Skip to content

Staff Spotlight: Scott Cousino

  Featured News, Staff ,  

scott cousino portrait

Scott Cousino serves as a coordinator in the Office of Engineering Professional Practice where he provides support and opportunities to students in the areas of professional development and experiential learning. He can often be found in the classroom giving presentations and leading workshops geared to help students become proactive in seeking internships and co-ops and thinking about their career aspirations beyond the University of Tennessee.

“My hope is to make students feel supported and empowered in their career journey,” said Cousino. “There are so many great and accessible resources at UT for students to grow professionally, and we want to make sure they get connected.”

In his role, Cousino meets one on one with students to provide support with resume and cover letter writing, searching for internships, co-ops, and jobs, mock interviewing, connecting with employers, and preparing for life after UT. He also helps the Office of Engineering Professional Practice coordinate the Engineering Expos and other career related events.

Cousino’s best advice for incoming students is to get involved early.

“College is the best time to try new things and figure out what you want to do,” he said. “Completing an internship or co-op, doing research, or joining a student organization are great ways to explore and figure out what you are passionate about. I encourage students to visit our office frequently and attend our events because we provide opportunities for students to get engaged and shape their professional development.”

The Tennessee Engineering Network

Professional development opportunities in TCE are reaching new levels for students as the Office of Engineering Professional Practice unveils the new Tennessee Engineering Network, which is an employer partnership program that will provide more events and opportunities for students and employers to connect over co-op, internship, and full-time employment opportunities.

“Our team has been hard at work and is excited to launch this program since it will make a large impact for our students, employer partners, and the college,” said Cousino. “It will translate to more employer info sessions, on-campus interviews, more positions being posted for students, and increased employer engagement at the Engineering Expos and other events.

Cousino joined the team nearly a year ago after spending two years working as the engineering career coach in the UT Center for Career Development and Academic Exploration. Prior to that, he held positions in undergraduate admissions and athletics at Central Michigan University and Syracuse University.

Cousino is originally from Clarkston, Michigan and attended Central Michigan University for his undergraduate and the University of Tennessee for his master’s degree. He competed as a student-athlete at both institutions running the 800 for the track team. He and his wife, Gabriella, met at UT and reside in Knoxville.

Valeria Huarote standing in the manufacturing plant of Keurig Dr. Pepper at their Knoxville location

Student Spotlight: Valeria Huarote

  Student Stories ,  

Sophomore in chemical engineering Valeria Huarote spent an entire year in a co-op with Keurig Dr. Pepper.

My name is Valeria Huarote, and I am a sophomore studying chemical engineering with a minor in engineering management. Currently, I am on a full-year co-op with Keurig Dr. Pepper at their Knoxville plant, where I serve as an intern on the Focused Improvement Team.

Keurig Dr Pepper is a leading beverage company in North America, boasting a diverse portfolio of more than 125 owned, licensed, and partner brands. With powerful distribution capabilities, they ensure that there’s a refreshing beverage for every need, anytime, anywhere. The Knoxville plant is part of the “hot side” of Keurig Dr Pepper. Here, the focus is on producing Keurig pods, those convenient little capsules that bring coffee and other beverages to life. As an intern on the Focused Improvement Team, my projects and assignments are focused on improving the efficiency and quality of the production process.

Being my first internship and my initial exposure to a manufacturing plant, I have been deeply impressed by the inner workings of various departments within the facility. From production lines to quality control, each facet significantly contributes to the overall manufacturing process. So far, I’ve collaborated with various machine manufacturers, conducting thorough audits and inspections. This process helps assess the condition of each machine and identify necessary fixes to optimize their performance. Moreover, my hands-on work on the floor alongside operators and maintenance personnel is crucial. By delving into the root causes of issues, I’m ensuring that problems are not just patched up but completely eliminated.

The Lean Six Sigma mindset—which emphasizes efficiency, waste reduction, and continuous improvement—has been particularly enlightening. As I delve deeper into this methodology, I am discovering how it streamlines processes, enhances productivity, and ensures top-notch quality. I am committed to absorbing these principles, as they will undoubtedly serve me well in my future endeavors.

