Hello! My name is Michael Garin, I am a freshman mechanical engineering student in the David C. Frederick Honors College. Before making the amazing choice of going to the University of Pittsburgh I lived 45 minutes south in Washington, PA. I have had a great time at Pitt so far, I joined my professional engineering fraternity, Theta Tau, which has allowed me to meet a ton of cool and interesting people.

Before I went to Pitt I was on a high school robotics team that competed regionally every year, we made it to the world championship my last year on the team. Outside of school, I work as a hockey official, it has been a passion of mine since I was 12. This year I started refereeing at a collegiate level, something that has been a goal of mine for a long time .

I am excited to travel to South Korea, as visiting Asia has always been a dream of mine. This trip will give us the opportunity to see many examples of smart systems in action, which makes the experience even more meaningful. It is especially exciting that we will get to explore these innovations in a country as technologically advanced as South Korea. As a mechanical engineering student, I am interested in seeing how these systems are implemented and designed. I also think this experience will help me grow by giving me a broader perspective on engineering, innovation, and global industry. Beyond the academic and professional side of the trip, I am excited to experience South Korea’s food and culture and to step outside of my comfort zone by exploring a completely new place.