Engineering tech major glimpses future through internship with Whirlpool

Since coming to Ohio State Marion, junior engineering technology major Alex Cabungcal has been highly involved, not only on campus but directly in what his future career holds in store.

Cabungcal gives much of that credit to the school he transferred to, The Ohio State University at Marion.

Alex transferred to Ohio State Marion from Ohio Northern after his freshman year in college. As a nearby graduate of Olentangy Orange High School in southern Delaware County, he is now on track to be one of the first students to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology (BSET) from The Ohio State University. Marion is one of three campuses in the Ohio State system that offer the degree curriculum.

Beyond just earning a degree, Cabungcal put an emphasis on gaining some real world experience in his future career, which he had the opportunity to do with Whirlpool Corporation, Marion Operations. He believes his time at Whirlpool helped him focus on what he wants to do after graduation.

“I thought it was a good experience,” he said. “Seeing other jobs and their roles, I could narrow down and see what I wanted to do and what I didn’t want to do," said Cabungcal.

“The role of being a process engineer, improving what the company does, and how a company like Whirlpool manufactures their dryers, their world class manufacturing process, whether it is improving or adapting new ones,” said Cabungcal. “That is what I observed there, what they really do as engineers.

“The experience of working a real world job, in a real world environment, outside of classroom, there is still a lot to learn once you get into whatever job you find yourself in.”

Cabungcal's internship started May 2021 and ended in the middle of August 2021, which didn’t cut into his spring or autumn semester coursework. He spent the summer in the controls and automation department at Whirlpool. During that time, Cabungcal explained, he assisted Whirlpool engineers with what they were working on, and completed some basic repairs of robot arms.

“I would sometimes go with them to the assembly line to replace or fix equipment." he said.

Cabungcal shared that the relationships Ohio State Marion has developed with Whirlpool and similar manufacturers was a big part of what the BSET program has provided him.

Cabungcal has taken part in field trips to U.S. Yachio to watch gas tanks manufactured, as well as the opportunity for Q & A sessions both in person and over Zoom with leaders from Wilson Bohanan, Rialto, Poet, Whirlpool and Nucor Steel.

“During Engineering Tech 1200,” Cabungcal explained, “we had groups and a mentor from a company in Marion. My group got Whirlpool. I met Darryl Young and Angela Buckley last year four or five times and they discussed their careers and how they got there.”

As far as the degree program, said Cabungcal, “I thought engineering would be a great fit. The curriculum and classes fit very well. Manufacturing is important and I thought that would be something good to get involved with.”

Beyond just academics, Cabungcal felt his experience and involvement on campus have been second to none.

“I have liked my professors, classes and the opportunities it has presented so far,” he said. “I have good relationships with faculty, staff and my classmates. I have also really enjoyed the opportunities available to me in clubs like Campus Activities Board, Undergraduate Student Government, and on the Columbus campus, the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers.”

Cabungcal sees himself in five to 10 years as a manufacturing or process/systems engineer with an established company and working in a role to help improve the manufacturing process and ensure they are efficient.

edited version of original article by Ohio State Marion Communications