Tobey Havens

Tobey Havens is a transfer electrical engineering major from Normal, IL

Hometown: Normal, IL

High School: Bloomington Central Catholic High School

Year: Expected graduation: 2025

Transfer from: Heartland Community College

Why did you choose to attend NIU?
The short distance from Chicago and the cost-effective tuition provided the most opportunities for my future.

What scholarships did you receive and why did you receive them? How has the financial support impacted your experience at NIU?
I received scholarships from the Honors Program and from the Omron Foundation. The financial support has allowed me to leave my part-time job and spend more time focusing on school and participating in student organizations, enhancing my college experience.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path?
When I was growing up, I wanted to be an engineer. This has shifted slightly, as I am now pursuing engineering sales as opposed to engineering design. I am still pursuing an electrical engineering degree.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
I am majoring in electrical engineering and minoring in math. I chose electrical engineering because I have always been interested in technology and circuit boards and have always thought it would be cool to work on new circuit boards for a living.

Have you conducted an internship?
Yes

How did you get your internship, and where was it?
I have conducted an internship as a sales engineer at Mitsubishi Electric Automation in Vernon Hills, Illinois.

How did your internship help prepare you for your career?
The internship has helped me prepare for my career by getting my foot in the door and providing me with an opportunity upon my graduation.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
The number of organizations and opportunities available at NIU is a nice change of pace from my local community college experience.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
I have connected with other students through a variety of student organizations and by sparking up conversations with my classmates.

Are you involved in any student organizations, mentoring programs or extra-curricular activities? If so, which ones? How have they added to your experience as a Huskie?
I have gone out of my way to be involved in as many organizations as possible, including robotics, honors, club soccer, I-EEE and more. They have added to my experience as a Huskie by improving my sense of belonging and making sure I am never bored.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel safe, supported and successful? And how?
The Honors Program in particular has helped me feel supported and successful by believing in me enough to bestow a scholarship on me and help fund my education.

What Honors Program opportunities or support have helped you get closer to your academic or career goals so far?
The Honors Program ambassador program has helped support my career goals by being a talking point in my resume and helping show my academic prowess to future employers.

What do you enjoy the most about the Honors Program?
I have enjoyed collaborating with honors classmates in honors-specific projects and assignments throughout my honors classes.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
One of my favorite professors has been Donald Zinger in the electrical engineering department. I am currently in his ELE 340 class, and he is my faculty advisor for my senior design project.

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
I have benefitted a lot by attending class regularly. It would take a blizzard to prevent me from missing class.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
My favorite spot on campus is the library. I meet up with fellow engineering or computer science majors to study and work on homework as a collective unit, and there is plenty of space for all of us.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
Look at the cost. I will be able to graduate and be debt-free in a very short time, while students going to other more expensive schools will graduate with the same degree, but 10 times the debt.

Why is a college education important to you?
A college education is important to me because it provides endless possibilities for a future career. I worked in fast food all throughout high school, and it helped highlight the importance of a college education.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
I write down almost everything I have to do and when it has to be done by in a planner, so I do not lose track of the many responsibilities I have across all my different activities.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
I frequently check my email and read the messages provided from the university, the Honors Program and the Northern Star.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
I love to play video games with my brother online whenever we can find time in our schedules.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
I like to watch and play soccer, play video games and go to the gym, and I’m just getting into cooking.