Mikhail Pivtoraiko, Computer Engineering (2003)

Mikhail Pivtoraiko immigrated to the United States from the Ukraine in 1995 and came to PSU from David Douglas High School. At PSU, he completed two undergraduate majors, computer engineering and physics, and a minor in French. He graduated in June 2003.

Mikhail, who in his spare time plays piano and guitar, says the best thing about PSU is the "flexibility I have had to shape my own course of study and the way faculty have helped me every step of the way."

He also appreciates the depth and opportunities created by the broader PSU experience. "I truly enjoyed being part of the Honors College. It was a great experience and gave me invaluable academic opportunities in humanities, something to which engineering students aren't typically exposed very much."

Two experiences stand out for Mikhail as he reflects upon his experience at PSU.

He served as the President of PSU's Robotics and Automation Society, where he applied what he learned in class directly to "really fun and innovative projects."

And, Mikhail made ample use of his PSU education to land two internships. "The work I did at Intel and the Goddard Space Flight Center were real eye-openers. I really saw how my classes prepared me for professional work."