Women of Zips Racing
Maria J. Hatzis
Role: Electrical Support and Web Editor
Major: Electrical Engineering, expected graduation 2023
Q: What is your position on the team?
A: I provide electrical support and construct wiring harnesses that are critical for the car to run as well as design electrical components. I update our website, zipsracing.com, too.
Q: Why did you join the team?
A: I wanted to learn how engineering theory learned in class would apply to real-world projects like designing and building a race car.
Q: How can we get more young women interested in Formula cars and racing?
A: Young women should be interested in FSAE because it gives them an edge over other classmates when applying for jobs. We need to tell female students that there are awesome networking opportunities on the team. At the FSAE competitions (either overseas or in the U.S.), there are sponsors and other companies that accept resumes from students. Also, alumni from the team can help students get jobs.
Q: Who is your role model?
A: My father, an electrical engineer, inspires me to work hard and never give up. On the team, my role model is the current electric lead, Clayton Brown, because he has taught me everything I know on the team.
Q: What do you want to do when you graduate?
A: I plan to work in circuit design or embedded systems somewhere in Ohio, not necessarily Akron.
Q: What is your dream job?
A: I want to work on telemetry for NASA or SpaceX.
Sidney Mingle
Role: Powertrain Support
Major: Mechanical Engineering, expected graduation 2022
Q: What is your position on the team?
A: This past year, my role on the team has been powertrain support as well as of cost analysis of the car. I have floated around among the subsystems and tried a little bit of everything.
Q: Why did you join the team?
A: Design teams are a great way to get involved on campus as well as gain experience in the engineering field. I also wanted to meet new people and learn the mechanics of cars.
Q: How can we get more young women interested in Formula cars and racing?
A: Promoting the need for design team members organizations like the Society for Women in Engineering is a good place to start. Going outside the College to recruit business and marketing majors is critical, too, as they could help the team secure sponsorships and run our social media (and get really into cars in the process).
Q: Who is your role model?
A: My late cousin is my role model. She was diligent and hard- working and never took life too seriously.
Q: What do you want to do when you graduate?
A: I intend to find a job in the area working in my field of engineering – but I do not have any specific plans yet.
Q: What is your dream job?
A: I would like to work for NASA.
Clare Nicholas
Role: Vehicle Dynamics Support
Major: Mechanical Engineering, expected graduation 2023
Q: What is your position on the team?
A: I am a freshman that just mainly helps where it is needed whether on the car or the cost report.
Q: Why did you join the team?
A: I was always interested in cars and shop. In high school, we did not have opportunities to work on cars so I knew I wanted to try it when I came to 国产伦理.
Q: How can we get more young women interested in Formula cars and racing?
A: We need to find ways to de-stigmatize women working hands-on jobs where they get their hands dirty. I was lucky that my parents didn’t pressure me to do jobs traditionally thought of as for women only. More young women need to know that there are no limits to what they can do.
Q: Who is your role model?
A: I do not have a role model I just try to stay focused on my goal of getting good grades, staying in the honors college, and graduating on time.
Q: What do you want to do when you graduate?
A: My family lives in the area so I will stick around here. I hope to secure a position through my co-op. I am interested in working for a small company where I can get to know the people that I’m working with.
Q: What is your dream job?
A: I don't have a dream job, I just want to work somewhere where I love the work.
Related: Zips Racing | 30th Anniversary | Car Tech Specs | Zips Racing Careers | Women of Zips Racing |