Derek Slavkovsky
Student, Class of 2026
Hometown
Aumsville, Oregon
slavkovsky_derek

Extracurricular Activities

Weightlifting/calisthenics, running, coding small projects, NASA's NACA, hobby writer/short stories, hobby reading

A Little Bit About Me

I have an older brother who introduced me to how computers work when I was very young. In middle school, I built my first PC and have had an interest in computer-related fields since. My college debuted at Chemeketa Community College, where I was able to establish a great foundation for what I want to pursue educationally. I unfortunately had to take a year off due to my cancer. I was able to finish some courses during chemo, but I needed to wait until fall again to start my physics series. My physics professor at Chemeketa gave me much-needed insight and experience with STEM courses. That course helped me develop a sharp interest and curiosity into challenging myself. I am currently involved in NASA's NACA program.

Why I Chose Oregon Tech and My Major

I chose Oregon Tech because of the location and affordability. I'm also interested in their MECOP program and smaller size classrooms. My major, software engineering, was chosen because of how fascinated I am with solving puzzles and working through problems in cyberspace. I've been exposed to that sort of thing since I was a child and I want to turn it into a career as well.

My Greatest Learning Experience At Oregon Tech

I needed to take a year off for my chemotherapy before my last year in community college. During that time, I reevaluated why I wanted to pursue education. When I started college again, I needed to complete my physics with calculus series. This class gave me a challenge that I had not experienced throughout my entire education. With my newfound approach and goals that I discovered, I was able to enjoy and excel in this course. I believe that I understood the idea of how fruitful it is to appreciate and overcome challenges.

My Plans After Graduation

After graduating college, I intend to apply for a position in NASA. I am currently going through their NACA program and it excites me to think about how I can contribute in the future. I want to start a career right after I finish my degree, but I'm also entertaining the idea of continuing for my masters depending on how my college experience will go.