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Hey everyone, and happy weekend. We’re 3 weeks into the semester now, so things are getting moving! While I’m still getting used to the idea of being a junior, and the fact that I’m officially halfway done with college now, I’m excited to see what the remaining 4 semesters hold. Between classes, extracurriculars, and everything else, I’ve got quite the semester ahead of me – and I couldn’t be more excited.

This semester, I’m enrolled in Physical Chemistry, Nanotechnology Engineering, Chemical Engineering Lab, Advanced Writing for Engineers, Python, and Mathematical Modeling of Chemical Engineering Systems. It’s quite a list, but should be manageable if I play my cards right. I’m particularly excited about my Mathematical Modeling course, since this is my first class I’m taking for my graduate degree. I was recently admitted to USC’s Progressive Degree Program, which lets students start taking graduate classes early to get a head start on their Master’s degree, so I’m really looking forward to these more advanced engineering courses. While I do love my major, the coursework has been even more engaging so far. I’ve enjoyed every one of my classes so far these past few weeks, and while it’s still early, it’s shaping up to be good semester.

Extracurriculars are also looking pretty solid so far as well. This year, I’m serving as VP Academic for USC’s chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and I’ve already had the opportunity to plan and carry out several events. We’ve hosted coffee chats with chem-e professors, planned faculty research seminars for the coming weeks, and have held meetings for the second year of our Undergrad Design Challenge. The design challenge is a newer project started last year, which gives undergrads the opportunity to take get hands-on design experience early in their engineering education. We were fortunate enough to be featured on AIChE’s national website for last year’s challenge, and this year, I’m excited to be a part of the event again in an even larger capacity. This year’s challenge will see students building and testing their own solar cells and devising a process for scaling-up their designs, and is open to all engineering majors.

Additionally, I’m excited to be able to attend the AIChE National Student Conference this fall in Orlando. The event gives attendees an opportunity to network with companies, attend workshops, and present their research. Since I’m also on USC’s AIChE Jeopardy team and we placed first at regionals in Spring, I’ll be competing with my teammates at nationals. Regardless of how we do, I’m really excited for the opportunity, which promises to be very professionally and academically beneficial, and plenty of fun.

Still making time to have fun

Well, that’s my outlook for the semester. The forecast is looking good so far, and I’m hopeful. While classes haven’t gotten too tough yet, this may just be the calm before the storm. Stay tuned, but so far, this semester is looking bright.

[/cs_text][/cs_column][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/5″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_custom_headline level=”h5″ looks_like=”h5″ accent=”false” class=”cs-ta-center” style=”color: hsl(0, 95%, 18%);”]About the Author[/x_custom_headline][x_image type=”circle” src=”https://viterbivoices.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Jacob-Toney-CHE-2021-e1530162561484.jpg” alt=”” link=”true” href=”https://viterbivoices.usc.edu/jacob/” title=”” target=”blank” info=”popover” info_place=”bottom” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=”Jacob Chemical Engineering ’21”][cs_text class=”cs-ta-center”]Jacob is a junior studying Chemical Engineering. Click above to find out more![/cs_text][cs_icon_list][cs_icon_list_item title=”@j.w.toney” type=”instagram” link_enabled=”true” link_url=”https://www.instagram.com/j.w.toney/” link_title=”@j.w.toney” link_new_tab=”true” _label=”@j.w.toney” style=”font-size:18px;”]@j.w.toney[/cs_icon_list_item][/cs_icon_list][x_gap size=”50px”][x_custom_headline level=”h5″ looks_like=”h5″ accent=”true” class=”cs-ta-center” style=”color: hsl(0, 95%, 18%);”]Check it Out[/x_custom_headline][x_image type=”thumbnail” src=”https://viterbivoices.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/che.jpg” alt=”” link=”true” href=”https://viterbivoices.usc.edu/study/chemical-engineering/” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][x_button size=”mini” block=”true” circle=”false” icon_only=”false” href=”https://viterbivoices.usc.edu/study/chemical-engineering/” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””]Chemical Engineering[/x_button][x_gap size=”30px”][x_image type=”thumbnail” src=”https://viterbivoices.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/los-angeles_1.jpg” alt=”” link=”true” href=”https://viterbivoices.usc.edu/free-time/” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][x_button size=”mini” block=”true” circle=”false” icon_only=”false” href=”https://viterbivoices.usc.edu/free-time/” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””]LA Life[/x_button][x_gap size=”30px”][x_image type=”thumbnail” src=”https://viterbivoices.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/USC-campus-Hahn-plaza.jpg” alt=”” link=”true” href=”https://viterbivoices.usc.edu/orgs/” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][x_button size=”mini” block=”true” circle=”false” icon_only=”false” href=”https://viterbivoices.usc.edu/orgs/” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””]USC Campus Faves[/x_button][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”false” marginless_columns=”false” _label=”New Item 3″ class=”cs-ta-left” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column bg_color=”hsla(0, 27%, 74%, 0.03)” fade=”true” fade_animation=”in-from-bottom” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_custom_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ accent=”true” class=”cs-ta-center” style=”color: hsl(0, 96%, 23%);”]More From Viterbi Students[/x_custom_headline][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” _label=”New Item 2″ style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_recent_posts type=”post” count=”2″ offset=”” category=”” orientation=”horizontal” no_sticky=”true” no_image=”false” fade=”true”][x_recent_posts type=”post” count=”2″ offset=”2″ category=”” orientation=”horizontal” no_sticky=”true” no_image=”false” fade=”true”][x_recent_posts type=”post” count=”2″ offset=”4″ category=”” orientation=”horizontal” no_sticky=”true” no_image=”false” fade=”true”][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]
Jacob Toney

Jacob Toney

MAJOR: Chemical Engineering YEAR: Class of 2021 HOMETOWN:Oceanside, California PRONOUNS: he/him/his