Sabrin Hilal
With a resume filled with altruism and achievement, Materials Science and Engineering Senior Sabrin Hilal has seen a wide variety of experiences as a College of Engineering student. Initially entering Drexel as a Biomedical Engineering major, Hilal changed programs during her sophomore year due to growing industry interests.
“The Materials Science and Engineering department is really great and supportive. I really appreciate how small and close-knit the department is,” recalls Hilal. “I switched majors mostly because Materials was more broad, so I could always end up doing Biomed related work if I wanted to, but I had more opportunities to see where I could apply Materials.”
Hilal speaks fondly of what she calls her most impactful time in college this past year working on Senior Design . Along with her team member, Ahmed Salah, she’s been looking at surface functionalization of 3D printed PEEK spinal fusion cages to achieve osseointegration. She notes the accomplishment this project has given her—particularly in the ability to see how what she’s learned can be used, and how her course content has real application that can help people.
In her time at Drexel, she was happy to be involved in student organizations like the Drexel Muslim Student Association, and the Alpha Omega Epsilon Sorority for Engineering and Technical Sciences. Hilal feels thankful to have grown closer to her peers through these organizations, “I’ve met so many people. Joining something so specific to engineering and sciences is so rewarding because it helps me meet people in my classes, as well as those who I don’t have classes with. Alpha Omega Epsilon especially helped me interact with my peers personally.”
“The Materials Science and Engineering department is really great and supportive. I really appreciate how small and close-knit the department is.”
Sabrin Hilal
With these organizations came the opportunity to engage in voluntary experiences—her favorite being working with an organization called Miss Philadelphia. This opportunity was connected with the Drexel Muslim Student Association, and allowed volunteers to host a tournament for High School students in the region. They competed in areas such as arts, science, math and sports.
“It was really interesting because it let me work on my outreach skills in trying to recruit students to join the competition,” said Hilal. “It’s also just something they all really look forward to. It really brings students from all over the region together to feel connected.”
While the competition was cancelled this year due to COVID-19 closures, Hilal feels confident and content knowing the opportunity will be available for years to come, beyond the pandemic and her time at the university.
As for what she’s up to now? She just wrapped up participation in the virtual National L’Oreal Competition, and has been focused on finishing up her coursework before graduation. She’s also enjoyed learning to cook, a popular trend for those stuck in quarantine. Things have finally calmed down for her, and she’s excited to have the extra time to consider roles in manufacturing engineering and other industry-based jobs.