Thomas Ullsmith

For Thomas Ullsmith, a junior studying engineering mechanics, being a Grainger Engineer is all about opportunity.  

Thomas believes that the experience he gained in The Grainger College of Engineering is one of the most rewarding parts of being a student at Illinois. He has had the opportunity to work on meaningful projects through his classes that have allowed him to make real-world analyzations and have given him hands-on experience. In his Design for Manufacturability class, Thomas was able to go to a recycling plant and work independently on a class project that allowed him to work with the staff and conduct his own investigations.  

Outside of the classroom, Thomas has had the opportunity to work as a team member of the Tire Applications Research and Development Team for Copper Tire and Rubber Company.  

Being awarded the C.L. Larson Transfer Student Award lets Thomas focus on opportunities like these. This award allows Thomas to allocate his attention toward new experiences at The Grainger College of Engineering. To Thomas, this award also communicates that there is a lot of value in the work Grainger Engineers like him do that are not measured by grades.  

With his combined collegiate experiences, Thomas plans to continue working on meaningful and collaborative projects after graduation. He hopes to further explore his interests in the research and development of vehicle dynamics and handling characteristics thanks to the education he has received at Illinois.