Bryce Sohayda is an undergraduate student in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering. He interned at during summer 2024.

Where did you intern over the summer and what was exciting for you about that opportunity?

Bryce Sohayda during his summer internship with XPCC.

This summer, I had the opportunity to work at Xtreme Power Conversion Corporation (XPCC) in Denver, ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ. They specialize in Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) to create power solutions for customers of all types. What excited me the most about this company was the opportunity to work for a supervisor with both entrepreneurial business skills and an engineering background. I appreciated being able to learn from his journey through different areas of engineering and gain an insight into the fast-growing industry of battery back up.

What kinds of projects have you had a chance to work on over the summer?

This internship was very hands-on and allowed me to work on several different projects. At the beginning of the internship, I worked on recharge and repair for the on-hand inventory and I used my basic circuits background to know voltage and current loads for an efficient recharge and restock system. Through the middle of the summer, we worked on a large value project including over 400, 3-part units where I got to rewire a user plug-in for modular enclosures and private label each unit. Toward the end of the summer, I switched to building 120V battery trays for large backup power units, where 40 of the trays go into one power unit. I got a very in-depth understanding of the UPS world and how many solutions there are to meet growing customer demand.

How did what you learned look different than the way you learn engineering in class?

One thing I learned from our engineering classes is that they teach us to problem solve more than anything else. There is no specific formula to use on some of these projects and it is up to you to figure out the process needed to complete the project. Unless you are in a position specific to a topic from class, don’t worry too much about the nitty gritty parts of that class. Instead, think about what processes and skills you gain from learning that subject.

What has been the most impactful part of your internship experience?

The most impactful part of my internship was understanding the model of an engineering company and learning what it takes to manage, build, or run a company. I got to experience each moving part of the business. At the simplest level, the company is all UPS based. A company may have great people but a mediocre product. A company may also have a great product, but mediocre people. However, when a company has both of these working simultaneously, that is when you see a company grow and succeed, and that is what I experienced at XPCC. Learning and experiencing this allowed me to combine all of my technical skills from engineering and social skills from business to provide XPCC with quality work.

What advice do you have for other students interested in pursuing a similar opportunity?

If you are interested in business-related engineering, first find a field that interests you. The best way to use your engineering degree in this way is to understand the field and product down to its smallest components and build from there. Because of the engineering knowledge that our degree gives us, we can understand the product intricately which provides us with the opportunity to share that information with customers and other companies. That allows us to grow the company because we understand the company starting with the technical fundamentals and moving all the way to the sales, management, and distribution phases. In my opinion, the best part of engineering is that you can make the degree as small or big as you want, so keep your eyes open for opportunities to join a company or start a company to change the world.

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Aria Mundy, a dual-major mechanical engineering and applied mathematics student graduating this fall, has been selected to receive the ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder College of Engineering and Applied Science 2024 Outstanding Undergraduate Award.

The award is given to an undergraduate student who maximized their educational experience in a holistic way, with accomplishments across several areas.

Mundy is the fourth ME student to win the award since 1994. 

A home-grown love for engineering

Aria Mundy, recipient of the CEAS 2024 Outstanding Undergraduate Award.

Born and raised in the Boulder area, Mundy always dreamed of studying engineering at the University of ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder. She loved math, she loved science and with encouragement from her early educators, she learned the importance of women in engineering.

“I was one of just a few girls in my physics class during high school,” Mundy said. “One of my teachers encouraged me to pursue a career in STEM and inspired me to explore engineering.”

Mundy started her undergraduate journey in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder. But after her freshman year, she decided to explore different areas of study in the college, eventually settling on the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering.

“The awesome part about ME is how versatile it is,” she said. “I’ve held some different internships across different industries. It’s been awesome to jump around and get exposure to many exciting areas.”

Success in-and-out of the classroom

During her time at ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder, Mundy demonstrated a talent for academic success. She was awarded a scholarship by the BOLD Center and was a part of the ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder Esteemed Scholars Program and . In her sophomore year, she was accepted into the Kiewit Design-Build Scholars Program.

Aria Mundy crossing the finish line at the USA Cycling Collegiate National Championships.

Mundy also exhibited success outside of the classroom. She has been a part of the ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Cycling and Triathlon Teams all throughout her college career, holding leadership positions on both teams. In the , Mundy brought four national championships back to Boulder, taking first in the Women’s Club Team Time Trial, Road Race, Criterium, and Omnium events.

