Grace Eaton—poised, articulate, confident —is a Senior with a mission. A mission that began as Eaton motored through the scenic waterways of the Hudson River Valley with her family in upstate New York. Her mechanical interest in boat engines combined with her concern for the pollution issues facing the Hudson River directed her passage into Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Tech. She discloses her future goals: “I want to be a part of changing how we view energy, how the world uses energy, and how we take care of the environment with the technology we have.”

An Internship in China

Interviewing with large engine companies like Cummins Inc., Eaton is well on her way to bringing her vision to fruition. She shares with her future employers the practical experiences she has gained at Michigan Tech, the most recent being a three-month internship for a metal stamping factory in Dongguan, China. In this position, she communicated the progress of the project to the invested partners—a German company located in China overseeing a Japanese project with headquarters in the US. Eaton rose above the challenge of language and cultural differences, learning much in the process. Describing this profound experience, she notes, “The world seems so much bigger now. Every preconception that I had about Asia was wiped away. I would like to go everywhere. I’d love to see India and Africa, and make some comparisons with my trip to China.”

Eaton is already leading the way as President of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and a member of the ME-EM Student Advisory Committee. She understands the importance of taking an active role in creating the world one desires. Eaton explains, “One thing I have learned about myself since I have been at Michigan Tech is that anything I put my mind to, one way or another, I am going to get it done, and I am going to do it well.” She is exceptionally talented in her studies as well as in her recreation—as a boater, skier, field hockey player, and broom ball extraordinaire.

Following Their Footsteps

Although she is the first in her family to get an engineering degree, Eaton has followed the footsteps of strong, fearless individuals like her mother, father, and especially her grandmother who is 83 years old and about to be ordained. Her grandmother lives in nearby Calumet and is part of the reason that Eaton chose Michigan Tech. Eaton is also considering the Michigan Tech graduate program since she is drawn to the active research taking place in Emissions and Computational Fluid Dynamics. Whatever her course, Grace Eaton will be a preeminent force in the world of Engineering.