering and animation.
Year
Senior
What is your job title, the company you work for, and your duties during your applied learning experience?
I am currently an intern at Textron Aviation as an IT business analyst in the Automation User Experience group. In this position, I work and manage web forms that users use to request computers and other hardware that are needed.
How long do you expect to work in your current position?
I started my internship on May 31 and I will be working here until Aug. 5.
How did you learn about this opportunity?
I worked for Ennovar, and it contracted students to outside companies such as NetApp, Textron Aviation and Koch. I was contracted out at Textron Aviation as an IT specialist.
How is this experience helping you build your resume and prepare you for your career?
I never had an internship before, and I hope this will be able to open more doors to other opportunities by obtaining more experience.
How have your classes and experiences at Wichita State prepared you to succeed in this applied-learning opportunity?
My classes have been extremely helpful to helping me gain more skills that I can apply to the workforce and also broaden my horizons.
What advice would you give other students who are looking for hands-on experiences in their major while they finish college?
Get involved in organizations, and it will help you gain experience in multiple aspects. Project work can prove that you have gained these skills and you can implement them in your work. Wichita State has a variety of different groups to choose from, or you can even create an organization that interests you. There are a bunch of ways to have hands-on experience.
