I've been making and releasing music since my sophomore year of high school, and "DIGITAL_CREEP" is my more recent release. "DIGITAL_CREEP" was written during Summer 2020 when most people were stuck inside thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. While trying to avoid outside contact to protect my grandmother and father, I started having sedentary habits that were not good for my mental or physical health. I would sit in the same spot on my computer all day, occasionally leaving for food. Many people live that way even outside the pandemic situation, so I created a song that highlighted the mindset and unhealthy drawbacks of voluntary or forced separation from the real world and human interaction. Mental effects of internet addiction and isolation are very real.

My name is Corbin Jones, and I believe that using my academic gifts as an engineer is the best way I can contribute to the future of society. Since I was a kid, my interest has always been in building things. My favorite toys were legos, my highest grades were always in science and math, and I even made my own toys and shared them with my friends. When my father asked me what summer camp I wanted to go to, I chose to go to a Lego MINDSTORMS robotics camp where I could make my Lego contraptions move. As I grew up, my interest turned into a passion. In middle school, I used my spare time to learn code, and I coded a website from scratch that won third place in the 2015 Georgia State Tech Fair. It wasn’t until high school when I joined the cSTEM program that I learned my coding and building skills could be turned into a career. cSTEM presented challenges that were more oriented towards real-world application as well as more opportunities for me to test my prowess as an engineer/developer in competition. Some of the cSTEM projects I worked on included a windmill prototype, an ecosystem friendly street light, and an Android app. Outside of academic projects, I also competed in VEX Robotics and the Lockheed Martin Codequest (2016-2017). After participating in so many engineering related programs and extracurricular activities, I decided that engineering would be my main career interest. Thus, when I was finally accepted into Mercer University, I chose Engineering as my major, and Computer Engineering as my focus. My time at Mercer University thus far has allowed me the opportunity to expand my skills as well as gain some experience working on more advanced projects. During my freshman year, I participated in some STEM clubs such as Mercer Robotics Club and the National Society of Black Engineers, which highlighted resources and research projects that I could be part of during my time at Mercer. Currently I am a robotics research lab assistant, and along with this position comes more knowledge of professional engineering practices and more research opportunities. My goal as a student is to utilize the resources I’ve been given to explore what could be the ideas that change the future. I’d like to participate in multiple student research projects, as well as projects across the world with Mercer on Mission, and I plan on finding an internship before the end of my Junior year. I will graduate with a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering and hopefully an associate’s degree or better in Electrical Engineering, and by then I’ll be working with some of the companies I look up to, such as Lockheed Martin, Northrupp Grumman, Google, or Cisco. Ten years from now I want to be a leader in the transition to green technology and infrastructure. As we’ve seen over the last decade, maintaining civilization is going to require a switch from old, fossil-fuel running machines such as gas cars to new and revolutionary alternative fuel machines like the Tesla. Currently, even though it has been researched by many companies, I think that green technology could be more effective and compete with fossil fuel machines better than the current models/prototypes we have. Of course, switching from fossil fuel technology will require digital circuitry capable of handling alternative fuels safely and efficiently, which is where my knowledge of computer engineering will be necessary. Out of all the modern engineering challenges there are, I believe ecosystem friendly technology is the most urgent, as world governments have been stating the threats of global warming for years. As one of my childhood science inspirations, Bill Nye once said to our generation in his 2019 graduation speech to Goucher University: “Our world is warming, and the living things around us are changing and dying at an unprecedented rate. So you are going to have to make big changes in the way you and your kids live.” My passion for engineering has been developed through constant participation in engineering events, activities, and projects, and now I would like to turn my passion into a career. By continuing my studies and utilizing the many opportunities I am offered through pursuing higher education at Mercer University, I will gain the skillset necessary to become part of the future that scientists like Bill Nye envisioned. Hopefully this scholarship will help me along this journey.

