Pitt Engineering Grad Named National Co-op Student of the Year Second Pitt student in three years to win the award

January 30, 2003

PITTSBURGH—Picking up trash on the side of the road and organizing bingo games for senior citizens aren't usually part of an industrial engineer's job description. But University of Pittsburgh alumna Kristy Petrosky has successfully balanced wafer fabrication and community involvement to earn herself the National Co-op Student of the Year award. The honor is presented annually by the Cooperative Education Division of the American Society of Engineering Education and the Cooperative Education and Internship Association (CEIA).

She is the second Pitt graduate in three years to win the award. Jelena Andric Tudman, who earned the B.S. degree in chemical engineering in December of 2000, received the award in 2001.

Petrosky, who graduated with the B.S. degree in industrial engineering in December, will receive a monetary award and will be recognized at the national CEIA conference in Nashville, Tenn., which runs from April 27 through 29.

Originally from Erie, Pa., Petrosky spent four co-op rotations with Delphi Delco Electronics in Kokomo, Indiana.

"Being from Pennsylvania and not knowing a soul in Indiana was exciting. I met many co-ops and interns when I got to Delphi," Petrosky said.

For each rotation, Petrosky worked in a different department of Delphi's plant. During her first rotation, she designed a "supermarket"—an area for components of assembly lines—for Delphi's audio product line. In another, Petrosky became the industrial engineer in a sensors and power modules assembly department.

"This was one of my favorite rotations," Petrosky said. "I was the 'real' industrial engineer for the department."

As part of her work at Delphi, Petrosky volunteered in Kokomo, chairing Delphi's Students Helping Our Community program.

"I coordinated road clean-ups and bingo nights at a local retirement home. I also tutored K-6th grade students at a local community center," she said. "I can't say enough good things about Delphi's co-op program. It was a great experience, and I am thankful that I had the opportunity."

Petrosky has accepted a position as an industrial engineer in the field of wafer fabrication at Delphi. She will manufacture integrated circuits and micro-electrical mechanical system devices.

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