Earlier this summer, Indiana Tech MBA student and 2023 graduate, Lucca Motta, got to combine two of his great passions—soccer and journalism—into one fulfilling internship. Motta was a broadcast media intern for the Fort Wayne Football Club of USL League Two, a semi-professional developmental soccer league that fields teams across the United States and Canada.
In this position, Motta provided in-game color commentary and conducted pre- and post-game interviews for live-streamed games on Fort Wayne FC’s YouTube channel (@FortWayneFCTV).
“It was a perfect fit for me. There I could mix soccer, journalism, broadcasting, reporting, writing, editing and everything else that is inserted in the sports broadcasting world,” he said. “I enjoyed every part of it, from the preparation for the games to the post-production.”
Motta, a Rio de Janeiro, Brazil native, has been a member of Indiana Tech’s men’s soccer team since 2020 and will wrap up his final season with the Warriors this fall while he pursues an MBA in Business Analytics. In May, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a concentration in sports media.
“During my time at Indiana Tech, I’ve been able to learn from amazing professors such as Alicia Wireman, Matt Leach and Justin Cohn—excellent professionals who are able to help students to grow, improve and achieve their goals,” Motta said. “Every theory, technical skill and concept that I learned at Tech made me feel completely prepared for this time with Fort Wayne FC.”
Still, Motta had little broadcasting experience when he began the internship, which was a little nerve-wracking.
“The small margin that live broadcasting has for mistakes made me feel butterflies on my stomach on the first day, but the pleasure I had doing it and the support I had from the broadcast team made me feel more confident and comfortable game after game,” he said.
Making use of the support and suggestions he received from experienced members of the broadcast team, it didn’t take Motta long to become comfortable as a broadcaster and embrace the role.
“What surprised me the most was the great feedback we received from fans. From time to time, someone would come by and give us feedback about the games they had to watch online because they could not attend in person. I was not expecting that, and it was really nice when someone came to say something positive about our job.”
Going into the internship, Motta felt strongly about pursuing a career in broadcasting. Now he knows this is a path he wants to stay on.
“This experience with Fort Wayne FC solidified it 100 percent,” he said. “The team, staff and fans made me feel so comfortable, and after this first challenge, I feel even more excited for the challenges that will come next in my career. My goal is to keep growing as a professional and make a career in the sports industry.”
Industry tours/trips show students what is possible
Real-world learning opportunities like these help our students become career-ready graduates.
In April, communication students Deana Glenn and Riley Horvath traveled with Dr. Alicia Wireman, professor of communication, to the Society of Professional Journalists Conference and the Museum of Broadcast Communications, in Chicago.
Early in May, a group of Indiana Tech engineering students got a behind-the-scenes look at the motorsports industry with a tour that included kissing the bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
You can learn more about why trips like these are important to students.
Pairing students with relevant internships helps create career-ready graduates
At Indiana Tech, we strive to develop graduates who are career-ready—confident in their knowledge base, equipped with a diversified skill set and relevant experience, and able to add immediate value to any organization. One way we accomplish this is by stressing to our students the value of internships and pairing them with real-world, hands-on learning opportunities that put them in an advantageous position when it’s time to enter the job market.
For decades, it has been a winning formula.
Alexandra Forsythe (Electrical Engineering, 2022) earned several impressive internships during her college career at Indiana Tech, including one at NASA’s Langley Research Center. Alexandra is now a research engineer for Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories.
Israel Vaides (Sport Management, 2022) interned as a video producer/editor and social media content assistant with the Fort Wayne Komets hockey team while at Indiana Tech. He is now a producer of video content with the National Football League’s Tennessee Titans.
The list of success stories goes on and on, much like the list of outstanding organizations where Indiana Tech students have interned. It includes American Electric Power, Apple, BAE Systems, Brotherhood Mutual Insurance, Fort Wayne Football Club, Fort Wayne Metals, General Motors, Indiana Physical Therapy, Lincoln Financial, Los Alamos National Lab, Parkview Health, Raytheon, Sweetwater, Vera Bradley, WaterFurnace International, Zimmer Biomet. In addition, several municipalities across the country have provided internships for our students, giving them experience in various fields that include law enforcement, city government and planning, and engineering.
This summer, Indiana Tech biology major Nina Penny will be taking advantage of an outstanding internship opportunity. Nina is participating in Northwestern University CURE, a prestigious cancer-focused undergraduate research experience at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center in Chicago.
Penny, who was one of 12 students selected from a field of over 1,000, is spending eight weeks working alongside top cancer researchers in state-of-the-art laboratories and helping advance novel research projects in cell and molecular biology, cancer immunology and other focus areas.
