As this semester comes to a close, we would like to highlight one of our University of Dayton seniors, Courtney Ostrowski. Courtney is a Mechanical Engineering major with a minor in Biomechanics from Detroit, Michigan. After starting school in Cleveland, Courtney elected to transfer to UD. The school felt like a better fit for her with smaller class sizes, professor engagement, and a variety of choices for majors and minors. She also gravitated towards the students at UD, noticing that they were inspired to do more than just attend classes, they were involved in the community and encouraged to participate in extra curricular activities. 

Previously, Courtney had interned with a motor vehicle company and enjoyed performing testing and evaluation services. Once she got settled in Dayton, she went in search of a similar position that she would enjoy. Courtney ended up landing a job in our Impact Physics Lab at Shroyer Park working as a part-time student as a research and lab assistant for the last year and a half. Courtney shared that the hands-on experience has strengthened her skills as a technician, boosted her confidence in working with clients, and deepened her understanding of how a lab collaborates to solve problems through troubleshooting and attention to detail. 

Courtney has enjoyed the variety each day brings, whether it’s preparing the range for testing, conducting post-test analysis, or cleaning up after testing. When her team discovered her passion for photography, they gave her the opportunity to assist other team members with post-test photos.   The entire lab has had a positive impact on Courtney, especially, Phil Ashbrook, her direct supervisor, who has taught her a great deal about technical deliverables. Her favorite project has been working with NASCAR, where she had the chance to learn how to jack up one of their cars. 

Courtney has secured a position working on a product launch team for an automotive company and hopes to attend to grad school for Impact Biomechanics in the future. As graduation approaches this weekend, we wish Courtney all the best as she walks into the next chapter of life.