Hannah Smith ‘25, a senior studying mechanical engineering, shares her experience at Geneva College that’s shaped her future career and calling. Hannah has been equipped for success through strong relationships with friends and professors, a thorough development of technical knowledge in the engineering field, and a well-rounded Christian foundation that integrates her faith with all of life.
Hannah discovered Geneva as a local student looking for a college that would allow her the opportunity to play soccer and major in mechanical engineering. Having developed a strong interest in mechanical engineering from relatives and knowing she enjoyed math and sciences, Hannah knew in high school that mechanical engineering would be a good fit for her. But why Geneva?
“I took a tour here at Geneva. The tour guide was so kind, and her and I really got along — and that made me think, this is the right place.”
Hannah soon learned that small first impression was just a glimpse of the hospitality and caring relationships she would find at Geneva. Hannah often found motivation to persevere, even in a difficult major, from her professors.
“I think one of the benefits of Geneva being so small is I’m never intimidated to go to my professors and ask for help. I’ve sat and gone through homework with all of them. The professors here kept encouraging me, and they’re very honest too.”
Hannah told stories of how professor and engineering department chair Anthony Comer, PhD, and associate professor William Barlow, MS, had been mentors for her, reassuring her that she could succeed in mechanical engineering.
“I really struggled during the first half of Linear Circuit Analysis. I was in Professor Barlow’s office all the time, going through homework with him. One day, everything just made sense.” Hannah now pinpoints Linear Circuit Analysis as one of her favorite classes.
Hannah took the technical skills she gained in the classroom to three different summer internships with Carnegie Robotics, U.S. Steel, and Thermo Systems. These experiences proved to her that the structure of Geneva’s engineering program is a benefit to students and employers.
“At Geneva, we get involved in projects early on. It really made me stand out in the work I was doing in my internships. I was able to keep up with students from much bigger schools and show that the program we have here is really good.”
Hannah was more than technically prepared for her internships. The Christian community and foundation she discovered here helped her witness to Christ in her work.
“Geneva prepares you well by keeping you surrounded with Christian community, but also making sure you’re ready to hold true to your faith in places where you’re in the minority as a Christian. People have asked me things like, ‘You’re an intern, why are you here before everybody else?’ and it’s because I try to do all things like I would if I were doing them for Jesus. Little things like that have helped me share the Gospel in my actions — not only in my work in mechanical engineering, but just in the way I am as a person.”
That Christ-centered perspective spilled over into Hannah’s description of how her major helped her to think about her field differently. She appreciated Geneva’s guidance and encouragement in making connections between academics and faith.
“Sometimes just driving in my car, taking a highway exit, I’m thinking about all the little details engineers have to consider. And all those little details in the world — how much randomness and symmetry there is — just point to the fact that there has to be a God. If you look at science alone, it doesn’t necessarily explain it, but when you look faith-wise, everything comes together.”
The coherence that comes from biblical starting points helped Hannah see value in her core classes and extracurricular commitments that fell far outside of mechanical engineering.
“Humanities 203 [Making the West] was probably my favorite non-engineering class. The Romans were really important in the engineering world, and so it was interesting to see knowledge, technology, and languages spread over time. The class helped me think about how ancient societies have impacted the way we do things today.”
The friends Hannah made during her time here also helped her think about the world in new ways. She has been involved with the Black Student Union, Diversity Team, and International Student Organization. Along with another student leader, she started Geneva’s annual La Fiesta event.
“I’m a first-gen college student, and I only really knew the area I grew up in. Coming here and having some of my closest friends be from across the world is amazing. I’m grateful for the experience of meeting so many different people in different majors. And even though we’re so different, we’re so close too, because of that underlying friendship in Christ. That’s been something really special to me.”
Reagan Shields ‘26
Learn more about Geneva College.
Have questions? Call us at 724-847-6505.
© Geneva College | All rights reserved
Online Course Login
myGeneva Student Portal