“I am very honored to receive this opportunity. It gives me the chance to apply the skills I have learned throughout these past three years to cancer research,” said the Chicago native, who will graduate in 2024. “My experience at Indiana Tech has greatly prepared me for this opportunity; the countless labs and phenomenal professors have trained me to not only work well in a group of researchers, but to also think independently to solve research questions.”
While in the program, Nina will be working in the lab of Dr. Karla Satchell, who leads the Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases at Northwestern University’s Feinberg Medical School. Dr. Satchell’s lab focuses on diseases caused by Vibrio bacteria and the cell biology applications of bacterial toxins. Nina will work with a group of postdoctoral students to document the effects of the pathogen on infected mice.
“I want to gain more skills involving research so I can further prepare for a career in veterinary medicine, especially since I am not quite sure what field of veterinary medicine I want to pursue,” Nina said. “Additionally, this program provides me the chance to grow as a woman in science in a lab that is dedicated to improving society through infectious disease and cancer research.”
After graduating, Nina plans on attending veterinary school. She is also interested in medical research, surgery and emergency medicine.
“Nina’s success in obtaining this incredible opportunity is a testament to her focused determination,” said Dr. Julie Good, director of Indiana Tech’s biology program. “Her work at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine this summer will open doors not only into the research of Dr. Karla Satchell but also into the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and the School of Medicine. I am thrilled for all that she will bring back to Tech in the fall!”
As of press time, here are other summer internships Indiana Tech students are participating in:
- Kuldeep Aulakh, College of Business: Hoosier Petroleum Corp
- Samuel Kollar, College of Business: Star Financial Bank
- Allison Hyatt: College of Arts and Sciences,: New Leaf Recreation
- Nicole Gonzalez-Urena, College of Business: Voss Automotive
- Tobias Machourek, Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences: Valbruna Slater Stainless Inc
- Trevor Hummer, Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences: NHA
- Kartikeya Katti, Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences: AAA Virginia Consulting Inc
- Juan Avellaneda, Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences: Valbruna Slater Stainless Inc
- Nikita Ajay, College of Business: Link Star Inc
- Tariq Muhamma Ammar, College of Business: Comfort Inn and Suites
- Thaina Amorim Carvalho, College of Arts and Sciences: Fill-Rite Company
- Sydney Kutzke, College of Arts and Sciences: Midland Police Department
- Lucas Rodrigues Braga, Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences: Barton Coe Vilamaa
- Victoria Goedland, Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences: Praxair Surface Technologies
- Victor Inwang, College of Business: Dyno Nobel
- Lucca Motta, College of Business: Fort Wayne Football Club
- Jerry Walker, Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences: Steel Dynamics
Indiana Tech acquires second EOS additive manufacturing system
Indiana Tech has acquired its second EOS industrial 3D printer, the FORMIGA P 110 Velocis, as part of its Zollner Engineering Center expansion and renovation for the Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences program. The new polymer Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D printer complements Indiana Tech’s prior investment of its EOS M 290 Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) metal 3D printer in September 2022, as a tool for its biomedical and advanced manufacturing programming and new additive manufacturing certificate.
Indiana Tech began acquiring additive manufacturing (AM) technology as part of its large $21.5 million expansion and renovation of the Zollner Engineering Center, increasing educational access to state-of-the-art engineering training and equipment within the university’s Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences programs. The expansion is set to be complete in October, nearly doubling the size from its previous structure.
Indiana Tech plans to provide a unique advantage to engineering students with the purchase of EOS’ technology, being one of the only universities in Indiana to provide access to both polymer and metal AM technology. As the Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences expands, Indiana Tech plans to increase AM educational offerings and programming for incoming students.
“3D printing will have a massive impact on advanced manufacturing by decentralizing production, improving product customization and resource efficiency, and reducing complexity,” said Dr. Ying Shang, dean of the Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences at Indiana Tech. “As northeast Indiana grows its advanced manufacturing potential, the region’s workforce will need new knowledge and skill sets in additive manufacturing. With the two new additions of innovative EOS 3D printers and additional 3D printers for carbon fiber and other composite materials, Indiana Tech will become the leading institution in the nation for developing new talent in additive manufacturing for automotive, medical device, aeronautical applications and more.”
The purchase of the EOS M 290 and FORMIGA P 110 Velocis systems were made possible, in part, by support from a private alumni donor and the university’s grant awards, specifically the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) $1.5 million grant to support workforce training efforts. The EDA funding is a part of the American Rescue Plan Economic Adjustment Assistance program, expected to create 700 jobs, and retain 100 as a direct result of purchasing technical equipment, such as EOS AM systems.
