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Connor Lagroix, BSc Mechanical Engineering Co-op

“I have continually reshaped myself throughout my degree.”

Learn About the Program

Connor Lagroix is always looking for ways to challenge himself. Inspired by those around him, including his wife and cousin, he chose to enter university after a six year gap from high school, seeking a deeper knowledge of mechanics as a stepping stone to a new, more fulfilling career. 

Initially daunted by the rigor of the program, Connor built a circle of friends (a bond forged by quad frisbee between classes!) who not only became study partners but also a treasured social network. Connor’s struggles as an incoming mature student, as well as his real-world experience prior to university, served as the impetus for a series of presentations he gave to new undergraduates and also, the motivation to volunteer with the Co-op Ambassador Program where he could counsel students and gain valuable leadership experience. One of his initiatives was Nail the Elevator Pitch — a workshop to help engineering students develop their interview skills.   

As a co-op student, Connor also took on a number of industry roles with , and , and was a member of the (ARVP). 

Looking for opportunities to build on his skills and seek novel experiences are defining characteristics that have followed Connor throughout his life and post-secondary education, no doubt laying the groundwork for a meaningful career.    

“Just because I am graduating university doesn't mean that my educational journey stops here.”

Congratulations Connor!

What program are you graduating from?

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Co-op.

What led you to choose your current area of study, and why the U of A for your studies?

Before starting my degree at the ����ֱ��, I worked as an instrumentation and controls technician. As I progressed through that career, I realized that I wanted to challenge myself with more technical learning. Engineering was a natural progression for me from my trades background. I knew that I wanted to go to the U of A because my wife was already attending for a degree in conservation biology. Further, I knew that my cousin, who is a successful chemical engineer, took her degree at the U of A and she spoke very highly about the quality of the program.  

What is one of your favourite memories from your time at the U of A?

While I was on a summer classes term, I had made friends with a cohort of other students in the same program. To kill time and relieve stress between classes, we would all go out into the engineering quad to play frisbee. Because of this, I found myself part of a tightly-knit social circle, which also proved to be an effective study group. The friends I made playing frisbee in the quad helped me feel like I was part of the U of A community, and I know that these friendships will continue long after graduation.

Tell us about your favourite professor and/or class.

One of my favourite classes was (Applied Computational Fluid Dynamics), which was taught by . Learning about advanced computational fluid simulations was eye-opening for me, because of the amazing potential applications for design, such as those which were performed on the Mars rovers. I greatly enjoyed professor Lange's passion and expertise in CFD, and he has inspired me to learn more in this field.

Did you take on any leadership roles while you were a student? 

I have had the pleasure of volunteering for the Co-op Ambassador Program in the last semester of my degree. Before joining the ambassador program, I had given two presentations to engineering students about my experiences at the university. Doing this, I realized that I wanted more experience in leadership, so I joined the ambassador program to practice those skills. I then sat in on a Q&A panel for a student-run event to talk about my experience with job applications and interviews, which inspired me to organize my own event. My event is scheduled for mid-May, and I am planning on teaching students about the value of using an elevator pitch in the interview setting to answer the questions that nobody likes being asked, such as ‘Tell me about yourself?.’ I am looking forward to improving my leadership skills through this event, and I hope to help job-seeking engineering students 

Did you face any significant obstacles or challenges during your program?

I know that the drastic increase in difficulty from high school to university learning is a cliche subject to talk about, but I had been out of school for six years when I entered my program at the U of A. Any techniques on effective studying and test taking had to be re-learned, and I initially struggled to find my way. I remember getting a 40 per cent on my first math midterm and I felt crushed. Thankfully, I was able to make fast friends, and this allowed me to work and learn together to improve my skills. Engineering is a difficult program in the best conditions, and I believe that it would not be possible to excel in the program without teamwork and networking. 

What advice do you have for current and future students?

My best advice would be to try something new every semester and to feed your curiosity. Through my intent to take advantage of the many opportunities that students have at the U of A, I have continually reshaped myself throughout my degree. For example, I went to San Diego for a competition with my autonomous submarine club, and I travelled to CFB Esquimalt to learn about the Canadian Navy by sailing on a warship. Had I not challenged myself to take these opportunities, I wouldn't have had the experiences that helped me to grow and understand what I want out of my career.

How do you plan on celebrating convocation?

I plan on finally relaxing and taking a vacation with my wife. Furthermore, I plan on having backyard BBQs, hiking and camping with my friends and enjoying my favourite summer hobby — mountain biking.

What's next after graduation?

I plan to continue to seize interesting opportunities as they arise. Just because I am graduating university doesn't mean that my educational journey stops here. I am excited to apply what I have learned working alongside fellow professionals and innovators, and am looking forward to working on a team that directly changes people's lives through newly applied technologies.