Category: Student Story

By:  Beth Anne Johnson

The PEER WISE community gathered for an exclusive Q&A session with the phenomenal Jacovia Cherry on a crisp January evening. As the clock struck at 5:00 on Tuesday, January 30th, our screens illuminated, ready to embark on a journey with a distinguished alumna who seamlessly blended her passion for engineering, coaching, and entrepreneurship. “Jacovia is an amazing example for students to see the power of networking and community,” shares Serita Acker, “she goes after the exact life she desires. She has many passions, and she pursues them all. Many students let the fear of failure stop them from pursuing their desired life, but not our Jacovia Cherry.”

Jacovia Cherry: A Multi-Faceted Success Story

A Computer and Electrical Engineering graduate turned Google professional, Middle School Basketball Coach, and small business owner, Cherry embodies the essence of limitless possibilities for PEER WISE students. Her story, punctuated by resilience and achievement, unfolded before us as she shared her insights and experiences.

The Journey Unveiled

Cherry commenced the session by reminding us that every working professional, regardless of current status, once navigated the labyrinth of their initial major’s classes. Her narrative resonated with students and alumni, creating a relatable bridge between past and present Clemson experiences.
“I actually had to take time off from my academics at Clemson,” says Cherry, “During this time, I worked multiple jobs to make ends meet. It was a hard and true wake-up call to say, education is necessary for the life I want for myself.”

Secrets of Perseverance

A beacon of inspiration, Cherry delved into the secrets of perseverance that propelled her toward success. From conquering academic challenges to thriving in a dynamic professional landscape, she emphasized the significance of resilience and commitment to one’s goals. “Ask for help,” says Cherry, “Ask for help and show up. When you ask for community. Your community responds.” Her journey echoed the sentiment that challenges are not roadblocks but stepping stones to growth.

Importance of Community

One of the event’s highlights was Cherry’s emphasis on the community’s pivotal role in her personal and professional growth. She passionately shared how the support and resources provided by PEER & WISE had been instrumental in making her Clemson Experience extraordinary. Her words resonated with the audience, underscoring a supportive community’s profound impact on an individual’s journey.
“Jacovia Cherry was and remains a fantastic PEER & WISE mentor,” exclaims Lisa Jackson, PEER Associate Director, “We want our students to be authentic and intentional leaders, and Jacovia is the very embodiment of this practice.”

Gleaning Insights for Extraordinary Experiences

As Cherry shared her pearls of wisdom, attendees had the opportunity to glean insights into making their own Clemson experiences extraordinary. Whether navigating academic challenges, transitioning into the professional world, or balancing multiple passions, Cherry’s journey was a roadmap for unlocking one’s full potential. The takeaway? Our journeys are not always linear; they have setbacks, but how we react, pivot, and arrive sets our pathway to success forward.

Reflecting on the Event

The January PEER WISE Connections event with Jacovia Cherry was a resounding success. Attendees left with a deeper understanding of Cherry’s journey and renewed motivation and inspiration to conquer their academic and professional pursuits.

Closing Thoughts:

Jacovia Cherry’s Q&A session highlighted the importance of community, perseverance, and embracing individual paths. The event provided valuable insights that we can apply as we seek wisdom and inspiration in our own journeys.

Missed the event? Stay tuned for more enriching sessions and opportunities with PEER WISE Connections. PEER WISE Connections is a professional development series hosted by the PEER & WISE department that introduces current students to alumni and industry professionals. It is open to all students.

Unlock Your Potential with PEER & WISE – Where Wisdom Meets Inspiration! 

Nora Mortali is a Graduate Student in the Biomedical Engineering program and is a vital member of our PEER&WISE team.  To learn more about her, read on.

Why opt for Clemson?

I decided on Clemson for the overwhelming sense of family I felt when visiting here. As a freshman, moving 900 miles away from home can be scary, but I knew Clemson would feel like a home away from home. Clemson also has a reputable engineering program specializing in bioengineering and has a ton of resources available for engineering students. I knew I would fit right in here and have loved every year since.

