For nearly 25 years, PLTW has offered transformative classroom and learning experiences for PreK-12 students. Now, many of those students are professionals in STEM fields. We recently reached out to several PLTW alumni to learn more about their educational and career journeys and find out what advice they have for current PLTW students. If you are a PLTW alumnus interested in sharing your story, we’d love to hear from you here.
Hunter Sheuerman lives in Fort Worth, Texas, and works as an Aeronautical Engineer for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. In high school, he completed the Introduction to Engineering Design course in the PLTW Engineering Program and Principles of Biomedical Science, Human Body Systems, and Medical Interventions course in the PLTW Biomedical Science program.
In what grades did you participate in PLTW?
I participated in PLTW classes from 8th-12th grade.
What were some of your most memorable experiences from PLTW?
Traveling to University of Texas Southwestern to visit research labs and view real organs for my Human Body System course.
What did your journey look like to get to where you are today?
After my internship with Lockheed Martin in 2015-16, I started studying mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. My performance in the internship allowed me to return to Lockheed Martin as an engineering intern each year until I graduated. Upon graduation, Lockheed Martin offered me my dream job fresh out of college. In August 2021, I started pursing my master's in business administration (MBA) at Southern Methodist University while continuing my current engineering role.
What is your current role within your company?
I am a design engineer for the F-35 and F-16 fighter jet platforms.
What are your responsibilities in this position?
I design and support the installation of equipment for various aircraft systems such as avionics, missions, and weapons systems. I investigate and trouble shoot engineering issues with aircrafts on the assembly line and in the field of operation. Recently, I have been designing new portions of the F-16 cockpit.
What did you learn in PLTW that still helps you today?
PLTW gave me the first opportunity to practice my problem-solving skills, which allowed me to tackle challenging problems with some of the world’s most advanced aircrafts.
Do you have any advice for current PLTW students?
Take advantage of the STEM Internship class, it can change your life by opening incredible opportunities.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Without the mentorship and encouragement from Michael Jones, my previous PLTW Biomedical Science teacher, and the current Science Department Chairperson at Arlington Lamar High School, I wouldn’t have applied to the STEM Internship program and would’ve never pursued engineering.