NW Valley Times

Faith Hyllberg, a senior studying mechanical engineering technology at Grand Canyon University, has made significant strides in her field. She has received a scholarship from the American Gear Manufacturers Association Foundation for two consecutive years and completed two internships with Twin Disc, a global power transmission company based in Milwaukee.

Hyllberg's choice to pursue mechanical engineering technology was influenced by her mother, who recognized the underrepresentation of women in engineering and believed her daughter could meet the challenge. Unlike mechanical engineering, which is more theoretical, mechanical engineering technology focuses on hands-on application and production processes.

During her sophomore year, Hyllberg attended the Society of Women Engineers national conference in Houston. Dr. Cori Araza noted that "her excitement to network with top engineering companies stood out."

Although she declined an offer from a North Carolina company to remain close to home, Hyllberg secured an internship with Twin Disc through a connection from her high school basketball coach. Her role involved working on the assembly line and developing standard operating procedures for assembly processes.

"The internship allowed me to connect theory with real-world applications," Hyllberg stated. John Tharp, who teaches at GCU, praised her ability to ask deep questions that connect technical aspects to broader purposes.

Hyllberg's accomplishments earned her another internship with Twin Disc where she reverse-engineered components and created 3D models for manufacturing fixtures. Dana Holland from Twin Disc described Hyllberg as "a great girl, high energy, eager to learn."

Currently interning as a civil engineer for B&R Engineering in Arizona, Hyllberg plans to work in design or project management after graduation. She attributes much of her confidence and skills development to GCU’s hands-on program.

"My leadership skills and vision for project scope are strengths I hope to leverage in my career,” she said.