Ethan Boedker

Alumni
Electrical

After graduating with an associate’s in Electrical Technology, Ethan landed a job with ANDRITZ, an international technology group, where he’s engineering and installing automation control systems. His favorite aspects? The freedom to explore diverse career paths in the field he loves. And traveling to the installation sites (nationally and abroad) where he gets to see his designs come full circle.

Leading the Way: Q&A with Ethan

WHAT ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AT ANDRITZ?

I engineer, design, and install automation control systems for limestone mines and pulp and paper plants. This involves programing graphic software, programmable logic controller (PLC) programs, and communications equipment, along with designing and drafting electrical diagrams.

WHAT'S THE COOLEST PART OF YOUR JOB?

Travel. In my first year at ANDRITZ I traveled to multiple states to install impellent control systems I helped design or designed myself. The opportunity to travel is usually on the table, including to other countries. Being able to travel to sites and install a product you designed and spent a large amount of time on is very fulfilling. The options of projects and places to travel only expands with the more experience you gain in the trade.

HOW ARE YOU USING YOUR ELECTRICAL DEGREE FROM PENN COLLEGE?

I use my electrical degree every day. From PLC/graphic programing to sizing cable and conduit, I use almost every part of my electrical degree at my job.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CONSIDERING A DEGREE IN ELECTRICAL?

My advice would be to learn what the entire career has to offer. Most people think of electricians as just people wiring buildings and equipment. With how technology is advancing, this field has evolved into much more than that. Don’t overlook the options a career like electrical can give you.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST?

My favorite part of the career as a whole is the freedom. Assuming you can get the right training, there is so much you can do. Develop and design control systems, residential and industrial wiring, high voltage, instrument controls and wiring, just to name a few. If you are willing to learn, you can do so much in many different job fields.

ANY ADVICE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CONSIDERING A HANDS-ON COLLEGE LIKE PENN COLLEGE?

The best way to learn something is by doing it. Reading and studying can only get you so far. Starting the actual hands-on work in college is a huge bonus. You get the experience of how doing your future job will feel, and get to do some, if not most, of the things you will do in everyday life as part of the workforce.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO COME TO PENN COLLEGE?

I followed in my father’s foot steps to Penn College. I had the same intention to become an industrial electrical contractor like him. Until I got into the PLC classes that Penn College offers in the Electrical Technology degree. There I found something else I was good at and enjoyed doing, PLC & HMI programming.

WHAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE LESSONS YOU HAD WHILE A STUDENT?

My favorite lesson was an example of the danger and fun of electricity. As part of the alternating current course, we safely over charged capacitors to make them pop. While this was safe and a small demonstration, it makes for a great example of what happens on a larger scale in real life. These small capacitors act the same as a telephone pole transformer when they have a failure. It was a great presentation of the danger and potential of electricity.

WHAT IS THE VALUE IN HAVING INSTRUCTORS WITH REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE?

Having instructors with real-world experience has many positives. Most of them have different backgrounds in different fields of electrical. This lends itself well to the many classes they teach. They have great insight into different jobs in the career. They know which companies have a good reputation with employees, and how some of the companies function. That helps a lot when graduation and the job fairs come around.

TAKING THE LEAD:

"It's important to have a degree and knowledge in a field where you will always have work. But you should also enjoy what you do! You won’t last long doing something every day you don’t like to do. Enjoyment should be taken as the highest priority when looking into the future."