I believe that using my academic gifts as an engineer is the best way I can contribute to the future of society. Since I was a kid, my interest has always been in building things. My favorite toys were legos, my highest grades were always in science and math, and I even made my own toys and shared them with my friends. When my father asked me what summer camp I wanted to go to, I chose to go to a Lego MINDSTORMS robotics camp where I could make my Lego contraptions move. As I grew up, my interest turned into a passion. In middle school, I used my spare time to learn code, and I coded a website from scratch that won third place in the 2015 Georgia State Tech Fair. It wasn’t until high school when I joined the cSTEM program that I learned my coding and building skills could be turned into a career. cSTEM presented challenges that were more oriented towards real-world application as well as more opportunities for me to test my prowess as an engineer/developer in competition. Some of the cSTEM projects I worked on included a windmill prototype, an ecosystem friendly street light, and an Android app. Outside of academic projects, I also competed in VEX Robotics and the Lockheed Martin Codequest (2016-2017). After participating in so many engineering related programs and extracurricular activities, I decided that engineering would be my main career interest. Thus, when I was finally accepted into Mercer University, I chose Engineering as my major, and Computer Engineering as my focus. My time at Mercer University thus far has allowed me the opportunity to expand my skills as well as gain some experience working on more advanced projects. During my freshman year, I participated in some STEM clubs such as Mercer Robotics Club and the National Society of Black Engineers, which highlighted resources and research projects that I could be part of during my time at Mercer. Currently I am a robotics research lab assistant, and along with this position comes more knowledge of professional engineering practices and more research opportunities. My goal as a student is to utilize the resources I’ve been given to explore what could be the ideas that change the future. I’d like to participate in multiple student research projects, as well as projects across the world with Mercer on Mission, and I plan on finding an internship before the end of my Junior year. I will graduate with a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering and hopefully an associate’s degree or better in Electrical Engineering, and by then I’ll be working with some of the companies I look up to, such as Lockheed Martin, Northrupp Grumman, Google, or Cisco. Ten years from now I want to be a leader in the transition to green technology and infrastructure. As we’ve seen over the last decade, maintaining civilization is going to require a switch from old, fossil-fuel running machines such as gas cars to new and revolutionary alternative fuel machines like the Tesla. Currently, even though it has been researched by many companies, I think that green technology could be more effective and compete with fossil fuel machines better than the current models/prototypes we have. Of course, switching from fossil fuel technology will require digital circuitry capable of handling alternative fuels safely and efficiently, which is where my knowledge of computer engineering will be necessary. Out of all the modern engineering challenges there are, I believe ecosystem friendly technology is the most urgent, as world governments have been stating the threats of global warming for years. As one of my childhood science inspirations, Bill Nye once said to our generation in his 2019 graduation speech to Goucher University: “Our world is warming, and the living things around us are changing and dying at an unprecedented rate. So you are going to have to make big changes in the way you and your kids live.” My passion for engineering has been developed through constant participation in engineering events, activities, and projects, and now I would like to turn my passion into a career. By continuing my studies and utilizing the many opportunities I am offered through pursuing higher education at Mercer University, I will gain the skillset necessary to become part of the future that scientists like Bill Nye envisioned. Hopefully this scholarship will help me along this journey.

Recently, as part of the Mercer School of Engineering curriculum, I, along with a few of my engineering classmates, was asked to design a car out of K'nex pieces. The purpose of this project was to demonstrate the engineering project process that engineers are required to undergo in the workplace. Its objective was to build a K’nex Car that meets the requirements of the competition assigned to each group. Our assigned competition was the “Hill Climber", which required us to make a car that could climb hills faster than the other teams' cars. Our first step to starting the K’nex Car was to write a proposal. Within our proposal, we identified our competition rules, our specifications for the car, and our timeline for completing the project. We determined the feasibility criteria and developed preliminary merit criteria, merit weights, and merit curves. The merit criteria for our car were as follows: weight, torque, speed, symmetry, and distribution of weight. Torque was weighted the highest because torque is an essential component to a vehicle that is tasked with climbing a hill. We then developed preliminary design concepts using CAD. For each of our models, the ratio between torque and speed was key. While torque was the most important factor in each design, speed was also important. If the vehicle has no speed it would be eliminated as the last car in its heat. For each design concept, we identified and explained why it was a valuable model and could benefit us in the competition. Once our proposal was approved, we performed a feasibility and merit analysis for each vehicle. Each model easily met the feasibility criteria outlined in 2.1 of this document. The merit analysis produced an