W&L Outcomes: Coby Kirkland ’22 At W&L, Kirkland discovered that his two passions, sports and engineering, could be combined into one fulfilling pursuit. He's going to intern at a sports equipment company before heading to grad school at Purdue.
Coby Kirkland ’22Hometown: Duncan, Oklahoma
Post-Grad Plans: Summer internship in sports helmet design followed by graduate school in engineering
Industry: Engineering, Sports
Areas of Study: Engineering
“People want to help, especially W&L alums. Don’t be afraid to reach out and send follow-up emails. You never know what connection will lead to your next job.”
Q: What are your post-grad plans?
After graduation, I will be working in Chicago as a summer R&D intern for Riddell. In the fall, I will attend Purdue to pursue a master’s in sports engineering.
Q: Tell us about your internships and summer experiences as a W&L student. How did they shape you and your career plans?
I majored in engineering at W&L, and I believe the project-based nature of many of the engineering courses has given me valuable skills that will translate well into the professional world.
Q: How did Career Development support you? Which resources did you
find most helpful?
Coming into W&L, I always knew I wanted to study engineering, but it wasn’t until after my sophomore year that I discovered sports engineering. Once I realized I could combine my passion for sports and engineering into one, I shifted all my focus into finding a way to make that path work for me.
Q: What did you study here and what are some skills or learnings you will take from your academic experience into the professional world?
The summer before my senior year, I worked as a test engineer in the Helmet Lab at Virginia Tech. Having the opportunity to work hands-on in the sports engineering industry solidified my interest and provided me with valuable experience.
Q: What career-related advice would you give next year’s graduating
class?
People want to help, especially W&L alums. Don’t be afraid to reach out and send follow-up emails. You never know what connection will lead to your next job.
If you know any W&L students who would be great profile subjects, tell us about them! Nominate them for a web profile.
You must be logged in to post a comment.