Students at the University of Dayton are driven to reach new heights and expand their knowledge through many different avenues. Gavin McHale, a Fall 2025 mechanical engineering graduate, reimagined his curiosity for learning and evolved his passions in new ways to build a versatile foundation for his future career.
At UD, McHale cultivated his creative interests and explored new opportunities while consistently pushing the boundaries of engineering innovation that serves the common good.
“I saw engineering as a way to combine two of the values that are very important to me: creativity, which stems from my curiosity of things, and the second is a desire to help others,” McHale said.
McHale looked beyond the classroom to enrich his time at UD, proactively seeking out experiences that broadened his impact as a student. By pursuing opportunities outside his major, he developed a well-rounded perspective that balances technical studies with a commitment to personal development.
McHale participated in the Grand Challenges Scholars Program (GCSP) to broaden his scope of engineering by pursuing experiences across many academic disciplines. GCSP encourages students to reimagine engineering in new contexts through developing five essential competencies: research, business and entrepreneurship, multi-culturalism, multi-disciplinary and social consciousness. He found that his focus on multiculturalism and social consciousness sparked a deep interest in integrating global awareness with a lifelong commitment to service.
To further his application of classroom concepts, McHale joined the Industrial Training and Assessment Center (ITAC) at UD, working with various manufacturing facilities across the state to reduce their energy usage.
“Through ITAC, I was able to explore over a dozen different manufacturing sites, lead consultations and dig deep into the world of thermo-dynamics and energy,” McHale said. “It ended up leading me into my career, and many others in ITAC find the same.”
Through the ETHOS program in Ecuador, McHale discovered that the heart of engineering lies in community, transitioning from “broken” classroom Spanish at UD to a deep, cross-cultural connection while installing critical water infrastructure. This immersive experience sparked a commitment to linguistic and cultural fluency, leading him to a construction internship in Puerto Rico where he honored his family heritage and refined his professional coordination skills. By prioritizing teamwork and social consciousness, he has redefined his technical career as a bridge between engineering excellence and global service.
“These experiences tied into my view of engineering by appreciating the importance of teamwork and building strong, lasting relationships with your team members,” McHale said. “Seeing the teamwork and the uplifting cultures both in Ecuador and Puerto Rico really inspired me to be a better teammate back home. It not only makes work much more enjoyable, but it’s amazing how much more you can accomplish by working together.”
As a member of the Stitt Scholars Program, McHale led cross-disciplinary consultations for small businesses, authors and the Downtown Dayton Partnership, working alongside students from other major disciplines.
“Through it, I learned when to step up, when to delegate, when to let others take the lead, and most importantly admit when something is not your area of expertise,” McHale said.
This exposure to marketing and project management proved to be a major catalyst for his growth, reinforcing the importance of communication and teamwork in any engineering career.
“Both inside and out of the classroom, UD provided me with an education that not only allowed me to feel comfortable in my field post-graduation, but also to explore so many others,” McHale said. “My biggest takeaway from my time at UD is that you never know where an experience might take you when you are willing to try something new or meet someone new.”
His advice to incoming first-year students at UD: “go through college with an open mind, try new things, and stay curious.”
McHale currently serves as an Energy Engineer at Trane in Columbus, OH, working to improve energy usage in surrounding communities, while also being an engaged global citizen — the same service-centric vision he found at UD.