April 14, 2025
A 2021 alumnus of AIɫɫ’s Plastics Engineering Technology (PET) program, Hunter May is now a Design Engineer at Honda R&D Americas. Finding himself prepared to enter his career, May is grateful for the support he found within his degree program.
“AIɫɫ played a crucial role in preparing me for my career,” he said. “I gained practical experience that was directly applicable to me and my goals.”
Finding connections in the classroom as well as outside, May feels he became a well-versed student during his time at SSU that helped him grow not only professionally, but also personally.
“Throughout my four years at SSU, I lived on campus, joined extra-curricular activities, worked as a co-op during the summers, and graduated with more than just a degree,” he said. “SSU taught me about independence and becoming my own person. Overall, SSU provided me with a solid foundation in both life and my career.”
As a student, May had the opportunity to participate in a summer co-op with Honda, allowing him to gain practical skills in the field while networking with what would become his future employer.
“I had my first co-op opportunity with Honda through the SSU career fair when I was a student,” he said. “That co-op eventually led to a full-time job offer. Now, I have the chance to attend career fairs on the other side of the table, looking to help SSU students with a variety of opportunities at Honda.”
In his role at Honda, May enjoys a versatile portfolio that allows him to continually grow as an engineer.
“I have an incredible work environment where I have the opportunity to do something different each day and never stop learning,” he said. “Having the ability to work on something and then see that product driving down the road always offers a sense of pride.”
Since starting his career, May has continued to witness the strong relationship between his employer and the university’s PET program. Through internships and several hires of alumni, the connection has allowed students to network with a reputable employer as they prepare for their future careers.
“Students have opportunities to meet and network with Honda employees at school events like career fairs and Plastics Day,” he said. “Having face-to-face interactions with potential employers is priceless as students look for a place to start their careers. These interactions allow students to stand out, ask questions, and learn about our work environments.”
Drawing from his experience as a student at SSU and from the connections he’s made with current students through networking, May sees a great value in how the SSU student is prepared for enter the workforce.
“The hands-on learning in the classroom at SSU is one area that stands out most to me,” he said. “It really helps SSU students prepare for their respective industries by actively doing the work that they will take on during their career. SSU teaches students the real-world applications of the theories taught in the classroom which provides an advantage.”
Seeing the relationship between his employer and alma mater continue to grow, May is increasingly vocal about the opportunities SSU can provide to students in the PET program.
“SSU does a great job of preparing students for their industries and helping students become strong competitive candidates – I believe my own experience is a testament to SSU’s success,” he said. “The relationship the university has with the alumni is a big strong point for the university. SSU alumni continually give back to the university and are always looking to help students succeed.”
To learn more about the Plastics Engineering Technology program at AIɫɫ, visit shawnee.edu/plastics.