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His dream will become a reality on August 12, 2024, when he begins his career as a software engineer at Google.
Thomas, from Flint, Michigan, grew up in a home where he was surrounded by science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), as his parents worked in these fields. As a child, his free time often involved robotics and learning how to build new things, and these experiences and his love of technology and programming led him to study computer science at Cedarville.
As a freshman, Thomas received the Amazon Future Engineer scholarship, which gave him the financial support to pursue his education and lifelong dream. He also received an engineering internship at Amazon. Having experienced the benefits of this high-level internship, Thomas added an internship one year later in New York City as a software development engineer with Amazon and prior to his senior year, he was selected for a software engineering internship with Google. These experiences allowed Thomas to see the impact that this field has on the world of technology.
“When someone opens their phone, they use programs that I have developed in my time at Amazon and Google,” recalled Thomas, “and to have that impact as a Christian makes the hard work worth it.”
This impact is shown both in the work that he does and in the conversations he has with other engineers.
“I have the unique opportunity to share my faith with co-workers who value logic and reason,” said Thomas. “They can see in my work that I am logical and that my faith does not serve as a contradiction. This leads to conversations that can have eternal impact.”
Thomas believes he can make an immediate impact because of his work ethic that was cultivated at Cedarville. Throughout his education, he recognized ways to use shortcuts to complete rigorous assignments, but he opted to reject those methods because he believed they would not serve him well in his career.
“Because having excellence in effort means that everything I do is to glorify God, I didn’t want to take shortcuts,” admitted Thomas. “It was important to me that I always do my very best, and sometimes that means working extra hours on an assignment to ensure it was the best that I could do.”
Cedarville’s cyber operations and computer science programs are designed to stretch a student in learning and professional development, something that resonated with Thomas.
“Cedarville’s computer science and cyber operations program is demanding. We stretch our students so that they can grow their skills and their dependence on God,” said Dr. Seth Hamman, director of the Center for the Advancement of Cybersecurity and professor of cyber operations and computer science. “We challenge them to invest their talents to reach their potential and, ultimately, to advance God's kingdom.”
Thomas has taken this mission to heart.
Now, with graduation approaching, Thomas is finishing his coursework and preparing to return to Google for his full-time position as a software engineer in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He will be working on some of Google’s keystone programs, including Google Chrome and Google Play.
As Thomas looks forward to a career that most engineers only dream of, he recognizes that though he worked hard, it is God that ultimately blessed him with the opportunity to make an impact on the world of technology and the people around him.
Written by Kaylee Guetter
Outstanding Diplomacy: Cedarville Triumphs at Model U.N.
CEDARVILLE, OHIO – International diplomacy is an exercise in tenacity and tact — qualities displayed by Cedarville University’s Model United Nations team, which received the Outstanding Delegation honor in the Model U.N. international competition in New York City. The closing ceremony was held at the United National General Assembly hall.
The Model U.N. event is an educational simulation where college students represent a United Nations member state. The students presented papers, drafted resolutions and served on committees as they attempted to solve relevant issues for their assigned country. Cedarville represented Myanmar, a country in Southeast Asia.
Dr. Glen Duerr, chair of the history and government department and professor of international studies at Cedarville, said, “Model U.N. is unique because, in order to win, students must collaborate and negotiate with their competitors.”
Model U.N. requires long hours and demanding work during the five days in New York and in the weeks leading up to the event. In preparation, students researched Myanmar, authored papers on the country’s positions and prepared to mimic their real U.N. diplomatic presence in the General Assembly and various other U.N. committees.
Individually, several Cedarville students were recognized for their work. Abigail Reiter, a senior communication major from Cedarville, and Hugo Cerrato, a freshman international studies major from Honduras, were presented with the Outstanding Delegation honor as voted by their committee peers. This award acknowledges individuals who demonstrated exceptional diplomacy, negotiation and leadership skills throughout the conference.
“Being part of Model UN allows me to immerse myself in global issues, understand diverse perspectives, and develop crucial negotiation and public speaking skills.” Said Cerrato. “As an aspiring diplomat, I see Model U.N. as an invaluable opportunity to gain practical experience in international relations and diplomacy, which will be essential for my future career.”
In addition to Reiter and Cerrato, team members include senior political science major Arno Sandoval (Eureka, Missouri) and co-captain Erin White, linguistics and history, (Cohocton, New York).
Juniors on the team include political science majors Eric Spisz (Ellicott City, Maryland), Hunter Yount (Denver, North Carolina), Caleb Seavey (Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey), Seth Hines (Camillus, New York), Bradford Hoffman (Morgantown, Pennsylvania), Erin Mitchell (Roy, Washington) and Abigail German (Nicholasville, Kentucky). Junior co-captains are Ann Muñoz, international studies major (Dominican Republic), and psychology major Esther Ramireddy (United Arab Emirates).
Sophomore members were international studies major Jacob Zang (London, Ohio) and Vera Shegay, international studies and political science major (Kazakhstan).
