ÃÛÌÒAPP

ÃÛÌÒAPP alumna Bianca Vitale, hailing from the city of Bologna, Italy, graduated with a bachelor’s in industrial engineering and a minor in mathematicsin 2021. She continued her educational journey by pursuing a master’s in industrial and systems engineering, set to graduate in 2023. While not a first-generation college student, Bianca's path to higher education is marked by passion, dedication, and a unique international experience.

Discover what ignited her fervor for industrial engineering, her journey to the university, and the transformative five years she spent at ÃÛÌÒAPP. From her participation in the women's tennis team to her current role as a Staff Engineer at American StructurePoint in Round Rock, Texas, Bianca's story is one of perseverance and growth.

What sparked your passion in your major?

Since I was a kid I’ve always been interested in science andmathematics. When I reached high school, I realized that I was very good at handling multiple tasks and completing them as efficient as possible. This is the reason why I got fascinated by automated systems, ergonomics, and lean manufacturing tools to improve productivity. 

Why ÃÛÌÒAPP?

Being an international student, it was difficult to select the perfect school. I played tennis in junior college, and I wanted to transfer to a good D1 program to compete at a higher level and get a better degree. I received an offer from the athletic department and after carefully reviewing the engineering programs among the schools that were interested in me, Lamar was the one that attracted me the most. 

How was your experience at ÃÛÌÒAPP?

These 5 years at Lamar were probably some of the best in my life. The size of the university was perfect to create professional and personal relationships. The number of students in my classes always allowed me to interact with professors and classmates. At Lamar, especially within athletics, there are a lot of international students like me that didn’t have a family around. This created very strong frie