A love of making things by hand led to a mechanical engineering degree
A love of making things by hand led to a mechanical engineering degree
Growing up, Braylee Kimberley loved helping her grandfather make things by hand, crafting a bird house, shoe rack, stilts and holiday yard signs – all from wood. Her grandfather was a building contractor who gifted his young granddaughter with a pink hard hat, hoping she might follow in his footsteps.
Today, Kimberley is a senior majoring in mechanical engineering technology at the University of Northern Iowa. She still loves making things by hand, but has upgraded her tool belt to increasingly complex equipment to metal cast and weld, 3D print and laser-engrave.
“I like that I can be creative and make whatever I can imagine,” said Kimberley. “It's really helpful if you know how to make something. UNI's engineering program is more hands-on and less theoretical. Since I like working with my hands, that really appealed to me.”
Not only does Kimberley explore these skills in the Applied Engineering Building on UNI campus, but she also puts them into practice in her internship with Bossard Inc., a fastener supplier with a facility in Cedar Falls. She’s done extensive work on engraving and testing bolts as well as writing reports.
She’s also used her problem-solving skills to help fix internal problems. When her boss approached her about wanting to expand the engineering space, Kimberley 3D-printed a model of what she thought the new area should look like. She has also crafted a scanner holder for forklifts, an adapter for the sander to a shop vacuum and a restart button presser for smart factory logistics kits.
“I think internships are really important as a student, because you get to apply things that you're learning in the classroom to real life, and you actually get to understand why you're learning those things,” she said.
Kimberley came to UNI from Marshalltown as a transfer student from her local community college. She toured UNI twice while earning her associate's degree and instantly was drawn to the size of the university, knowing it would allow her to get to know her professors better. She was also pleased when she discovered all her credits transferred.
“All my professors have been really nice and supportive,” she said. “They always have room for questions, and they welcome you to their office hours. A lot of them also have industry experience.”
As a first-generation college student, Kimberley had a lot of questions about college. Being part of Jump Start Scholars, an extended orientation program, helped her gain an understanding of responsibilities such as paying her U-Bill and ordering textbooks. The program also helped her meet new friends.
Kimberley got involved right away with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and she now serves as the outreach coordinator for the club. She learns from industry leaders about engineering opportunities and goes on industry tours throughout the Cedar Valley. She also joined Cat Crew this fall, welcoming new students to campus.
“I highly recommend joining a club or two because that's the best way to meet new people,” she said. “I really like being a UNI student because the community is really nice. Everyone is warm and welcoming.
As she heads into her final year at UNI, Kimberley is excited to make new friends, continue interning at Bossard and create real-world solutions. She is especially eager to continue making things. Since she already spent the last year programming ABB robot arms, casting metal bookends and welding a wind chime, she is thrilled to see what she will get the opportunity to make next.