Future Goals? 

I hope to work in medical device development or biomechanical analysis.

CECAS and PEER/WISE involvement?

I worked as a UPIC intern under Brittany Sanders for the PEER/WISE department during my senior year. I am working again with Brittany this year as the Graduate Project Coordinator for GE’s Next Engineers Greenville program.

Highlights from Clemson Experiences?

I studied abroad in Valencia, Spain, during my sophomore year (2019).

Special awards or involvement?

I was Vice President of Recruitment for Pi Beta Phi.

Name: Catherine Pitts

Major: Bioengineering

Year: Senior

Why did you choose Clemson?: I chose Clemson because their bioengineering department got students involved in research early and supported their students!

How were they recruited?: I am a fifth generation Clemson student, so my family encouraged me to visit and Clemson had all the experiences I wanted.

Future Goals: I am pursuing a combined bachelors/masters right now and I hope to work in the prosthetics or biomechanics industry once I graduate!

CECAS and PEER/WISE involvement: I am a student researcher in Dr. Desjardins’ lab, working on a prosthetic. This is my third semester working for PEER/WISE!

Highlights from their Clemson Experiences: A highlight from my Clemson experience is definitely home football games! I love getting to meet alumni, welcoming new Clemson fans, and getting to cheer on the Tigers with my friends and the Clemson Family.

John McAdams is a graduate student at Clemson University who also completed his undergraduate degree here as well.  John will be graduating with his Master’s in Mechanical Engineering in December 2022 and will begin working for Duke Energy’s Nuclear Power Plant in Oconee County.  John chose Clemson due to its incredible and highly-ranked engineering program and because of family affiliations.  He was recruited when his older brother attended the university to major in Civil engineering.  John was invited to participate in the PEER&WISE Summer Experience Program (PWE, formerly, FIRE).  Since then, John has served as a PEER mentor, and a tutor in the PEER&WISE Fluor Study Hall and has also served as the graduate academic enrichment coordinator.  John says he truly enjoyed his time as a mentor, tutor, and graduate assistant for the office.

From everyone at the PEER&WISE office, we are so proud of you, John, and cannot wait to see where life takes you!

N’Kya McClurkin is a junior computer science major at Clemson.  She also serves as a current PEER mentor working with our freshmen engineers helping them to adjust to life at college.  She chose to attend Clemson due to the atmosphere and family vibes that Clemson is very known for.  She selected her major because of her interest in software development and her passion for creativity.  Her PEER mentor from her freshman year played a strong role in her involvement with PEER&WISE today.  They suggested N’Kya become a mentor for other students in her major so she can help them the way her mentor helped her.  Once she finishes college, she would like to pursue a career in software development or cyber security.

The PEER&WISE family is so proud of you, N’Kya!

Pranavi Thatavarthi is a sophomore chemical engineering major with a biomolecular concentration who serves as a current WISE mentor.   She chose Clemson due to its extraordinary engineering program and the sense of belonging she felt when she toured Clemson’s campus.  Pranavi plans to work in the pharmaceutical industry focusing on drug design and manufacturing processes.  However, she is very interested in learning about all the different career possibilities she will have in Chemical Engineering.  She would like to also possibly obtain a graduate degree in Chemical Engineering or Pharmacology one day.  Pranavi’s involvement with PEER&WISE began when she attended our PWE program before beginning her freshman year here.  PWE allowed her to gain important communication and study skills that have helped her throughout her college career.  Currently serving as a WISE mentor, she is helping the next generation of female engineers as they adjust to being college students at Clemson.  She also represents the WISE program on the CECAS Student Advisory Board and has been allowed to expand her leadership and professional skills.  This opportunity has also opened a new STEM networking door for her, allowing her access to multiple other CECAS students and STEM professionals.  While at Clemson, Pranavi has also participated in the Society for Women Engineers (SWE), the Indian Cultural Association, and the Pre-Pharmacy Club.  Along with that, she was allowed to work with Dr. Delphine Dean in the Reddi Lab as an undergraduate lab technician where she transported COVID test samples, facilitated COVID testing for the athletic department, and worked with graduate staff in operating machines used to detect the COVID-19 Virus.

