For Senior Nolan Hines choosing UT Permian Basin was a no-brainer.
“I looked at several schools in the state but UTPB offered swimming, engineering and very competitive tuition prices.”
Nolan has taken full advantage of his time at UTPB. Spending four years on the Men’s Swimming and Diving team and entering into the engineering program.
“Being a student athlete really gave me a family to be a part of and to get involved with the community”
Most students in college aren’t sure what path to take but that wasn’t the case for Nolan. He knew early on, what the future would hold.
“When I was 16 I overhauled my dad’s old truck. I took out the engine, stripped it down, re-boarded all of the cylinders and put it back together and that’s the truck I drive today. That whole process really opened my eyes. I wanted to know how it all worked. That was my defining moment when I knew I wanted to be an engineer.”
That moment is part of what brought Nolan to the Permian Basin. He’s getting to spend his last semester as a Falcon in the brand new Engineering Building. It’s an opportunity Nolan said he’s taking full advantage of.
“When I heard the announcement for the building I was so excited. I am so grateful for this semester that I get to spend in it because it just shows how UTPB is growing and engineering is just flourishing in this part of the state.”
More importantly than the new, shiny building Nolan is passionate about UTPB and the quality education he has received.
“I think every one of my professors knows me by my first name. I can go and have conversations with any of them whether it’s about school or not. I’ve developed really good relationships with these professors. I call them friends and I plan on keeping in touch with them after I graduate. I want to give back to the University in the future as well.”
Nolan said he feels ready to enter the workforce with his University of Texas Permian Basin Mechanical Engineering degree in hand. And hopefully, one day down the line, he will land his dream job: owning his own company in the energy industry.
“I feel really Confident coming out of UTPB as an engineer. One of the things that was highlighted recently was the 100% pass rate on the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. That’s incredible! All of the students that took the exam, I know them. I’m no different from them. I’m getting the same curriculum and learning from the same professors. That makes me feel confident to go take that exam, enter into the workforce and become an actual engineer.”