![\"student](\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/ivan-suminski.jpg\")
\u201cAlthough engineers are problem solvers, as problems become larger and more complex, it\u2019s important that our students are skilled at communicating with each other, their customers, and with other stakeholders in order to effectively solve these problems,\u201d says Lisa Norwood, the school\u2019s assistant dean for undergraduate studies.<\/p>\n
\u201cStudying the humanities provides our students with the skills to communicate their ideas clearly with diverse audiences, facilitating multidisciplinary collaborations and generating creative ideas. This helps make our graduates well-rounded and socially conscious.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring my freshman and sophomore years,\u201d Zhang says, \u201c[studio art and computer engineering] seemed totally different fields. But as I got into them more, I saw ways in which they are connected.\u201d<\/p>\n
For example, many artists now use digital platforms to express themselves. She notes that animation involves varying degrees of computation skill. In computer engineering, moreover, students often work on practical projects in which the visual elements of design are a factor\u2014\u201cespecially in human-computer interaction,\u201d Zhang adds.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, Zhang says, she would like to start her own company creating portable, user-friendly devices.<\/p>\n
Suminski is also discovering ways in which his pursuits complement each other. For example, as both a violinist and a budding engineering, he is intrigued with the research that Jong Hoon Nam, an associate professor of mechanical engineering, is doing on the biophysics of inner-ear sensory cells.<\/p>\n
And last summer, Suminski had an internship with a company that produces musical accessories\u2014including violin strings.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s considering a range of options after graduation, including graduate programs in music performance, or applying to continue in mechanical engineering as a graduate student in Nam\u2019s lab.<\/p>\n
What would he most like to be doing in 15 years? \u201cIn an ideal world I would be performing as member of a string quartet,\u201d he says. \u201cThat wouldn\u2019t even feel like work to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Remarkably, Zhang and Suminski have both found time to pursue extracurricular interests as well. Zhang is a peer advisor and a member of the Equestrian Club. Suminski, active with the Catholic Newman Community, organized a service trip to Frenchville, Pennsylvania, a poor, rural community in Central Appalachia, over last spring break.<\/p>\n
How do they manage their time?<\/p>\n
Both say they get by on a few hours of sleep.<\/p>\n
Suminski says he\u2019s also learned \u201cnot to spend time worrying and stressing about exams. I approach them with the mindset that if I\u2019ve been in class, I probably know the stuff pretty well if I\u2019ve been taking good notes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat eliminates the late-night, pretest panic sessions in the library.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Astra Zhang ’18, a double major in electrical and computer engineering and in studio arts, and Ivan Suminski ’18, a mechanical engineering major who is earning a dual degree in violin performance will share this year’s Wells Award.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":286,"featured_media":288062,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[486,20522,3286,18632],"class_list":["post-288022","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-university-news","tag-awards","tag-department-of-art-and-art-history","tag-eastman-school-of-music","tag-hajim-school-of-engineering-and-applied-sciences"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n