Kevin Pereira Meckler

What made you decide to enroll at the University of Maryland?
I decided to enroll at the University of Maryland because of their highly-ranked engineering programs. I looked at different schools in the area and the University of Maryland was my first choice. The staff has been very friendly and responsive since day one. I knew I wanted to be at a school that not only had strong academic programs, but was also very responsive to the needs of the students and I found that at UMD. My experience has been great all around, from the quality of the education, to the community and staff. Everyone at UMD wants you to succeed and they will do all they can to make that happen.

What major/career path do you plan on pursuing and how did you select that path?
I am a senior studying mechanical engineering. I have always been intrigued by mechanisms and I like learning how things work. Engineering is often referred to as a "hard" major so I was hesitant to study it, but my family encouraged me and I decided to try it out. I like the versatility that a mechanical engineering degree offers. I could work on product development, military and defense, medical devices, project management or even in agriculture. There is no limit to what I can do with this degree.

Activities I do outside of class or community service/volunteer activities I'm involved with:
I enjoy watching TV shows and trying new recipes with my wife. I spend a lot of my time doing school work, working, and trying to raise a very energetic three-year old girl. Before the pandemic I was involved with Engineers Without Borders and NASA MINDS. At UMD I am a part of the Maryland Promise Program (MPP). MPP has been great and I have learned so much from their monthly meetings and other events. Now that school is back in person I need to find a few more organizations to get involved with. I am also very active in my church, and as a church we often provide all sorts of community service from helping at food banks to assisting in natural disaster relief.

Aside from academics, what else do you hope to take away from your time at Maryland?
Academics are a very important part of my college experience, but I am also hoping to build friendships, relationships, and memories that will follow me even after graduation.

What are your future goals after graduation?
After graduation I hope to start working as a mechanical engineer. I am very interested in military and defense applications, consumer electronics, project management and robotics. I still have some time to learn more and narrow down the things that interest me the most. I also want to continue my education and obtain a master's degree.

My favorite part of being a Maryland Promise Scholar:
My experience as an MPP scholar has been amazing so far. We have a close-knit community that genuinely cares about your success. The program is very diverse and you get students from all backgrounds and majors. My favorite part has been learning about other's perspectives and seeing how close we all are despite having such different backgrounds and opinions. It goes to show that with the appropriate leadership skills it is possible to have unity and harmony even when those around us have different opinions. I am looking forward to continuing to learn and grow as a result of this program.