Hi there!  My name is Amy Lebanoff, and I am a second-year Mechanical Engineering major with a minor in Bioengineering.  I graduated from Mandarin High School in Jacksonville, FL.  Go Mustangs!  This is where my love for STEM was fostered.  I joined a robotics team and decided to pursue a career in biomedical engineering.

My favorite class so far is my Service Abroad class in which I put my engineering education to use.  My group had the chance to travel to Nicaragua where I planned and implemented the construction of park benches for a rural community.  This let me solve real-world problems with the knowledge I had gained.  In addition, I had the chance to learn about and experience a new country and culture.

Becoming a STEM Ambassador is a way for me to pass on the guidance I was given.  It can be stressful and confusing trying to figure out what you want to do before you’re even twenty years old.  Through talking with students and providing information about my experience, I hope to ease this process and increase interest in STEM.

To students considering a STEM education and career, I would say do it!  It will certainly be a challenge but one which is worthwhile.  For those who are still unsure about what you want to study and/or pursue, that is okay too.  Be open, and allow yourself to try new things while you search for your passion.

Outside of school, I enjoy photography, cycling, watching soccer, and spending time with friends.