Fostering the growth of the MSOE Mindset is a key priority for the CREATE Institute, and new CREATE Student Fellows like Caitlin Hunter are helping further the initiative across campus.

“I became a CREATE Student Fellow because I wanted to be more involved in the MSOE community,” said Hunter. “I really enjoy being a CREATE Fellow. I get to work with various majors that I wouldn’t be able to otherwise. I am really looking forward to the projects we participate in and organize.”

Groups of CREATE Student Fellows and Faculty Fellows are working together to develop the MSOE Mindset in students through interactive programming. The MSOE Mindset identifies graduates as leaders of character; responsible professionals; passionate learners; and value creators. Hunter strives to implement these principles into her courses.

“I try to apply the MSOE Mindset in all of my classes but specifically in the classes that utilize class projects. In this setting, the MSOE Mindset can be implemented, especially the components of being leaders of character and passionate leaners.”

Hunter is putting her technical passions in motion as she pursues her mechanical engineering degree. “I really enjoy math and physics and designing projects and components from the ground up. Mechanical engineering allows me to use math and physics every day while still being creative.”

Originally from East Troy, Wisconsin, Hunter had her eyes set on MSOE because of the small class sizes and hands-on experiences the university offers.

"The best part of MSOE is how closely I can work with professors if I am struggling in class or don’t understand a concept,” said Hunter.

In addition to serving as a CREATE Student Fellow, Hunter is a FIRST ambassador for the STEM Department. FIRST ambassadors are assigned annually to schools in central Milwaukee that qualify as high need based on their percent of economically disadvantaged students per the most recent Wisconsin DPI scorecard data. Program participants design, program and build a robot starting with a standard kit of parts and common set of rules to play in a themed head-to-head challenge.  

As a FIRST ambassador, Hunter is helping students get hooked on STEM at an early age, just like she did. “I go to elementary and middle schools in the Milwaukee area to help mentor students in FIRST Robotics. I am currently mentoring three different teams with about 10 kids on each team.”