Jason Donnell
Class of 2006
Electrical EngineeringTechnology
Sarver, Pennsylvania

Behrend is a rigorous school. I have worked while I’ve been here, but it pays off in the end. A Behrend graduate will get a job or get into graduate school easier than a graduate from another school.

Jason Donnell grew up in a small town, so when making his college choice he wanted to find a small school with small classes.

“Behrend is a small community,” he said. “Behrend worked best for me.”

As an electrical engineering technology major, Jason’s favorite classes were Visual Basic and Introduction to Microprocessors. “I am interested in programming as well as hardware,” Jason said. “Microprocessors brought hardware and software together for me in a way that made sense. Visual Basic is a fun programming language that has so many possibilities.”

Jason’s advice to future Behrend students is to “keep working hard, stay organized and constantly evaluate yourself. If you feel that you are going down the wrong path, then try another path. There is a world of opportunities out there.”

Jason took advantage of an opportunity that presented itself last summer, where he participated in distinctive research at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. His project title was “Photographs for the Blind,” which Jason developed a computer program that created reliefs from grayscale photos.

“Basically, the idea of this research was to develop a method to create models that would give blind people the opportunity to visualize an image through the sense of touch,” he said. “This was a unique experience because it gave me the opportunity to manage and complete my own research project.”

If he did it all over, would Jason choose Behrend again?

“Yes,” he said. “Because I think Behrend has a lot to offer after graduation. Having a degree from Penn State Behrend is a big deal to future employers.”