Samantha LaPlante

9812 Turning Leaf Dr
Toano, VA 23168
Phone: (757) 561-3574
Email: laplante@vt.edu

OBJECTIVE

To obtain an engineering position where I am able to use my academic training, interdisciplinary skills, and leadership skills on hands on team projects.

EDUCATION

B.S in Engineering Science and Mechanics, Expected May 2008
Minors: Leadership, Math, Political Science
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA
Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets
Overall GPA: 3.12 / 4.0

ELECTIVE COURSES

Mechanics of Composites, Material Selection and Design (I & II), Aircraft Performance, Naval Architecture, Advanced Mechanics of Materials, Senior Design “Aerodynamics and Flight Control of a Disk/Rotor Aircraft”, Compressible Aerodynamics (in progress), Non-Linear Dynamics and Chaos (in progress), and Scientific Visual Analysis and Multimedia (in progress)

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

Honor Court Chief Justice, Corps of Cadets, 2006 – 2007
    •Responsible for honor investigations, trials, and education
Vice Chief of Education for Honor Court, Corps of Cadets, 2005 – 2006
    •Coordinated honor training for 400 freshmen and sophomores
Fire Team Leader, Corps of Cadets, Spring 2005
    •Directly supervised academic and professional growth of three freshmen
Squad Leader, Navy ROTC, 2004 – 2005
    •Insured squad members met training requirements

EMPLOYMENT

Junior Project Engineer Pier 11 NAVSTA Norfolk, American Bridge Company, Norfolk, VA June 2007 - Janurary 2008
    • Tracked progress of the Pier
    • Assisted the Project Manager
Waitress/ Hostess, Sportsman’s Grille, Williamsburg, VA May 2006 – August 2006
    • Served people with a smile, readied ToGo orders and closed out the register
Admissions/ Guest Relations, Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, VA Summer 2002 – 2004
    • Helped resolve guests problems, with a friendly attitude
    • Supervised teams of 4 employees in Lost and Found (2002)

SKILLS

Windows Office Suite, MatLab, Inventor, LabView, and Primavera

ACTIVITIES

Newport News and Virginia State Head Judge for FIRST Lego League, 2007
Student Mentor for Christiansburg Elementary School’s FIRST Lego League, 2006
FIRST Lego League Volunteer Coordinator, 2005 – 2006
Society of American Military Engineers, 2003 – 2007
    •Secretary 2004 – 2005
    •First Sergeant (Recruiting and Initiation) 2005 – 2006
    •Chapter received Outstanding Volunteer for Virginia FIRST Lego League, 2005
Gregory Guard (Rifle Drill Team), Fall 2004 – 2007
University Wind Ensemble, 2003 – 2006
Marching Virginians, Fall 2002 and Fall 2004

HONORS

Commandant's Award, 2007
Outstanding State Volunteer for First Lego League, 2006 and 2007
G Scott Francis Scholarship for Leadership and Academics, 2006
Outstanding Regional Volunteer for First Lego League, 2005
William B Glagett Scholarship for Leadership and Academics, 2005
C. Walts Engineering Scholarship for Academics, 2005
William C. McAllister Engineering Scholarship for Leadership and Academics, 2004 and 2005
American Legion Military Excellence Award, 2004
Commandant’s List, Fall 2003 – Spring 2005
Gilbert L & Lucille C Seay Scholarship for Academics, 2003
Dean’s List, Fall 2002 – Fall 2003
American Electric Power Scholarship for Academics, 2002
Marshall Hahn Engineering Scholarship for Academics, 2002