“As additive manufacturing begins to play a larger role in U.S. manufacturing, it is crucial we prepare the next generation of STEM for the shift in engineer training,” said Greg Hayes, SVP of applied technology at EOS North America. “Amid ongoing AM adoption and government investment into the technology, we feel confident that use of our printers will give Indiana Tech students the tools and competitive advantage needed to bolster the workforce and push the boundaries of what we can accomplish with industrial 3D printing.”
Unser Jr. tours Talwar
Early in July, two-time Indianapolis 500 champion (1992 and 1994) Al Unser Jr. toured Indiana Tech’s Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences. Unser Jr. met with faculty to talk about potential collaborations to serve students and the motorsports industry. Unser Jr. will be back on campus for a speaking engagement early in 2024 as a guest of the College of Business.
Biology students to benefit from Dr. Good’s workshop work
In June, biology professor Dr. Julie Good attended a bioinformatics workshop at Mount Desert Island Biological Labs in Bar Harbor Maine, where she learned Bash command line coding to sequence genomes from isolate environmental DNA and then process and analyze the 5-10 megabase bacterial sequences.
Dr. Good will implement what she has learned in her Bioinformatics class, a required course for biology and forensic science majors. In addition, she will implement some new approaches to sequence analysis in First Year General Biology I and II labs and the Advanced Microbiology lab.
“Students in all of these lab courses will use sequence data from organisms that they have isolated to scrutinize online databases for homology, identity or novelty compared to known sequences. These skills are truly cutting edge at the forefront of molecular analyses in microbiology and disease discovery,” she said.
Professor Joyner ends 33-year run at Tech
In May, physics professor Dr. Rex Joyner retired from Indiana Tech after 33 years of service to the university. Over the years, Joyner became a student-favorite at Tech because of his project-based approach to learning and his love of physics and robotics.
In addition, Joyner is the faculty advisor for Indiana Tech’s Boy Scouts of America Explorer Post 2829, which consistently delivers impressive showings at the National Robotics Challenge in Marion, Ohio. Since being founded in 1995, the post has won nearly 200 awards at the Challenge, including 54 gold awards and 11 Honda Innovation Award nominations.
“Although I was not able to work with Rex very long, I have much respect for his dedication for student hands-on learning in physics classes and high school outreach activities through Explorer Post 2829,” said Dr. Ying Shang, dean of Indiana Tech’s Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences. “Rex was able to connect with our so many students over the years, and he was dedicated to helping them learn and develop as professionals. He will be greatly missed at our university this fall.”
Assistant professor of accounting, Gail Amstutz, retires
Popular professor of accounting, Gail Amstutz, retired at the end of the 2022-23 academic year after an eight-year association with the university.
Before joining the classroom, Gail began her career as an accountant for GTE and then as the controller for Summit Reinsurance Services. During her time as a faculty member for Indiana Tech’s College of Business, she taught and helped to develop courses in Managerial Accounting, Individual and Corporate Income Tax and Advanced Accounting I and II.
Over the years, students often shared their appreciation for her fun projects in class, her teaching style, her approachability and her kindness. One of her accounting students summed it up best by sharing, “Professor Amstutz is a wonderful person who cares about her students and their success. She did a fantastic job encouraging everyone to do their best and making sure that no one was left in the dark.”
Because the work experience she acquired before going into teaching, Professor Amstutz, commonly brought real-life examples into the classroom to help demonstrate the concepts being taught. In 2019, her effective approach in the classroom was rewarded as she won the Leepoxy Award for Teaching Innovation.
“Gail was a kind and caring colleague, and I know I speak for other College of Business faculty that she will be greatly missed at Indiana Tech,” said Dr. Angie Fincannon, dean of the College of Business.
Three Warriors pass the SHRM-CP exam
Earlier this year, Indiana Tech students Nathan Critchfield, Jenna Gibson and Amaris Lowery all passed the Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) examination, a competency-based certification exam administered by SHRM. SHRM is considered the industry leader in HR professional development and is the world’s largest HR membership organization. Since 1989, more than 70 Indiana Tech students have passed the SHRM certification exam.
SME recognizes Indiana Tech’s student chapter
For a second straight year, Indiana Tech’s chapter of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) has been awarded Silver Chapter Status. SME is an association of professionals, educators and students committed to promoting and supporting the manufacturing industry.
To attain this status, chapters must show acumen in professional development, communications, advancement of manufacturing and merit. Indiana Tech’s chapter earned a stipend from SME to continue progressing in these areas.
