She built her engineering career before earning the degree — and became a mentor along the way

At UA, you'll always have someone in your corner. Through real stories from students and their mentors, MentorZip highlights the support network that makes UA a place where every Zip thrives - whether it's a professor igniting a passion for research or an upperclassman helping a first-year student find their path.

Be inspired as we showcase impactful mentorship stories that prove one thing. Here, success isn't a solo journey - it's powered by mentorship, guidance and a community that truly cares.

When University of Akron senior Sarah Beyea talks about why she became an engineer, it starts with curiosity. As a kid, that often meant taking things apart just to see what was inside.

"Growing up I did a lot of things with my hands," said Beyea. "I loved figuring out how things worked - taking apart a computer with my dad, solving problems, and I liked math too."

Over time, that hands-on inquisitiveness grew into a clear goal: becoming an engineer.

Choosing a specific path within engineering took a little more thought. After exploring several options, she landed on mechanical engineering - a field that offered both challenge and versatility.

"Before going into engineering, I was like what kind?" Beyea recalled. "I weighed all the pros and cons and settled on mechanical engineering because there are so many things you can do with it." Beyea said. "I really didn't like chemistry, and I really didn't like biomedical engineering."

Now preparing to launch her career, Beyea has already gained valuable real-world experience through co-ops and hands-on learning. But some of the most meaningful growth in her time at Akron hasn't happened in a lab or lecture hall - it's come through mentorship.

Finding opportunity - early

Beyea chose UA for its strong engineering program and proximity to industry throughout Northeast Ohio - opportunities she began taking advantage of almost immediately.

Through a series of co-ops, she gained hands-on experience while still in college, earning money and building real-world skills alongside industry professionals.

Beyea completed two rotations with a company she will join full-time after graduation, along with additional placements that allowed her to explore different sides of the field - from designing blueprints in one role to helping bring those designs to life in another. As a project engineer, she collaborated with subcontractors and contributed to the logistics and execution of building projects.

Despite that early success - in the classroom and in industry - Beyea still felt something was missing.

"I had no study habits; I didn't know how to do that," she recalled. "I have a lot of questions, I like asking questions, and having someone to be able to ask those to is so important."

Her drive to push herself and support others didn't go unnoticed. Beyea was eventually invited to become a mentor in Zips Engineered for Success (ZEFS), a program designed to help first-year engineering students adjust to the academic and professional expectations of the field.

More than a tutoring program, ZEFS pairs incoming engineering students with upperclassmen mentors who guide small groups through both academic and professional development.

Confidence through mentorship

As a mentor in ZEFS, Beyea now leads small groups of first-year students through weekly sessions focused on both academic and professional growth. In the fall, conversations center on networking, resume building and what she calls "learning how to fail, learning how to succeed."

By spring, students take on hands-on design challenges that push them to think critically, experiment through trial and error and adapt their ideas as they build and refine their robot projects. But the mentorship often extends well beyond the structured sessions.

"What ZEFS does is so tangible," Beyea said. "It's having a peer that's more of, 'Hey, I got your back.' I have loved mentoring not only because it helps students, but it helps me."

The experience has shaped Beyea just as much as the students she mentors. Through the program, she's strengthened her confidence, leadership skills and willingness to step outside her comfort zone - qualities that now carry over into her professional experiences as well.

"I actually gained more from teaching the lessons than when I was in the class," she said. "I've definitely gained a lot of confidence throughout ZEFS."

That confidence has also helped her take advantage of broader opportunities within UA's College of Engineering and Polymer Science, including the college's career fairs.

"The career fair is my favorite spot," said Beyea. "Being able to have 220 companies every semester looking to hire you for a job - mind blowing. The college really sets you up for success," she said.

Looking ahead - and giving back