Written by Kaylee Guetter
Top 1 Percent: World Treasury Bank Selects Cedarville Student for Internship
CEDARVILLE, OHIO – Struggles are essential for future success. This is a lesson Felipe Mayta is learning as he studies economics and finance at Cedarville University.
What once felt like a dream slipping away has turned into an opportunity of a lifetime for Mayta. The college junior from Peru was awarded a summer internship with the World Bank Treasury in Washington, D.C. — a role he will begin on May 28, 2024.
Securing the internship was daunting for Mayta, as 16 students — less than 1% — were selected from the pool of 2,400 applicants.
"I was very emotional after learning that I was afforded this internship opportunity,” said Mayta. “When I unexpectedly moved to America to be closer to family, I feared that I was sacrificing my career and opportunities back home. But, as I continue to learn at Cedarville, God is providential, and he loves to give us fun surprises.”
That’s certainly the case for Mayta as he prepares for the internship of a lifetime in the nation’s capital.
For 10 weeks, Mayta will complete three separate multi-week rotations while managing funds and assets loaned to other countries. At the end of the summer, he will present his capstone report of his team's advancement to the World Bank Treasury management team. Upon completing the internship and training, he will be offered a two-year appointment upon his graduation in 2025. The World Bank Treasury manages the World Bank's finances, as that institution works to reduce poverty by lending money to governments and promoting worldwide shared prosperity. The bank has earned global recognition for being one of the world's largest and most knowledgeable funding resources for developing countries.
While his dream was altered when he moved to the United States, Mayta still has plans to return to Peru and build a sustainable economic landscape for his country. With the World Bank Treasury's training, Mayta will be one step closer to making a lasting impact on the lives of others.
"Growing up in Peru's capital, I recognized that the Lord blessed my family with more opportunities than others from more rural areas. Many people I knew struggled to get career opportunities due to stigmas about their appearance or their family. This disheartening reality led me to study economics and drew me towards the mission of the World Bank Treasury," said Mayta.
Mayta credits Cedarville University for shaping his mission to help others find economic and spiritual prosperity. "At Cedarville, we all have different majors, but one like-minded mission, which is to evangelize and show love to others,” he said. “While interning at the World Bank Treasury, I want to promote their mission as an organization and my calling to love others."
Written by Jordan Foley
It's a Historic Class: Cedarville's Class of 2024 Establishes New Record
CEDARVILLE, OHIO – The largest graduating class will celebrate and reflect on their academic accomplishments during Cedarville University’s 128th commencement on Saturday, May 4. This class of 995 graduates is comprised of 846 undergraduate and 149 graduate students, and it represents a 4.6% increase from last year’s class.
Like in the past two years, Cedarville will hold two ceremonies, one at 10 a.m. and the second at 2 p.m. Both ceremonies will be in the Doden Field House. Dr. Thomas White, president of Cedarville University, will provide the commencement address for both ceremonies.
"We thank God for the opportunity to invest in these students during their 1,000 days on campus, and we can't wait to see what God does through them in the coming years," said Dr. Thomas White, president. "They stand ready to make a difference for Christ and to love others well."
“It is so humbling to see the growth of our students during their 1,000 days on campus and to know they are leaving Cedarville to go into the world to make a difference for the gospel,” said White, president.
The morning commencement ceremony will grant degrees to undergraduate and graduate students in the schools of allied health, education, engineering and computer science, nursing, pharmacy, psychology and social work.
Undergraduate and graduate students in the schools and departments of art, design, and theatre; biblical and theological studies; business; communication; English, literature and modern languages; history and government; interdisciplinary studies; music and worship; and science and mathematics will receive their degrees in the afternoon ceremony. Cedarville offers master’s degrees in business, nursing and a Master of Divinity from the school of biblical and theological studies, as well as doctoral nursing and pharmacy degrees.
As seniors prepare to graduate, they often reflect on how they have been shaped by Cedarville University. Graduating nursing student Carolyn Sutherland is preparing to take her education to Alaska to serve at a hospital and prepare for her future in missions.
Sutherland was raised in Ecuador and Australia as the daughter of Christian missionaries. She grew up in a close-knit household where the Sutherlands, who were always ready to move around the world, found stability in their relationships with each other.
When the time came for Sutherland to attend college, she chose Cedarville University, the same university her brother, Jonathan, was studying mechanical engineering. “I am ultimately thankful for the transition away from family because it allowed me to fully rely on God for my joy and comfort,” reflected Sutherland. “I found a loving and supportive community at Cedarville that makes Cedarville my home away from home.” Sutherland built relationships that will continue beyond graduation.
Cedarville helped Sutherland gain independence and has also given her confidence for the future. In July, Sutherland will travel to Alaska to bring healing to bodies and souls. Beyond that, she will rely on the lessons she learned at Cedarville, that God is her only constant, as she looks forward to spreading the Gospel wherever the future leads.
Written by Kaylee Guetter