Just Say Hello

Just saying hello to someone can make all the difference in the college experience. That's the message Lucas McCarty wants to pass on to the next generation of Yellow Jackets as he graduates with a master's degree in mechanical engineering.

The St. Louis, Missouri, native didn't know anyone on campus when he arrived as an undergraduate, but he knew that an introduction - be it in a lecture hall or at a campus event - could be the potential bridge between himself and a community ready to exchange new ideas and collaborate.

"Introduce yourself to the strangers you meet, because you never know. In a month, that stranger could be a teammate, and then a friend, and the next thing you know, you're shattering records and reshaping industries," he said. "I couldn't imagine my college experience without the people I've met this way."

Following his own advice, McCarty connected with a group that would create a new BattleBots team. That team, Anxieti, traveled the country and competed at three National Havoc Robot League world championships, becoming the first Tech team to qualify for the competition. As an undergraduate, he also participated in HyTech Racing, Tech's student-run organization dedicated to furthering students' engineering experience through the development of Formula SAE electric vehicles.

Added to that, McCarty was a member of the Georgia Tech German Club for four years and served as the organization's president, establishing annual traditions like visits to local German restaurants and road trips to the German-themed town of Helen, Georgia.

Tech's Collaborative Edge

McCarty says Tech's collaborative environment sets it apart from other institutions - both in terms of extracurricular and classroom activities.

"Everything I've achieved in my time at Tech would've been impossible without the strong friendships and collaboration that we have here. While we are at a competitive school, students don't feel the need to push each other down. Instead, they kind of work together to raise everybody up, and that's something everyone can benefit from," he said.

Helping others was at the root of McCarty's decision to come to Tech. His brother, Joshua, is wheelchair-bound due to cerebral palsy. Moved by his brother's situation - since the second grade - McCarty knew he wanted to become a mechanical engineer to make a difference.

"I've seen firsthand the impact core assistive technologies have on his life. His electric wheelchair gives him independence. We have a van with a ramp inside that allows us to transport the wheelchair. Without these things, every day would look completely different. Seeing the impact that engineering can have on somebody's life has pushed me to see what I can create, and my brother's perseverance and determination inspire me every day. He deals with unique challenges but never stops bringing light to others' lives," he said.

McCarty applied and was accepted to many of the top 10 U.S. News & World Report engineering programs. But he says it was the faculty, curriculum, and student resources, like the campus makerspaces and student organization offerings, that set Tech apart.

"Oftentimes in a lecture, there's a topic that a professor is teaching that's a mind-blowing, highly specialized topic, and they'll casually mention that they invented this 20 years ago. I think that's one of the special things about Tech. We have an unmatched innovative culture here, and there are always breakthroughs happening at this place where we get to work and spend our days," he said.

Since his second year as an undergraduate, McCarty has interned at Siemens. After Commencement, he will be a full-time engineer in their research and development department, working on new products for distributed energy resource management to improve grid reliability and the incorporation of renewable energy sources into homes and buildings.

McCarty starts his full-time role the Monday after Commencement, but in the fall, he'll take a delayed celebratory trip to Greece and Italy.