I am grateful for this co-op opportunity with Keurig Dr Pepper. Meeting the incredible individuals who work here has been a highlight. They’ve not only been exceptional mentors but have also patiently imparted essential knowledge. The team I’m part of is truly wonderful; their genuine concern for my co-op experience is heartwarming. As I look ahead, I am eager to see the impact I’ll make during my time here.

Autumn Cox standing in a warehouse next to a Malibu boat

Student Spotlight: Autumn Cox

  Student Stories ,  

Chemical engineering major and business administration minor Autumn Cox completed an internship with Malibu Boats during the year of 2022.

My name is Autumn Cox, and I am a senior majoring in chemical engineering with a minor in business administration. During the full year of 2022, I worked at Malibu Boats as a process engineering intern. This year-long experience provided opportunities for larger projects and more in-depth learning as compared to a summer internship. I was involved in many different projects such as resin studies, time and labor studies, fiberglass pattern design, process modifications and documentation, design storage solutions, etc.

My two favorite parts of my experience at Malibu was resin testing and the research and development of new boat models. Resin testing at Malibu involved plant studies during production and lab studies. The purpose of these tests were to confirm current resin and catalyst combinations or to investigate new resin and catalyst combinations that met certain requirements. Resin testing was a lot of fun because I simply enjoy being in a lab setting and analyzing data. The research and development portion of my job involved resin studies, labor time studies, process documentation, and fiberglass cut programs. This is when I worked the most with other engineers because there were many engineering teams involved in the development of a new boat model. I was also responsible for documenting any of their requested process changes on the lamination side. Research and development was one of my favorite activities because it required a great understanding of all of the processes, and I was able to make decisions/process changes based upon my judgment and experience. Furthermore, the research and development time of a new boat model was when I would prepare the operators for any big or unique changes that they weren’t used to doing.

From my experience, I learned a ton, developed numerous skills, worked in a bunch of different areas, and overall had a great experience. I spent the majority of my time in lamination but was involved in many areas of the plant. The skills I developed include people skills, professionalism skills, data collection and analytics, and the learning of various programs. I’m incredibly thankful for my experience, and I can’t wait to use it to further my education and career.

people attending the 2024 J. Michael Stone Leadership and Professional Practice Awards Banquet

2024 Professional Practice Awards Ceremony Sets Record Attendance

  Events, Featured News , , ,  

The 2024 J. Michael Stone Leadership and Professional Practice Awards Banquet hosted by the Office of Engineering Professional Practice at the Knoxville Downtown Mariott Hotel experienced record attendance with over 200 guests on April 3rd. The banquet celebrates TCE students who have completed a co-op or internship experience and recognizes recipients of the Dr. John W. Prados Scholarship.

 

2024 J. Michael Stone Leadership and Professional Practice Awards Recepients

 

Through the generosity of J. Michael Stone, the Prados Scholarship recognizes students who exhibit academic excellence in Chemical Engineering, have completed at least two co-op or internship rotations and pursue a business minor or electives. This year’s recipients are Samuel Andrews, Autumn Cox, Joseph Gallivan, Justin Le, Matthew Newman, and Abbie White.

Awards were also presented to the Engineering Professional Practice Ambassadors graduating during 2024 for their dedication to the professional development of TCE students. Lead Ambassadors, Chris Leonard and Xavier Johnson, received the Jerry Stoneking Co-op Engineering Award and the Henry Goodrich Service Award respectively for their outstanding leadership of the Ambassador Program.

