Elizabeth Tammaro
- Alumni
- Non-Destructive Testing
Her journey to Penn College was driven by a desire to learn a trade. Elizabeth’s parents didn’t have “desk jobs” and she never pictured herself in one either. Coming from New Jersey, she quickly found a welcoming community. Today, she considers Penn College her second home.
Q&A with Elizabeth
WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO PENN COLLEGE?
I initially planned on attending to pursue a degree in welding, but ultimately chose NDT because it was more interesting to me. I loved the campus, and the fact that Penn College was a small school.
WERE YOU LOOKING FOR HANDS-ON LEARNING, SPECIFICALLY? IF SO, WHY?
Neither of my parents worked a "desk job," so I could never see myself sitting all day. Working hands on, in the trades, seemed like the only option to me.
DID YOU KNOW YOU WANTED TO GO OUT OF STATE FOR COLLEGE? HOW DID THE DISTANCE PLAY INTO YOUR DECISION?
There were no NDT programs close to home that offered anything close to Penn College, so going out of state was my only option. Being two and a half hours from home, the distance was perfect for me. Penn College was close enough to home that I could make a weekend trip back, but far enough I wasn’t going to make it every weekend.
HOW DID YOU FIND YOUR COMMUNITY? WHAT DID THAT LOOK LIKE?
I found my community through joining clubs related to my degree. It began by showing up at club meetings and having shared classes and then slowly turned into seeing each other outside of class.
DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOU FOUND YOUR “HOME AWAY FROM HOME”?
Penn College felt like a second home to me. This feeling came over time. I connected with people who made me feel like I could be myself, creating spaces that I could feel comfortable in and also making routines that kept me grounded. Penn College felt like a place I belonged at.
YOUR BROTHER IS NOW HERE, TOO! HOW DID YOUR EXPERIENCE PLAY INTO HIS DECISION TO ALSO COME TO PENN COLLEGE?
Yes! Coming out to visit me with our family, he got to know the campus. Through my experiences, he got an understanding of what to expect and where to go if he needed help.
In pursuit of an in-demand career
When she was a high school senior, nondestructive testing sounded like a fun, abstract concept to Elizabeth. Two years later, NDT is her rewarding reality. She secured a full-time position in the field, several weeks prior to graduation. She's working with Trident Maritime Systems’ custom alloy division in High Bridge, located about 20 minutes from her hometown in New Jersey. The global company specializes in fabrication, naval equipment production and precision engineering for maritime and defense projects.
Programs
Non-Destructive Testing
Learn how to inspect and certify structures using the latest non-destructive testing techniques.
All Programs
Unsure which major is right for you? See all academic programs at-a-glance.