Though she’s a native of Buffalo, N.Y., Kristen has lived in Charlotte, N.C., for eight years. The current junior at UNC Charlotte studies mechanical engineering with a concentration in energy. UNC is where Kristen first heard of Corning Incorporated for an internship.

“I liked that it is a very multi-national company, so I applied,” said Kristen, who is quite the traveler, already having visited 38 countries so far.

At the Corning plant in Hickory, Kristen spent the summer of 2014 designing a gauge to measure tip and die spacing. She also conducted experiments to increase line speeds, thus increasing production.

Corning’s culture and her coworkers made Kristen’s internship a rewarding one. 

To continue with her traveling theme, she’d like to work in engineering and management in different countries upon graduation.