 

people at the 2024 J. Michael Stone Leadership and Professional Practice Awards Banquet

 

The banquet featured keynote speakers Travis Keever and Jeff Bohanan. A 2016 graduate from the Chemical Engineering Department, Keever received the Prados Scholarship and spent 11 years working at Eastman, where he currently serves as a Circular Product Manager. Bohanan (BS/ME ’86, MS/IE ’89) spent 12 years working for the Department of Energy in the Nuclear Weapons Program before becoming the founder and CEO of Protomet in 1997. Protomet works with the marine industry to develop new products and capabilities and has experienced sustained growth under Bohanan. The Tickle College of Engineering has benefited from this growth as Protomet was the first company to join the newly created Tennessee Engineering Network (TEN) Program as a top-tier, Checkerboard member. Other members in the TEN Program, include American Accessories International, LLC, Altec, Brasfield & Gorrie, Siemens Molecular Imaging, Strongwell, and STV. This annual banquet was made possible through the sponsorship of J. Michael Stone and his family.

Amber Hiscock standing in front of an airplane

Student Spotlight: Amber Hiscock

  Student Stories , , , ,  

Aerospace engineering major Amber Hiscock completed an internship with Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) at Fleet Readiness Center SouthEast in Jacksonville, Florida during the summer of 2023.

Undergraduate senior in aerospace engineering Amber Hiscock spent the summer in Jacksonville, Florida working for Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) at Fleet Readiness Center SouthEast (FRCSE). NAVAIR provides full life-cycle support of every aircraft flown by the United States Navy, currently NAVAIR services 43 different aircraft and employs 40,000 civilians.

During her time with NAVAIR, Amber worked on Northop Grumman’s F-5 Tiger with the structural engineering team. As a member of the team, Amber helped to ensure the structural integrity of an older jet, produced in the early 1970s, with a significant amount of flight hours. As a NAVAIR intern, Amber’s typical day started at 7 a.m. and ended at 3:30 p.m. The work included various different activities: desk work on assigned projects, going down to the production line to look at different structural issues on the jet, and going to the on base material lab to analyze different parts.

As an intern at FRCSE, Amber also had the opportunity to go on two different trips set up by the NAVAIR coordinators. This included going to Naval Station Mayport to tour USS Cooperstown, a Littoral Combat Ship. The second trip was to Kennedy Space Center where she and the other summer interns got a behind the scenes tour of NASA labs and the Vehicle Assembly Building.

This internship provided Amber with the opportunity to experience working for the department of defense. This opportunity also opened Ambers eyes to the many different career avenues of aerospace engineering, particularly with the US Department of Defense (DOD). Amber graduates in May of 2024 and has accepted a job with the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Harrison Haupt

Student Spotlight: William Harrison Haupt

  Student Stories , ,  

Aerospace engineering major William Harrison Haupt completed an internship with Southern Champion Tray during the summer of 2023.

My name is William Harrison Haupt and I am a junior in aerospace engineering here in the Tickle College of Engineering. Over the summer of 2023, I accepted an internship opportunity to work with Southern Champion Tray on the Continuous Improvement team. Southern Champion Tray is an independent paperboard and packaging specialist company that provides paperboard products and packaging solutions for customers across various industries. With expansion into Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and Europe, they continue to grow and be one of the largest independent paperboard and packaging specialists in the United States.

My job while I was an intern contained many projects and assignments where I contributed to the improvement of manufacturing processes and met other needs of those in other departments across the company. The projects and assignments I worked on included production process tracking to eliminate unwarranted downtime and waste throughout the production facility, development of an improved sample system by taking a data-based approach, I created a custom product catalog containing AutoCAD 3D images and product specifications of custom paperboard products, I performed quality testing on different board caliper and finish, I performed a cost savings analysis on current and previous projects, I had the opportunity to lead weekly project update meetings, as well as completed a Yellow-Belt project that practices lean six sigma methodology to receive my yellow-belt. All of these tasks were a great learning opportunity for me all across the board and greatly contributed to my professional development.

Since I had no prior experience in manufacturing, it was a great challenge to overcome and to learn more about the production processes and all who are involved. Along with that, I had to learn to communicate with people throughout the company, whether that be those on my team or those in other departments. One of the biggest takeaways that I have from my experience is to always ask questions, and, as cliche as that sounds, it stands to always be true. I am very thankful for all of those who helped me along the way, the people I worked beside, and the great leadership that surrounded me at Southern Champion Tray.

