On June 17th, Mitiku Tolassa became the first student to graduate from the Drexel University/ Delaware County Community College Dual Enrollment Program in Applied Engineering Technology (AET). Mitiku, a native of Ethiopia and a current Philadelphia resident, attended classes on DCCC's Malin Road Center in Broomall where he earned both an associate in applied science from that institution and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Engineering Technology from Drexel.
Mitiku says when he was growing up in Ethiopia, his current career path was the furthest thing from |
|
|
his mind. There, agriculture—not technology—was the nation’s economic staple. However, when Mitiku moved to the United States in 1998 to start a new life, he earned his associate degree in electronics and landed a position at Freedom Medical. This job lasted just two years. “I had no clue what to do or where to go,” Mitiku says. “I was lost.”
Mitiku wanted to return to school, but was not sure how he could balance his education with a full-time job. After speaking with Melissa Knight, Drexel/DCCC AET program manager and being informed of the flexibility of the program, Mitiku enrolled. He was impressed by the fact that he would have the opportunity to take classes at two highly respected institutions, and was particularly excited about receiving a degree from Drexel University, one of the nation’s leaders in technology and engineering education.
The AET Dual Enrollment program addresses the region’s need to develop a continual flow of credentialed technologists in mechanical, electrical, or manufacturing specialties to fill the anticipated vacancies in the field that will occur over the next five years.
Says Mitiku, “The practical knowledge gained through small classes, particularly the electronics and circuit analysis courses, will help me on my career path. Additionally, the support I received from my professors and advisor helped me grow both personally and professionally.”
Mitiku will continue working at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania’s department of clinical engineering where he will be a biomedical instrumentation specialist. He is also planning to continue his education by pursuing a master’s degree in biomedical engineering. Education, Mitiku says, has given him a wealth of opportunities, empowering him to work through the many challenges in his life.
Now that he has completed his bachelor’s degree, Mitiku looks forward to spending more time with his family. His wife Sosina, will be moving to the United States to join him upon the completion of her immigration process, and he also looks forward to spending more time enjoying his hobbies, which include playing keyboards, listening to gospel music, and serving at his church. He says his life has moved in a direction he never would have expected, but he is happy about how it has turned out and looks forward to the future. |
