Alina Tomko: Breaking Barriers

When Alina Tomko crosses the stage at the University of South Carolina Aiken’s commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 7, she won’t just be walking away with a diploma; she’ll be making history.

Tomko will graduate with not one, but two Bachelor of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Process Engineering, along with a minor in Mathematics, becoming the first student at USCA’s College of Sciences and Engineering to achieve this impressive academic milestone.

“I remember they had to remake the entire degree schedule just so I could pursue both degrees,” Tomko said as she reflected on how she and her advisor, Dr. Bethany Fralick, an associate professor at USCA, had to recraft her academic schedule for her to pursue two bachelor’s degrees.

However, engineering wasn’t always on her radar. Back in high school, Tomko originally wanted to explore career paths in business management. “I was always good at math and science, but I never really thought that’s what I wanted to pursue,” she said.

It wasn’t until she toured USCA that the pieces clicked. Drawn to the tight-knit campus and the welcoming engineering faculty, Tomko quickly knew she had found her place. “After having a meeting with two engineering professors from the program, I knew I had to come here.”

Initially pursuing a degree in Process Engineering, Tomko loved how it combined her analytical strengths with her interest in project management. It wasn’t until the spring 2024 semester that she chose to add mechanical engineering as a second major. To stay on track and graduate on time, she took three summer classes, followed by an intense academic load of seven classes in the fall and seven more during her final semester. “If you start planning for both degrees from the beginning, it’s manageable,” she said.

Her commitment to professional development led to two valuable internships. The summer after her sophomore year, she worked as a steam turbine engineer at Siemon’s Energy in Charlotte, NC. “It was a good experience in showing me what I didn’t want to do,” she reflected. Following her junior year, Tomko secured a role as an industrial engineer at Generac Power Solutions. “That experience was amazing, I loved the fast-paced environment,” she said. “They gave me the freedom to fail and learn from my mistakes, which helped me grow. It was incredibly constructive.”

Those experiences paid off. Tomko recently accepted a full-time position as a distribution engineer in the Power group at Enercon in Charlotte. She credits her internships with opening doors to opportunities. “Every job interview I’ve had focused on my internships. Real-world experience makes all the difference.”

Tomko shares that one of the things she enjoys most about engineering is the opportunity to merge her passions for science and math, bringing them together to build something tangible. She reflected on a memorable experience during her internship at Generac, where she was assigned to design a custom clamp for one of the company’s machines. Although she faced a few setbacks initially, she ultimately succeeded in developing a model that fit and functioned properly with the equipment.

Her accomplishments don’t stop there; Tomko is credited for establishing the Order of the Engineer chapter, called a Link, within the School of Engineering. She, along with thirteen of her peers, were the first to be inducted into the organization back in February.

She also played a key role in founding the ACE Aviation Club at USCA during the 2022–2023 academic year. Thanks to an Air Force-sponsored eight-week course at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, she earned her private pilot license.

"My advice to future engineering students is to get involved early," Tomko said. “In this program, it's important to stay ahead. If you can push through your math courses, you're setting yourself up for success."

Tomko, along with 410 degree candidates, will attend the commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 7, at 6 p.m. in the Convocation Center.

For more information, contact USCA Marketing & Communication at news@usca.edu.