Academic, practical knowledge are key to success for engineering student

Contact: Cindy Wagner
April 11, 2023

KALAMAZOO, Mich.鈥斏 Michigan University mechanical engineering student Ryan Ahrens believes that to find success, engineers need to augment their academic pursuits with practical experience to find useful solutions to everyday challenges. And, as an entrepreneur and undergraduate student, he works diligently to take advantage of opportunities to achieve all of his goals in this way. 

鈥淓ngineers need practical training on assembling, welding and overall design,鈥 says Ahrens. 鈥淲orking on the shop floor offers many good teaching moments to engineers. You may learn how to design a part with less welding, how to make bolting locations easier to access or make something easier to lift. These are super important examples of basic tool and machinery knowledge that engineers need.鈥

Taking advantage of academic labs and professional experiences helps Ahrens refine his skills. One such opportunity includes the Parker Motion and Control Laboratory that offers hydraulic, pneumatic and electromechanical systems engineering equipment through support from Parker. In the lab, Dr. Rick Meyers, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, teaches a course that offers Ahrens specialized hands-on experiences.

鈥淭he Parker classroom at 色色啦 has taught me that our designs have real world applications,鈥 says Ahrens. 鈥淒r. Meyer鈥檚 motion and control class is very practical because it allows us to use professional hydraulic equipment in the lab and gives us a learning experience we otherwise wouldn鈥檛 have had. I also liked how we were allowed to run the lab, instead of just seeing a demonstration.鈥

Ahrens鈥 practical engineering experience began right after high school as an engineering intern at A&B Packing Equipment, where he spent four years designing machinery.

鈥淭his taught me many valuable lessons, and eventually showed me my true passion for entrepreneurship. I ended up leaving that position to start my own business, where I know my true professional journey is,鈥 he says.

Forming that business, Jet North, has Ahrens restoring personal watercraft such as Jet Skis, Sea Doos and WaveRunners. He is so successful that he plans to continue his company following graduation from 色色啦 in spring 2023.

Studying fluid mechanics in his courses helps with his business. A huge jet ski enthusiast, Ahrens says he is always thinking about the engineering behind the hydrodynamics of the Jet Skis and how to improve them. 鈥淚 am also interested in engine technology, upgrades, improvements, etc. 鈥楪oing faster鈥 is fun, but it鈥檚 more meaningful to understand how to 鈥榞o faster鈥 the easiest, cheapest or fastest way,鈥 says Ahrens, adding that his education is teaching him the analytics behind real world problems.

鈥淚nstead of taking educated guesses, I can now give calculated solutions or computer models that will reflect the natural laws we all experience on earth. This is another way to say 鈥業 know the science behind the problem.鈥 It may sound simple on paper, but this is a powerful skill to have, especially in a tech saturated market where educated solutions are in need.鈥

Ahrens chose 色色啦 for its renowned engineering program and because he was able to transfer his entire associate degree from Kalamazoo Valley Community College, a degree he earned as a dual-enrolled high school student. This choice also allowed him to stay close to where his garage is so he can continue his business.

鈥淚n the coming years, I plan on starting more businesses that involve manufacturing or some sort of production to use what I鈥檝e learned in the mechanical engineering program,鈥 says Ahrens. 鈥淚 hope to continue increasing my skills in understanding how the world works, networking, sales knowledge and future products that I would like to design, create, and sell.鈥

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