FRANKE HONORS STUDENT SPOTLIGHT - MADISON SITKIEWICZ
Name: Madison Sitkiewicz
Majors: Materials Science & Engineering
Minor: Mathematics
Year in school: Senior
Hometown: Cave Creek, AZ
Clubs/Organizations: Material Advantage, Society of Women Engineers, Engineering Ambassadors, & Tau Beta Pi
Leisure Pursuits: I love to bake, practice yoga, travel, garden, read, and spend time outdoors. My favorite baking creation is mini chocolate cheesecakes!
Research Projects: I have been involved in research in the Materials Science & Engineering department in the advanced manufacturing lab for Dr. Krishna Muralidharan since my freshman year. This year, I am working on my honors thesis in this lab where I am investigating the relationship between processing parameters, porosity, and mechanical properties of additively manufactured 316L Stainless Steel.
Plans after graduation:
I am currently pursing my Master's degree in Materials Science & Engineering through an Accelerated Master's Program. After I finish my extra year, I plan to go into the Aerospace and Defense Industry where I hope to specialize as a metallurgist.
FOCUS QUESTIONS
What has been your favorite Honors course or experience that you have been involved with?
Study Abroad! After my freshman year, I studied abroad in Greece and Italy through the Honors First Year Trip. This trip was a dream come true filled with delicious food, breathtaking sightseeing, and a curriculum that enriched the whole experience. I will never forget that trip!
What is something you have done during your time at the University of Arizona of which you are especially proud?
I am especially proud of the successful outreach efforts I have been able to organize as the President of Material Advantage, the Materials Science and Engineering undergraduate professional society. Last semester, we inspired curiosity and passion for STEM through hands on engineering activities at five local middle schools and high schools. We reached over 225 kids from 5-12th grade. I am already in the planning process for more outreach this semester, and I cannot wait! If you would like to see what we do in outreach or as Materials Engineering students in general, follow our instagram page @uazmaterials
What message do you have for other Honors students on finding their own success?
Take the time to focus on yourself and learn what makes you happy. It is a lot easier to get through challenging classes when you know the end goal is a degree you are truly passionate about and one that will make you happy. Let your passion guide you and do not sacrifice being your true self for anything.
ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE
"Madison exemplifies the values of the Honors College. She is currently doing outreach to local schools to get students engaged and excited about Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) - something she is very passionate about. She has demonstrated her leadership skills by organizing this outreach from beginning to end and recruiting volunteers to help her visit multiple STEM classrooms in 5 different schools K-12 schools in the Tucson area. With her outreach, she has engaged over 200 students – most attending under resourced middle schools just in the past month! Her infectious excitement and engagement leave these kids motivated about exploring a career as a scientist or engineer. She has local STEM teachers and her MSE peers raving about her efforts. I admire her ability to connect her passion with her responsibilities as a student and as Material Advantage president in a way that makes a huge impact on local youth. What is especially exciting to me is, in talking with some of her peers (volunteers for this outreach), she has also been able to get them to see first-hand the disparities in school funding and resources the kids in our local community experience and reflect on that reality. So, not only does Madison exemplify the values of community engagement, leadership, inquiry, responsibility, and growth mindset, she also actively works to uphold inclusive excellence and critical thinking. I believe Madison very much deserves to be recognized for her work this semester."
– Jamaica DelMar, Assistant Professor of Practice, Educational Policy Studies and Practice
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To nominate a peer for the Franke Honors Student Spotlight, please click HERE and complete the submission form. All nominations are subject to Honors College faculty review, approval, and editing for publication.