He majored in software engineering, but Ryan still got his hands dirty. He led a student team in a national baja buggy race sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers. They used 3-D modeling software for the design work, built a prototype with PVC tubing, and worked with a local company to weld a steel chassis tough enough for the rough dirt track. And then they wrote up a sales presentation for their buggy.
We were definitely the favorite "root for the underdog" team.
The race was a thrill for Ryan, even if he didn't win the checkered flag. And the real-world experience rounding out his software training helped Ryan win a bigger victory: a full-time job at Boeing, designing software for the International Space Station.