MOMENTUM - April 2023 - 4

BENEFITS U
SAE BOOK STIPEND WINNER: JACOB LESA
JACOB LESA IS A SENIOR AT BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY STUDYING
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING. HE IS ONE OF THREE WINNERS OF THE FALL 2022
SAE STUDENT TEXTBOOK STIPEND. BELOW IS THE ESSAY HE WROTE AS
REQUIRED FOR THE BOOK STIPEND.
AS PRESIDENT OF MY UNIVERSITY'S SAE CHAPTER, I HAVE been highly
engaged with SAE International. The majority of my involvement has been with
the Baja SAE team. I have volunteered
with this team for three years, and as a
senior I am now a suspension team lead.
This opportunity and involvement has
allowed me to learn skills outside of the
classroom that I otherwise would have
been unable to learn. Some of these
technical skills include the application of
suspension geometry, steering geometry,
vehicle dynamics, and teamwork. SAE
international has also aided in my
development of many leadership and
teamwork skills.
As mentioned, the main technical
knowledge and skills that I have gained
have been in the areas of suspension,
steering, and the application of various
mechanical laws to a vehicle system. These things have already been valuable in
my contribution to the mobility industry in my current role as an engineer at
Vanderhall Motorworks. I have designed, had manufactured, and installed a
suspension knuckle for a prototype vehicle. I was much more capable as I worked
on the design of this component because of my familiarity with concepts that I
had learned while working on and competing with the Baja SAE vehicle.
As chapter president, I work to communicate with about 115 members about
Jacob Lesa of Brigham Young University
different events and opportunities that we host. I also work intimately with 9
other seniors on the Baja SAE team. As a team lead, I have learned to work well
with others, accept and learn from diverse ideas, and effectively organize and
communicate my own ideas. I have seen firsthand the power and efficiency that
an organized and united team can generate, and know that as I move into an
engineering role in the mobility industry that I will make an excellent team player
in whatever capacity I am in.
Being involved with SAE has also benefited me in a plethora of ways because
of my choice to participate in the SAE Mentor Program. I have been meeting with
a pair of mentors for just over a month now, and our interactions have been
extremely valuable. I recently had a job interview, and had one of my mentors
look over my resume. We discussed various items on it, and I adjusted it based
on some feedback from him. My application and interview for this position went
very well, and I know that my discussions with my mentor contributed to my
success. The SAE mentor program has also helped me learn to ask for, accept,
and internalize feedback from leaders and peers. As I move from being a student
to being a full-time employee, I am confident in my skills to work well with
leaders in a professional setting, schedule and attend meetings, and create
mutually beneficial relationships with those who have valuable experiences.
Working with these two mentors has not only helped me bettering myself as a
candidate and pursuing a career in the mobility industry, but they have also
helped me learn soft skills such as communication and professionalism that will
4 April 2023
Spring 2023 Student
Member Textbook Stipend
College can be a financial burden, with
tuition, room and board, everyday
expenses, and textbooks. The SAE
Membership Team has created an SAE
Student Textbook Stipend in the amount
of $1,000 USD to help you with the cost
of textbooks. SAE wants to invest in your
academic career ... and beyond, to your
professional career. In return, we want to
hear how your membership and your
involvement in SAE has helped you to
reach your academic and professional
goals so far.
Your essay (between 500-750 words)
will be judged on the following criteria:
* ORGANIZATION & DEVELOPMENT
OF IDEAS
* QUALITY OF SAE INVOLVEMENT
* DIVERSITY OF SAE INVOLVEMENT
AND ACTIVITIES
The application window is now open
and will close May 31, 2023. The first 100
eligible applicants will be considered by
the SAE Textbook Stipend Committee.
Three students will be awarded the
textbook stipend of $1,000 USD in June
2023. More information here.
help me become a successful and
contributing employee.
In summary, my involvement with SAE
international as a local chapter president, as
team lead on the Brigham Young University
Baja SAE team, and as a participant in and
beneficiary of the mentor program has
helped sculpt me into the person, and
employee, that I want to become. I have
learned and applied various technical skills
for the competition team. I have also
developed and honed leadership skills as I
communicate with team and chapter
members. From a professional perspective, I
have learned from my mentors working in the
mobility industry how to have beneficial
conversations with others, and how to work
well with and learn from others. n
MOMENTUM
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MOMENTUM - April 2023

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