Building future leaders

Wednesday, 22 November 2006

By BRANDI BARHITE
brandibarhite@sanduskyregister.com

SANDUSKY - Behind every safe roller coaster is a dedicated engineer, EHOVE students learned Tuesday.

Cedar Point's Eric Lapp spent part of his day with 17 aspiring engineers, impressing the importance of a college degree and later taking them on a tour of the Maverick work site. Maverick is Cedar Point's new roller coaster, which will debut in May.

"I think the most enjoyable part of my job is watching the trains going out smoothly without any problems," Lapp said before lunch was served at Castaway Bay. "You never want to stop learning; it's the key to enrichment and getting places."

As reliability engineer for the park's maintenance division, Lapp makes sure rides run safely and have little down time.

"We pride ourselves on keeping the rides going," Lapp said. "Safety, reliability and uptime."

Lapp, 24, was talking with EHOVE students during the first Tech Prep Connect "Lunch with the Leaders" event.

Tech Prep is a partnership between EHOVE and BGSU Firelands, which allows EHOVE juniors and seniors to earn college credits in advanced technical training.

Tech Prep Connect was started to engage community business partners with the students through job shadowing, site visits and lunches, according to David Janik, manager of college access programs at BGSU Firelands.

Janik asked Lapp to advise students how to get through their math classes.

"I used to have trouble with math," Lapp said. "Take it one step at a time. If you don't learn 'A,' you won't get 'B.'"

While engineers might not think English is important, Lapp, who got his bachelor's in mechanical engineering at Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y., said it's necessary for writing resumes and letters.

"I blew off English. I don't need to know how to write. I am an engineer, I can barely talk," he said of his previous attitude.

Chris Tackett, 17, told Lapp he likes to design and build. What should he do? Can he do both?

Lapp explained the many career options in engineering. A friend of his designs bridges. Starting pay for engineers is $40,000 or more.

"I think it is much more rewarding to be there when your project is being built," Lapp said.

He stuck with amusement parks because that's his background. He used to work at Six Flags.

Andrea Chase, 17, was the only female student at Tuesday's event. She thinks girls are intimidated by the field because it's more hands-on.

"But I'm not," she said.

FunCoast.com is your online guide to summer fun for Cedar Point, the LakeErie Islands and Sandusky area. Our site offers up-to-date information on area attractions, restaurants, hotels, gasoline prices, ferry schedules, swimming, birding and fishing, along with a complete listing of events happening in the Sandusky/Cedar Point area. To use our Webcam and zoom in on Cedar Point's rollercoasters, go to http://funcam.funcoast.com

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