We cannot wait to see what the future has in store for you, Pranavi!  We are so proud of you!

Jonathan is a familiar face to many in the PEER&WISE family!  Jonathan is a mechanical engineering graduate student who also completed his undergrad at Clemson.  Jonathan chose Clemson due to its high-ranking engineering program and his involvement with Clemson’s Emerging Scholars program in high school.  His older sister also attended Clemson before him and greatly influenced his life.  Mr.  Figueroa plans to pursue a career in the Automotive Industry as a design engineer and hopes to one day move to Austin, Texas.  During his undergraduate years, Jonathan was a student assistant in PEER&WISE, working the front desk in the office and annex.  Since beginning graduate school, he has worked for the Mechanical Engineering Department as a graduate assistant grader.  He has also been a TA for the PEER&WISE program and worked as a tutor and graduate assistant.  Jonathan enjoys being involved and helping shape our future engineers and has been involved with many aspects of many organizations.  He has served as a CONNECTIONS mentor, was a found executive board member for Brother2Brother (PR Co-Chair), and is a member of Order of Omega, which is a Fraternity and Sorority Life Honor Society.  He is also a member of the W.E.B DuBois Honor Society, a Peer Dialogue Facilitator for Clemson University Dialogues, Vice Basileus and Assistant Keeper of Finance for the Chi Zeta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Secretary and Vice President at Clemson University and has been sponsored to attend Cambiando Vidas service trip in the Dominican Republic by Clemson FSL.  He has also been on both the President’s List and Dean’s List for multiple semesters.

We appreciate you and are so proud of you, Jonathan

!

Skyler Holland is a junior electrical engineering major from the small town of Hampton in the Lowcountry of South Carolina.  She has been a part of PEER&WISE for several years in many different ways.  Her journey began in middle school when she attended Project WISE’s week-long STEM camp.  This is where she fell in love with engineering and knew that she would one day attend Clemson University to major in electrical engineering.  Skyler participated as a camper at Project WISE for two summers.  Since coming to Clemson, Skyler has become a vital part of the PEER&WISE family.  She works as an intern student assistant in the office and performs various tasks daily.  Skyler is the editor of the weekly PEER&WISE newsletter and coordinates with many other staff and organizations to ensure that we share as many opportunities with our students as possible.  Since joining the team, Skyler’s responsibilities have grown, along with her love for the program.  She can be credited with making many of the flyers that can be seen around the office and has also tabled a few events for PEER&WISE and GE’s Next Engineers program.  She is also currently helping to update the test bank to keep things as up-to-date as possible for her fellow students.  This past summer, she also was a counselor for Project WISE and got to spend a week sharing her love and passion for engineering with the younger generation of women.  When she is not in the PEER&WISE office, Skyler is also an IT Technician for CECAS CORE and a Clemson Club Tennis team member.  After college, she plans to combine her minor in biological sciences with her electrical engineering major to work in the field of medical research.  She primarily is interested in the advancement of prosthetics and artificial organs but overall, she just wants to help people with the advancement of medicine and medical technology.

Ashlyn Spake is a third-year Industrial Engineering major from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Since high school, she knew she wanted to be an industrial engineer, but she did not know what type of jobs she could get. This past summer, she interned in the Cyber and Strategic Risks department of Deloitte and will be returning to work full-time upon graduation this May. Ashlyn’s transition from high school to college occurred during COVID which made it even more difficult to build connections and community. She had to learn how to reach out to professors and ask for help even when it felt uncomfortable. The skills she learned throughout her time in college allowed her to be more prepared in an increasingly virtual work environment. Her advice to other students is to not compare yourself to others. Grades and achievements are easy metrics to compare; however, we have to remember that we are all on different educational and life journeys.