Kayla Stevenson standing in a lab at NASA

Student Spotlight: Kayla Stevenson

  Student Stories , , , ,  

Applied artificial intelligence major Kayla Stevenson completed an internship with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory during the summer 2023 semester.

My name is Kayla Stevenson. I’m an undergraduate junior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence. Last year, I interned as a mechatronics and robotics software support engineer at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. I was recruited to work on the Mars Sample Return System, a project in collaboration with JPL and the European Space Agency (ESA). The project involves taking the Sample Retrieval Lander, a rocket, and the Mars Perseverance Rover to deliver Martian samples back to Earth through an interplanetary relay team system.

My main role was to test the active compliance software for the robotic arm that would be picking up the sample tubes. This involved conducting kinematic configuration tests, collecting data on how quickly the arms moved, and scanning for potential bugs. I conducted these tests on three different robotic arms and then participated in data analysis meetings to dissect the information we gathered from the tests and any software issues.

I also led a mechanical engineering project on Bradbury, a 7-degree-of-freedom robotic arm. The cable carrier that carried wires and cords throughout the robot would frequently get stuck on sharper actuators and components on the robot. I ended up 3D-printing and installing cable bumpers on different areas of the robot to improve cable management. Outside of these tasks, I also facilitated communications between ESA and JPL by completing their project action items and was introduced to utilizing ROS2, a middleware used to develop the software for robotic systems.

This internship helped me not only learn more about robotics and its application to planetary exploration but further sparked the passion I have for space and engineering. It challenged me to improve my programming, CADing, and project management skills. Visit the Engineering Professional Practice Office to learn more about gaining opportunities for internships and co-op programs.

Thomas Scott standing in front of a building at the University of California with two women and a photograph of a man

Student Spotlight: Thomas Scott

  Student Stories , , ,  

Mechanical engineering major Thomas Scott completed an internship with Lawrence Livermore National Lab during the summer 2023 semester.

I am Thomas Scott, an undergraduate senior pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering. During my time at Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL), with the generous support of the Livermore Lab Foundation (LLF), I engaged in a computational engineering project relevant to national defense. This project centered on the validation of models for the novel Direct Laser Impulse (DLI) chamber within the lab’s National Ignition Facility (NIF).

I began by improving the simulated responses of individual cases, identifying relevant physics to prioritize and feasible ranges for the associated parameters. I then developed parallelized parameter exploration and calibration tools, employing Bayesian optimization techniques. Additionally, I created a graphical user interface, facilitating real-time manipulation of input parameters and visualization of study outcomes. The primary objective of these tools was to provide calibration of unspecified parameters and to ascertain uncertainty, incorporating a blend of machine learning algorithms and user-driven inputs, ultimately facilitating efficient while still well-informed conclusions.

In addition to the opportunity to gain real world experience, LLNL and LLF provided many talks regarding lab-related projects, theory, and history. The experience overall was challenging and interesting, while facilitating my early exploration into the field of computational engineering. Stop by the Engineering Professional Practice Office for more information on their coop and internship programs.

Ian Tulk working on car parts during his internship at Honda

Student Spotlight: Ian Tulk

  Student Stories , , ,  

Aerospace engineering major with mechanical minor Ian Tulk completed an internship with Honda Development Manufacturing America in Lincoln, Alabama during the fall 2023 semester.

My name is Ian Tulk, and I am a senior studying aerospace engineering minoring in mechanical. Recently, I took a semester off to do a parallel term internship at Honda Development Manufacturing America (HDMA) at the plant in Alabama. This plant is responsible for the production of all of Honda’s light trucks and SUVs in the world, as well as their 6-cylinder engines.

