Cody Marko

Cody Marko is a mechanical engineering major from Marseilles, IL

Hometown: Marseilles, IL

High School: Ottawa Township High School

Year: Expected graduation: spring 2026

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path?
I have always wanted to be an engineer. Growing up on a farm led me to enjoy creating new things and tinkering with machinery. I often used to put together electric and motor kits as a kid. Throughout my teenage years, I often worked on vehicles, such as rebuilding engines, etc. I am majoring in mechanical engineering, as it combines my love for vehicles and creating new things.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
As stated in the above section, I chose mechanical engineering as my major at NIU because it will allow me to work as an automotive engineer. So, I’ll not only get to work on vehicles but also create new designs for them.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
At NIU, I found that the students and most teachers are very friendly. All the people I have met love to joke around, and many of them share similar hobbies.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
I have met many new friends whom I often study or hang out with. I met some of these friends through organizations and others through classes. It helps to put together several minds to understand concepts in the classes. Hanging out after school allows for greater connections and opportunities to engage in hobbies together, such as showing our vehicles off or grabbing a bite to eat.

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?
Yes, the University Honors Program and Huskie Motorsports. The Honors Program has connected me with some great mentors and great people. It also provides activities for me to become more involved on campus. In Huskie Motorsports, we design a go-kart sized vehicle with customs parts, sensors, etc. This vehicle is then used to race at a competition in Michigan. This organization allows me to further my engineering skills by designing and testing parts.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel safe, supported and successful? And how?
The NIU commuter and honors lounges are places I use often to relax or work on homework. They are great resources that offer quiet areas and access to great peers and mentors. Since I am a commuter, I cannot go home easily to get work done or relax. So, these areas make up for that part of being a commuter. The physics and math tutoring centers were also a great help for my classes in my first two years of school.

What Honors Program opportunities or support have helped you get closer to your academic or career goals so far?
The Honors Program has helped me to take classes a little further by doing extra projects in the honors courses. It has also allowed me to make new connections with mentors and people who will help me succeed in school. I plan to apply as an honors fellow to develop further leadership roles. This program will also help me stand out to employers, as it shows the extra work I put in and allows for more development as a leader.

What do you enjoy the most about the Honors Program?
I enjoy the activities and meeting new people. The advisors are also great for answering questions or even just to talk to about school and life.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
One of my favorite instructors was Brianno Coller. I had him for MEE 211, which is an engineering dynamics class. I loved how he bridged theory with examples by bringing different mechanisms into class to show us how things worked. He also offered a YouTube channel to learn more. He cared a lot about students and made school feel less focused on grades and more on learning.

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
Attending class allows me to understand material much better. If I attend class and have a proper understanding, I can spend less time studying and more time with family and friends.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
My favorite spot on campus is the area between the Holmes Student Center and the library, as it often has activities to connect with others and also food trucks on Wednesdays to enjoy some good food and, again, connect with other people.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
I would advise any student to look at schools that offer good internships, good support and fit your needs. These are the reasons I chose NIU, as there are internship opportunities, they have a good program, and it allows me to commute to school and still help my parents out around the farm.

Why is a college education important to you?
I never really wanted to go to college, as I enjoy working with my hands and not being in school. However, I wanted to take my career further than just working on vehicles, to designing them instead. College provides me with the knowledge and theory I need to be able to design these vehicles.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
I try to balance my schedule. I make sure to get my schoolwork and studying done as soon as I can. I then work at my job the amount of time that will allow me to keep paying for school and other responsibilities. I split my remaining time to indulge in time with family, friends and hobbies.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
I often check my email or pay attention to posters around the college.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
I tend to recharge by taking a much-needed nap every now and then.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
I work outside of school as a drafting engineer at Draftech, where I design layouts of the trades in buildings that are to be built or are under construction. I often use Revit and other 3D software to do these designs. I also work as a DJ through my high school buddy's family company, BoominDJ. This is a hobby as well, as I enjoy putting on a show through music and lights for people. Another hobby of mine is working on vehicles by adding performance and interior design aspects.