May 1, 2026
By Tracie Troha
When Tiana Fontejon, a fourth-year mechanical engineering major, first arrived at Georgia Tech, she wasn’t entirely sure mechanical engineering would be her path. She initially chose the major to keep her options open.
“I really didn’t know what I wanted to do,” she said. “There was a very good chance I was going to switch into a different major.”
Now, as she prepares to graduate this month from the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Fontejon’s journey has been anything but linear.
“If I had to sum up my experience in one word, it would be unexpected,” she said.
Continuing the Georgia Tech Family Legacy
Fontejon comes from a Georgia Tech family. Her father earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering, and her older brother earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering. At first, she wasn’t sure she wanted to follow in their footsteps, but a campus visit cemented her decision.
“I realized there were so many things I could do here,” she said. “Research, internships, study abroad—I found that I could do all of that here.”
Once on campus, she began exploring. Like many students, her interests shifted as she gained experience. She tried research in nanotechnology, explored semiconductors during an internship, and joined a rocketry team.
In the summer of 2023, Fontejon studied abroad at Georgia Tech-Europe, where she balanced coursework with travel across the region. While she visited major cities such as London and Amsterdam, she especially valued time spent in smaller towns.
“It was much easier to go to smaller places and really immerse yourself,” she said.
Each experience taught her something new, sometimes by showing her various surprises and challenges.
“I feel like I pivoted so many different times,” she said. “But I learned so much about myself.”
Learning by Doing
Hands-on learning became a defining part of Fontejon’s time at Tech.
Her first internship, with Texas Instruments in Dallas, introduced her to industry work and allowed her to apply classroom concepts in a real-world setting.
“I got to be very hands-on,” she said. “I was always on the floor working with the technicians and engineers. I actually got to implement the things I was learning about in the classroom.”
The following summer, she interned with Blue Origin in Seattle, contributing across multiple stages of a product’s lifecycle, from development to testing to redesign.
“It was really cool to be involved in almost the entire lifecycle,” she said. “Aerospace is such a cool industry because there are so many new things going on.”
She also found early inspiration through a Georgia Tech Experimental Rocketry team, where she gained machining and design experience and worked alongside peers in a collaborative environment.
“That was one of my first introductions into true mechanical engineering,” she said.
A Defining Moment in the Classroom
While internships and extracurriculars shaped her experience, one class stands out as a turning point: ME 2110.
Before taking the course, Fontejon wasn’t sure she could be a mechanical engineer. But the hands-on design experience and its challenges changed her perspective.
Her team, Barbie-que ChicKen, went on to win first place in the Fall 2023 ME 2110 Design Competition.
“Learning how to design, fail, and still bounce back, that was huge,” she said. “After all the failures that my team went through and all the hardships, we won the competition. That was really cool.”
The experience helped build her confidence and solidified her place in the field.
Building Community and Connections
Fontejon made the most of her time outside the classroom as well.
A four-year member of the women’s club volleyball team, she traveled across the Southeast for tournaments. She also served as marketing director for the Filipino Student Association, where she helped organize events and performed traditional dances at campus and community celebrations.
One of her favorite memories each year was the organization’s annual Halo-Halo event.
“There are so many performances, so many people, and just a really great sense of community,” she said.
She also worked as a student assistant in the Woodruff School, interacting with faculty, alumni, and visitors, an experience that gave her a new perspective on mentorship.
“When I first came to Tech and was looking for mentors, I looked to those successful engineers who have in-depth technical knowledge,” she said. “But when I started working in the administrative office, I learned it’s also important to have mentors who can communicate well, who are kind, who are flexible, and can work with anyone. I want to thank all the staff, especially in the administrative office, for teaching me what it means to be a good communicator and to learn throughout your life.”
Advice for Future Engineers
For students just beginning their Georgia Tech journey, Fontejon emphasizes the importance of asking for help.
“Don’t be afraid to reach out,” she said. “Whether it’s professors, classmates, or alumni, everyone wants you to succeed.”
That support system, she said, is one of the most powerful aspects of the Georgia Tech experience.
“It’s kind of amazing,” she said. “Even people who don’t know you still want to see you succeed.”
Looking Ahead
After graduation, Fontejon will move to Los Angeles to begin a role in operations management with McMaster-Carr, where she’ll combine her mechanical engineering degree with her certificate in business analytics, business administration, and management and operations from the Scheller College of Business.
“I still get to be in manufacturing but also use what I’ve learned in business and data analytics,” she said.
The role aligns with her long-term goal of moving into management and offers opportunities for continued education.
As she prepares for this next chapter, Fontejon feels ready to move forward.
“I used to be scared of graduating, but now I know it’s time,” she said. “I'm excited to close this chapter and begin the next one.”