Within Honda engineering, I worked in the supplier assurance department in the purchasing division of Honda manufacturing in North America. My primary responsibility was to manage parts quality concerns from a specific group of suppliers and communicate and eliminate these problems. This was done through making sure the parts in question comply with drawing specifications and Honda’s engineering standards in order to minimize line downtime. This also sometimes involved traveling to the local or international suppliers to ensure their processes were robust. During my time, aside from managing suppliers, I was assisting in the data analysis for Honda’s high body accuracy activity in order to achieve fit and finish goals for future models. During my tenure, I had great leadership from my mentors, and they were friendly and always willing to help and answer questions. I learned a lot about how a manufacturing environment operates and what goes in to keep a production line moving, as well as analytical skills when looking through part scan data and drawings. I was also lucky enough to be able to volunteer on the Honda America racing team with other full time associates where I would go by our shop after hours to help work on some of the cars there. This included a civic type R cup car, Odyssey minivan, and an Acura MDX. I was involved in the maintenance and tuning of these cars and learned about different components and how to maintain them. Now I have the confidence I did not have before to work on my own car!

I would recommend this to any of my fellow students looking for a great opportunity to work and learn about a manufacturing environment. Not only do they offer internships in parts quality but also in design, welding, paint, and casting. I am looking forward to using the connections that I have made here to pursue an internship or career in Honda’s aerospace division. That said, it is a great overall internship that encompasses a lot about being a mechanical engineer, and I will continue to use these skills in my continuing education and future career. If you would like to learn more or have any questions about engineering, resumes, or the internship/co-op process, feel free to reach out to me or stop by the Engineering Professional Practice Office.

Christopher Schenck sits in the pilot seat with both hands on the controls of an aircraft used by UPS.

Student Spotlight: Christopher Schenck

  Student Stories , , ,  

MABE student Christopher Schenck’s co-op work assignment has sent him to Louisville, Kentucky to work with the largest logistics company in the world, the United Parcel Service, more commonly referred to as UPS.

Christopher Schenck stands in front of a jet engine attached to one of the many aircraft that UPS use to deliver their customer's products.

Christopher Schenck stands in front of a turbine engine at the UPS facility in Louisville, Kentucky.

My name is Christopher Schenck, and I am a rising junior studying aerospace engineering. Right now, I am taking a break from classes to work a yearlong aircraft engineering co-op with UPS in Louisville, KY. UPS is the largest logistics company in the world, and specializes in commercial package delivery. It is very well-known and is widely considered as one of the best companies to work for.

Within aircraft engineering, my co-op is focused on power plant engineering, working with the engines of the planes. UPS’ aircraft fleet is composed of Boeing, Airbus and McDonnell Douglas planes mounted with engines from Pratt & Whitney, GE, and Rolls-Royce. As power plant engineers, it is our job to work with these OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) to fix any engine problems that our aircraft may encounter, and to comply with FAA and OEM regulations. Right now, my role is to support and learn from our full-time engineers. I spend most of my time analyzing aviation documents given to us by the FAA/OEMs, filling out paperwork such as job cards and engineering orders, and then going over and revising my work with my engineering mentors. When I am not doing this, I am socializing with other engineers and co-ops, or reading engine manuals to understand how they work. I also have access to the UPS Worldport and the ability to go inside planes like the Boeing 747-8 and 757 while they undergo maintenance. The key things that UPS emphasizes to their engineers are communication and attention to detail, since the work we do may not be able to be explained in person. Since I am just starting, I haven’t had the opportunity to work on any big projects, but UPS offers a lot of opportunity for growth. A few of the engineers I work with started out as co-ops and were hired full-time and many of the engineers that work here have been here for 20+ years. Our group also has lots of events, like building wide cookouts and the UPS Plane Pull to socialize and get to know our co-workers.

I would definitely recommend working for UPS to other students at the University of Tennessee. Not only is the work engaging, but UPS is a great company to work for in terms of who you are working with and the benefits it provides. I will continue to use the skills and work ethic I am developing while working here throughout the rest of my studies and into my career. If you would like to learn more or have any questions about engineering, resumes or the internship/co-op process, feel free to reach out to me or stop by the Engineering Professional Practice Office.

The flagship campus of the University of Tennessee System and partner in the Tennessee Transfer Pathway.

View our Privacy Policy.