College isn’t all lectures and homework. One not‑so‑secret ingredient to a well‑rounded college education is gaining hands‑on experience in your field. For mechanical and electrical engineers, this experience is especially important. Alfred University’s Electric Vehicle Club provides students with real‑world experience in a wide range of valuable skills, including welding, electrical work, and teamwork. For the past 10 years, the Electric Vehicle Club has been repairing, restoring, and rebuilding vehicles that run on sustainable energy.
Cody Orzeszek has been a member of the Electric Vehicle Club since his freshman year and became the club’s secretary in the fall of his junior year. As a mechanical engineering major, Cody enjoys the hands‑on experience he gains by working in Alfred University’s Student Engineering Project Lab, or STEP Lab for short.
“It’s like working with big Legos,” he said when describing the club’s work. “It’s easy to understand—it’s very plug and play.”
Cody’s passion for hands‑on projects doesn’t end with the Electric Vehicle Club. He is also actively working to restore Alfred’s Restoration Club. If the club gains enough student interest, members may have the opportunity to work on restoring a vintage Yamaha 650 twin motorcycle.
