Michigan Tech student Jennifer Celeste is going places in the specialized field of acoustics engineering, including conferences, a summer internship with NASA, and graduate school thanks to a prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship.
Before coming to Michigan Technological University, Jennifer Celeste, a mechanical engineering junior, knew very little about acoustics engineering.
Fortunately, Celeste learned from a young age to keep her eyes and mind open to learning possibilities.
"My mom raised my siblings and me by herself, and she really valued education," said Celeste. "Growing up, I knew I wanted to make the most of the education I was given."
An early interest in math and science and a rigorous high school engineering program helped Celeste find her spark in mechanical engineering, though not in the same way as many of her peers.
"Most mechanical engineers love cars or airplanes, and that's a strong draw, but that never interested me much," she said. "I always thought it was cool in general, but I didn't have a specific application that I liked."
A valuable research experience in her first year at Michigan Tech helped her move from the broad field of mechanical engineering to acoustics. Also known as acoustical engineering, it's a branch of engineering that focuses on sound and vibration.
Being exposed to a field she'd known little about before coming to Tech, combined with her own determination and preparedness, led Celeste down a path
