watts_ian
Student, Class of 2027
Hometown
Sacramento, California
watts_ian

Extracurricular Activities

I play music and write music. As a musician, I have performed in hundreds of clubs in multiple states and countries. I also help others record and mix their music. I enjoy weightlifting.

A Little Bit About Me

I grew up in Sacramento, CA. My mother taught English as a second language and adult education. My father was a pipe-fitter and welder. I got into music at a young age and started recording my bands when I was in junior high school. By high school I was performing in clubs and continued to experiment with audio recording. After high school, I got into computers and worked as a tech for multiple companies, Earthlink, Apple, and Eyefinity (a subsidiary of Vision Service Plan). After moving to Oregon in 2005, I opened a commercial recording studio and spent the next thirteen years recording music for clients and traveling the world performing as a musician. My desire to learn more about electronics led me to an electronics tech course and I then realized that I wanted to be an engineer.

Why I Chose Oregon Tech and My Major

I was on a journey to find a good program for Electrical Engineering. I had completed coursework from Cleveland Institute of Electronics for an electronics tech course but they had recently closed so I began asking around for recommendations and doing internet searches. Several friends recommended Oregon Tech. I met with Dr. Aaron Sher and enjoyed our meeting. I felt Oregon Tech was a good fit.

My Influential Professors

I had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Aaron Sher when starting the application process. I really enjoyed our meeting and conversation, and it sounds like we have mutual interests in music and musical equipment design. I look forward to studying with Dr. Sher as well as other professors at Oregon Tech.

My Greatest Learning Experience At Oregon Tech

This will be my first year at Oregon Tech and I look forward to furthering my education there. I believe I bring some unique qualities of perspective to my studies at Oregon Tech. In addition to performing in multiple countries as a musician, I also have worked as a studio engineer, recording many types of music and working with people of diverse backgrounds.

My Plans After Graduation

After graduating, I plan to seek work in electronic design. I have multiple areas of interest such as musical equipment and antenna engineering. I will seek to excel in whichever field I land and work to contribute to engineering societies.