Success has found Mundy as a member of the , as well. In 2023 and 2024, the squad took home two top-3 finishes in the .

“Being a part of the different scholarship programs helped expand my opportunities and community,” Mundy said. “As for athletics, being a part of sports has always been my escape whenever I feel overwhelmed in class.

“It’s been amazing to find some success at races. But at the end of the day, it’s really just about being a part of such a great community and finding balance alongside academics.”

Creating an inclusive culture

Mundy attributes her success in multiple arenas to the support of peers and mentors who took her under their wings.

Aria Mundy guiding middle school students through a science experiment. 

“When I was a freshman, stepping into sports felt intimidating at times. Cycling has few women and engineering has long been male-dominated,” she said. “But I’ll never forget the women who went out of their way to make me feel included. As I grew older, I felt the responsibility to create that same sense of belonging for others, too.”

In many ways, Mundy was on the front lines fighting for diversity and gender parity in engineering. As a member of ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder’s , she helped organize local workshops encouraging young women to explore STEM career opportunities.

She also participated in the Project-Based Learning in Rural Schools Soil Quality Inquiry Program (SQIQ). This experience took her to Paonia, ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ where she partnered with Paonia K-8 to guide young students through soil-quality experiments, fostering their curiosity about science and research.

“ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder is a very welcoming place for women and underrepresented students,” Mundy said. "I strive to share my excitement and enthusiasm for engineering and community, showing others that they have a support system and can succeed in this environment.”

Making a broader impact

A strong love for engineering and outreach opened the door for Mundy to make an impact beyond the ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder campus, too.

Aria Mundy during her time at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). 

In summer 2022, Mundy traveled to Rwanda as a member of the ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Engineers Without Borders (EWB). She worked with her peers to design and implement a rainwater catchment system. She said it was “a true embodiment of what it means to be an engineer.”

“This project was a powerful reminder of how engineering can bring people together to create solutions that make a lasting difference,” Mundy said.

She also completed internships at companies in various engineering industries such as Tendeg, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, NIST, Specialized Bicycle Components and LASP. Mundy’s award nominator says she has contributed to new ideas and technologies at each company.

“My philosophy has been to try as many different things as possible,” Mundy said. “I’m truly grateful to receive this award, and for ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder’s support in providing so many avenues for me to learn and grow.

“If I had more time, I would love to keep exploring new things. I’m sad my journey is coming to a close, but I’m excited for what comes next.”

The Outstanding Undergraduate Award will be presented to Mundy at the College of Engineering and Applied Science Graduation Ceremony on Dec. 19. Mundy is considering pursuing a master’s in mechanical engineering while exploring full-time opportunities. 

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Heather Maclachlan is an undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering. She interned at Veolia Water Technologies during summer 2023.

Heather Maclachlan

I interned at Veolia Water Technologies during summer 2023, working as a Quality Engineering Intern. Veolia Water Technologies has an Analytical Instrument sector located in Boulder, CO, where the main focus is developing, assembling, and distributing instruments that analyze total organic carbon (TOC) in water samples or solutions. 

As a quality intern, I gained valuable insight to many aspects of industry, from working with software and manufacturing engineers to communicating with sales personnel and consumer databases. Throughout the internship, my role involved a lot of data analysis. I learned to use a software called Tableau to connect robust and varying data sources to display control charts necessary for quality tracking of the TOC analyzers as they work their way through test and calibration. I also used Tableau for constructing control charts of the QC Lab, which tests and tracks consumable production and quality.

Both of these projects were very valuable and pushed my learning as I had to individually teach myself how to use the software. I also completed a more hands-on project that involved validating the blank correction value that is currently used in the company's vial wash line. Throughout the internship, I discovered how integrated quality engineering is in almost every aspect of product production.
 

My advice for students starting their first internship would be to make as many connections with your coworkers as possible. I learned so much from asking managers in other departments about their backgrounds and what it is like to be in their role. From reaching out to an R&D engineer and having an informational interview with him, I learned that R&D may be an area of interest for me in the future. I’d also advise new interns to not be afraid to speak up. I learned that the company wants your feedback just as much as you want theirs, and if you have suggestions, they want to hear them!

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