Winston “Greg” Smiddy: Wiscasset junior majoring in mechanical engineering

Why UMaine? What made you realize this was the place for you?
Like many, although we’re forced to make a decision, I had no idea what to do when I finished high school. I was offered a scholarship at Johnson & Wales in Denver to pursue culinary arts, but it turns out that cooking for a living just wasn’t a dedication I was willing to make yet. I had to look for something else that I enjoyed — something that I would wake up in the morning excited to do, but also challenged me.

Aircraft are something that I’ve always had great appreciation for, and I decided that I wanted to learn how they work and how to design them. So aerospace engineering, a very challenging and rewarding career, was the obvious choice. As far as engineering schools in Maine, the University of Maine is the place to be. I can honestly say it was that simple for me.

Cooking will always be a favorite hobby of mine, though.

How would you describe the academic atmosphere at UMaine?
Challenging and rewarding.

Who are your mentors and role models?
I’ve always looked up to my grandfather, who’s always done everything he can to involve me in his love for aviation. I can easily trace the roots of my passion for flying to my time with him. I have so many sweet memories of playing co-pilot to his pilot from a young age, when he would take me up on the weekends just because he wanted to. He and my grandmother are two of the most giving people I know, and have always been there for me when I needed them the most. I wouldn’t be here, at UMaine, without their help.

David Stapp, CEO and CTO of Peregrine Turbine Technologies, took me under his wing when I was only in my first semester of engineering, nearly two-and-a-half years ago. The opportunities and real-world engineering experience that he has afforded me are invaluable, and I consider myself lucky to be a part of such a groundbreaking, intense but collected, maverick of a team.

Professor Alex Friess has been with me since my first day of school. I started my undergraduate career with UMaine at the Brunswick Engineering Program, where Alex was both the director and one of two primary instructors. He is an excellent instructor and has always had career advice for me when I needed it. Although he is no longer my professor, we still share a common interest in all things aerospace, and he will be an integral resource to the new American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Student Branch here at UMaine.

What do you hope to do after graduation and how has UMaine helped you reach those goals?
Decisions, decisions. Like most, I have big dreams for the things I want to do, and for now I have a few ideas for where to start. My primary option is to continue my work at Peregrine Turbine Technologies when I graduate, where I have gained a significant amount of experience already. Of course, the knowledge that I’ve acquired at the University of Maine is just as important as my experience. Developing and formalizing my understanding of engineering topics here is a fantastic opportunity, and the college and professors do a great job at cultivating an environment that perpetuates it.

What do you do outside of class?
Free time has been quite tight lately, but when I get a free moment, I enjoy being with my family, developing aircraft flight models for consumer flight simulations and learning about obscure topics.

Favorite place off campus?
Besides the obvious answer of “home,” the Wiscasset Airport (or KIWI, if you’re a pilot) in my hometown is a place where I’ve spent a large fraction of my life, and carries significant nostalgic weight for me. I have flown into, out of and around KIWI more times than I can count. I also worked there as a lineman, and the cherry on top is that Peregrine Turbine Technologies is located there.

What difference has UMaine made in your life?
The University of Maine is, first off, a beautiful school. The beauty isn’t just an embellishment to the degrees and programs offered here — it makes a huge difference in student morale, and I’m no exception. My time at the Brunswick Engineering Program was convenient and even exceptional, but I’m glad and proud to be here on campus now. When it’s all said and done, I know that prospective employers look upon a degree from UMaine with respect and preference, and many would say that’s what matters most when my time here comes to an end.

What advice do you have for incoming students?
Everything in moderation. Don’t break yourself. Personal organization and balance are the keys to not only staying on top of your courses and making the most of the education that’s being paid for, but also the keys to making sure you have time set aside for yourself to maintain your personal identity and sanity. It took me a long time to find that balance, and I would be lying if I told you that I didn’t still have a hard time with it.