GILL HEADS TO LAST CHAMPIONSHIP, READY FOR FIRST JOB...
CLEVELAND, OH (April 17, 2008) - When thinking of what type of career a chemical engineer might pursue, fuel cells might come to mind before consumer products or cosmetics, but for Case Western Reserve senior runner Sarah Gill that's the beauty of it.
The summer after her freshman and sophomore year Gill interned at a steel mill back home in Sharpsville, Pa. She worked in a lab that made sure the water output met EPA standards. Last summer, Gill interned at General Electric (GE) in its transportation division.
“Coming out of GE and having previously worked at the steel mill, I knew what I didn't want to do [after graduation],” Gill said. “I had heard through a fellow student that L'Oreal USA hired chemical engineers, so I went to an on-campus career fair and got more information. They became my first choice.”
Gill wanted to put her engineering mind to work on something that people would actually buy. After 18 various interviews with multiple companies she was offered a spot in the management development program at L'Oreal USA. Following graduation, she is headed to the company's Clark Facility in New Jersey, where she will begin working on two of her three required rotations.
L'Oréal USA develops and manufactures haircare, haircolor, skincare, color cosmetics and fragrances for the consumer and professional markets.
“There's [a program] involving project development, one where you work out in the actual manufacturing plant and one where you work with logistics,” Gill explained. “They are trying to fast track you to a management position and that was another thing that really attracted me to L'Oreal.”
Speaking of the fast track, Gill and the Case Western Reserve track and field teams [men and women] will travel to the Windy City this weekend (Apr. 19-20) for the 2008 University Athletic Association (UAA) Championships hosted by the University of Chicago.
Gill, who has participated in two NCAA Championships and won one UAA Championship as a member of the Spartan cross country team, will participate in the 800-meter run, pole vault, and the 4x100- 4x400- and 4x800-meter relay.
Ironically, she did not plan on running at Case Western Reserve, rather she came to Cleveland to play basketball. But the stress and strain of a long season, including travel across the country, prompted Gill to change sports after her rookie season.
“I wanted to put academics first, but it was the toughest decision of my life,” Gill said. “I played basketball all my life and it came first, so to put something else first and give it up was a tough decision.”
One could argue that Gill gave up one sport and one season for three as cross country, indoor track and outdoor track and field cover three seasons [fall, winter, spring]. The multiple UAA All-Academic selection has participated in all three since her sophomore year.
“The difference between cross country and track and field and basketball is in basketball you have to be at practice, but when you run if you can't make practice [due to class], you can make it on your own. Even though it is also a team sport, you can work out on your own.”
PENNSYLVANIA PRIDE… Gill earned a Pennsylvania state medal in every sport she played in high school (Hickory). She earned a state basketball medal her freshman and senior years and also earned one in both cross country and track and field. She also graduated in the top five-percent of her class.
-end-
|