overall merit score for each car. Model 1 received a score of 6.7 out of 10, Model 2 received a score of 5.5 out of 10, and Model 3 received a score of 5.8 out of 10. It is logical to recommend Model 1 because it fits our merit criteria the best. Our last step then was to develop a testing plan for our vehicle. Since the competition would be in rounds, with the height at the end of the incline increasing by 6 inches every round, we decided to test our design using the maximum possible incline the competition had to offer (36 inches). We also ran tests for durability and consistency, since the hill-climbing races would be happening consecutively with little time for maintenance in between. After developing a testing plan and securing the resources necessary to test our car prototype, we ran multiple tests which resulted in at least three modifications in design before we were satisfied with the final product. After equipping the vehicle with a lower gear ratio, changing the drive to rear wheel, adding some bracing, and reducing its size, our vehicle was climbing a 36 inch high incline in about 14 seconds, compared to our original prototype which took about 17 seconds. With this prototype, we decided we were ready to compete. Our vehicle beat most of our classmates' fairly easily and ended up in second place. The first place vehicle was a much lighter vehicle with front-wheel drive. In the end, I believe that if we made a more symmetrical prototype with less mass we may have been able to obtain first place in the competition. Link to the final project presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1x-8fev3GJzDEtWVcR2Rq6LHmlGAMhJTSG-pZd-BWN7I/edit?usp=sharing

My name is Corbin Jones, and I believe that using my academic gifts as an engineer is the best way I can contribute to the future of society. Since I was a kid, my interest has always been in building things. My favorite toys were legos, my highest grades were always in science and math, and I even made my own toys and shared them with my friends. When my father asked me what summer camp I wanted to go to, I chose to go to a Lego MINDSTORMS robotics camp where I could make my Lego contraptions move. As I grew up, my interest turned into a passion. In middle school, I used my spare time to learn code, and I coded a website from scratch that won third place in the 2015 Georgia State Tech Fair. It wasn’t until high school when I joined the cSTEM program that I learned my coding and building skills could be turned into a career. cSTEM presented challenges that were more oriented towards real-world application as well as more opportunities for me to test my prowess as an engineer/developer in competition. Some of the cSTEM projects I worked on included a windmill prototype, an ecosystem friendly street light, and an Android app. Outside of academic projects, I also competed in VEX Robotics and the Lockheed Martin Codequest (2016-2017). After participating in so many engineering related programs and extracurricular activities, I decided that engineering would be my main career interest. Thus, when I was finally accepted into Mercer University, I chose Engineering as my major, and Computer Engineering as my focus. My time at Mercer University thus far has allowed me the opportunity to expand my skills as well as gain some experience working on more advanced projects. During my freshman year, I participated in some STEM clubs such as Mercer Robotics Club and the National Society of Black Engineers, which highlighted resources and research projects that I could be part of during my time at Mercer. Currently I am a robotics research lab assistant, and along with this position comes more knowledge of professional engineering practices and more research opportunities. My goal as a student is to utilize the resources I’ve been given to explore what could be the ideas that change the future. I’d like to participate in multiple student research projects, as well as projects across the world with Mercer on Mission, and I plan on finding an internship before the end of my Junior year. I will graduate with a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering and hopefully an associate’s degree or better in Electrical Engineering, and by then I’ll be working with some of the companies I look up to, such as Lockheed Martin, Northrupp Grumman, Google, or Cisco. Ten years from now I want to be a leader in the transition to green technology and infrastructure. As we’ve seen over the last decade, maintaining civilization is going to require a switch from old, fossil-fuel running machines such as gas cars to new and revolutionary alternative fuel machines like the Tesla. Currently, even though it has been researched by many companies, I think that green technology could be more effective and compete with fossil fuel machines better than the current models/prototypes we have. Of course, switching from fossil fuel technology will require digital circuitry capable of handling alternative fuels safely and efficiently, which is where my knowledge of computer engineering will be necessary. Out of all the modern engineering challenges there are, I believe ecosystem friendly technology is the most urgent, as world governments have been stating the threats of global warming for years. As one of my childhood science inspirations, Bill Nye once said to our generation in his 2019 graduation speech to Goucher University: “Our world is warming, and the living things around us are changing and dying at an unprecedented rate. So you are going to have to make big changes in the way you and your kids live.” My passion for engineering has been developed through constant participation in engineering events, activities, and projects, and now I would like to turn my passion into a career. By continuing my studies and utilizing the many opportunities I am offered through pursuing higher education at Mercer University, I will gain the skillset necessary to become part of the future that scientists like Bill Nye envisioned. Hopefully this scholarship will help me along this journey.