“There is a way to overcome almost any challenge, but not necessarily by oneself.”
-Connor Schellenberg-Beaver, Class of 2013
As Captain of the UBC Supermileage Team,
Connor Schellenberg-Beaver has gained
invaluable leadership and managerial skills.
The stars of UBC Applied Science are people passionate about their chosen field–architecture, landscape architecture, community and regional planning, engineering and nursing—and those that inspire others by making meaningful contributions to the betterment of society. UBC Mechanical Engineering student, Connor Schellenberg-Beaver, is a 2013 Applied Science Rising Star.
Destined to a degree in engineering from a very young age, Connor Schellenberg-Beaver’s passion for design and sustainable transportation placed him on apath that led directly to the UBC Supermileage Team. His experiences as a leader and competitor have been invaluable.
Tell me about your experience with Mechanical Engineering. What have you learned that is most valuable?
I have very much enjoyed my time in Mechanical Engineering; it certainly wasn’t easy but I have found it to be incredibly rewarding. I’m fortunate in that I chose exactly the right degree and option for me. I enjoyed almost all my courses and cannot think of anything I would rather have studied. Despite enjoying all my classes and learning many valuable engineering skills, I would have to say the most valuable thing I’ve learned is that there is a way to overcome almost any challenge, but not necessarily by oneself.
Throughout my degree I faced many challenges be it tight project timelines, seemingly impossible homework questions, or reports so long they may as well have been a novel, and at first glance I wasn’t sure I could overcome them. However, with the help of professors, TAs and classmates, I was able to overcome all the challenges, and succeed in a very difficult degree. Thanks to Mechanical Engineering, I feel that I am equipped to tackle any problems that are thrown at me in my future career.
What interested you about engineering initially?
I think my family knew I was destined to become an engineer since I was about two and had to be supervised around rocking chairs as I was determined to figure out how they worked, even if it meant getting my hand crushed. No one was surprised when I turned our sandbox into a crater with my wooden backhoe and humoured me to go look at the trains every time I heard the whistle.
I have always been interested in figuring out how stuff works and designing new devices and I think this is what really drew me to engineering initially. I also saw engineering as a way to develop new, more sustainable technologies and help with the challenges currently facing our society.
How are you applying the skills you learned through your studies at UBC?
The skills I’ve acquired make me more successful in almost everything I do, and ruin almost every movie I watch. The problem solving, interpersonal and communication skills I have gained throughout my degree have helped me be more successful in the endeavors I have undertaken. The technical engineering knowledge has also proven useful on many occasions; however, it also has the unfortunate side effect of making me find faults in every movie and TV show I watch.
What has been your most memorable/valuable non-academic experience studying engineering at UBC?
Hands down my time on the UBC Supermileage Team has been my most memorable and valuable experience. The sense of accomplishment at the end of the year when the car hits the road is unparalleled. As I mentioned earlier, being at competition with a group of people whose sole focus is making the cars run as well as possible and who are all willing to sacrifice sleep, studying and probably a little bit of sanity to make it happen is amazing.
It has been really interesting to see the team grow from about 12 people to more than 60 and watch the cars improve substantially from year to year. It has been incredibly rewarding, and looking back I would say that joining the team in my second year is the single best decision I made at university. I can’t say enough about how much being a part of and leading the team has helped me grow.
How has your extracurricular involvement impacted your experience at UBC?
My extracurricular involvement has been the highlight of my university career. I have gained a lot from my coursework- but the teamwork, technical experience and networking from my extracurricular activities has been incredibly beneficial in terms of my personal and professional development.
What are your plans for the future–immediate? Long-term?
I joined engineering because I enjoy design and want to help create technologies to improve society, and consequently I am very much looking forward to going into the world and working as an engineer for a few years. My goal since high school has been to work on more sustainable forms of transportation and those are the types of companies to which I am applying.
While I feel I chose exactly the right degree for me, my time as Captain on the UBC Supermileage Team has shown me that I enjoy, and can excel in a managerial role. After working as an engineer for a few years I plan to attend one of the more prestigious European schools to complete an MBA.
How do you feel a degree in engineering has benefited you compared to a different field of study?
Engineering has really taught me how to work well in a team and how to approach problems in a logical and systematic manner in order to come up with the best possible solution. Being in a department with a smaller class size has allowed me to get to know not only my fellow classmates but many of my professors as well. Being able to discuss engineering, potential jobs and design and other challenges with them has really helped me develop and grow as a person; I feel like this relationship with classmates and professors and extensive training on problem solving are incredibly useful aspects that many other programs do not offer.
What has made your time at UBC the most memorable?
Throughout my degree I have had the chance to participate in many interesting projects, clubs and competitions, but what has really made all these so memorable is the exceptional people with whom I was able to share the experiences. Mechanical Engineering, and the Mechatronics option in particular, tends to be a very tight knit group, likely due to the challenging nature of the program. My classmates are some of the most talented, interesting people I have ever met, and success in this program would not have been possible without such an amazing group of friends.
On a similar note, I will never forget the experience I have had with the UBC Supermileage Team, particularly at competition. Spending four days working almost non-stop with my team mates and finally seeing the cars we spent all year working on hit the road is just the most tremendous feeling.
Do you have any advice for future/incoming students?
I think the two biggest pieces of advice I have for future mechanical engineering students is to take the program seriously and try hard, and to take advantage of the learning resources that are available to you.
I know many of us are used to getting high marks with minimal effort, but Mech 2 and subsequent years in Mechanical Engineering have a reputation for a reason, and succeeding in this program does require hard work.
There is also no way I could have accomplished everything I have without the support of my classmates and professors. I had a great group of friends with which to study and no matter how smart you are, there are always concepts and problems that other people will figure sooner and more easily than you, and working with them to learn is incredibly helpful. It is also very apparent that the instructors in the Mechanical Engineering department legitimately care about their students and are always willing to help, something that should definitely be taken advantage of.
How will you, Connor Schellenberg-Beaver, go on to make a difference in our world?
My goal going into engineering was to work on technologies which would help make transportation more sustainable, and I fully intend to do this. I intend to work for a company that is working on reducing the impact of transportation on our planet. After working as a design engineer I intend to work my way up the corporate ladder and continue steering companies in a more sustainable direction.
I have always worked on being more sustainable in my personal life as well and I will continue to promote sustainable practices in the workplace as soon as I start.