Mechanical Engineering
Outstanding Undergraduate Leadership Award in Mechanical Engineering Winner
Sophie Nieder
"If I could give any advice to current and future students, I would say to go above
and beyond. Get involved on campus, build your projects, pursue leadership opportunities,
and get outside your comfort zone. Some of the most valuable lessons I learned happened
outside of the required curriculum."
Mechanical Engineering student Sophie Nieder serves as the president of the Society for Women Engineers at the Herff College of Engineering.
In 2026, through her studies and networking, she began an internship with FarmChem Corporation. Sophie said she looks forward to applying the knowledge she's acquired at Herff to her new professional setting.
After graduating, she plans to continue her involvement with the Society of Women Engineers.
While she takes an array of skills with her into the workforce, Sophie said she gained much more than that at the Herff College of Engineering.
"Spending countless days in the engineering buildings helped me create a kind of family before I even realized it," Sophie said. "I met so many friends just by recognizing people studying in the EA 3rd floor, working with the West TN STEM Hub, participating in club meetings, and forming instant bonds with whoever made the equation sheet for an exam. I also gained invaluable advice from mentors in the Engineering Administration office and professors who went out of their way to help me engage more deeply with the college."