Accomplished Engineering Grad Says NJIT Opened Doors to Her Success
At NJIT, Sydney Sweet’s success extended beyond the classroom into research labs, cooperative educational experiences, a Goldwater scholarship and the opportunity to study in Australia.
Remarkably, the chemical engineering major and Albert Dorman Honors College scholar also found time to tutor undergraduates in math and hold leadership roles in chemical engineering honor society Omega Chi Epsilon, the Science and Politics Society and Society of Musical Arts.
In recognition of her achievements, Sweet earned two awards this year from NJIT’s Newark College of Engineering (NCE): Outstanding Senior (Overall) and Departmental Outstanding Senior (one of six). And in July, she’ll join Lummus Technology as a process engineer in a two-year program that will rotate her through different technologies. But did you also know she plays the flute? Here’s a closer look at a star from the Class of 2021.
Sydney is grateful. “NJIT has given me an amazing foundation to launch my career and has opened many doorways to success in both my career and personal growth,” she said, further noting that NCE and the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering “afforded me every opportunity and supported me in every endeavor.”
Professor Angelo Perna offered valuable advice. He encouraged Sweet to pursue opportunities regardless of the chances of attaining them. As she put it, “You have nothing to lose except for a little time and you never know what will come out of the experience. Without Dr. Perna’s encouragement, I never would have applied for and won the Goldwater scholarship or a number of other opportunities.”
Flute is her second instrument. She used to play the piano and comes from a musical family: her father is a violinist and associate concertmaster in the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and her mother is a cellist, string ensemble instructor at NJIT and orchestra director at Arts High School in Newark. “I love playing music because it is an important creative outlet and a respite from the demands of studying engineering,” Sweet explained.
She cherishes her friends. Many came through music, classes and clubs, while others arose from her semester at the University of Melbourne in the spring of 2019. “The most meaningful aspect of my semester in Australia is the close lasting friendships I developed,” she said. “I am always excited to catch up with my Aussie friends in our regularly scheduled Zoom calls.”
She’s excited about joining the workforce but isn’t finished with academics. After gaining some on-the-job experience, she plans to pursue a graduate degree. And no doubt, many grad schools will open their doors to her, gladly.
