According to Stephanie Drenten Ferro, a 2007 graduate of Davidson High School, Hilliard Schools more than prepared her for the path she has pursued since graduating.
“The curriculum and teachers instilled in me confidence, curiosity and passion. They led me to world-renowned institutions and helped me believe that I could take on hard challenges,” she said.
Stephanie attended Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana, a highly selective college. She earned a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering before returning to the Hilliard area and working the first five years of her career with the Bruner Corporation, a mechanical contracting firm that allowed her to work with some of the who’s who in business across central Ohio, from Riverside Hospital to none other than Hilliard City Schools.
Then, she took a year off to pursue her master’s in philosophy in engineering for sustainable development from the University of Cambridge in England, another prestigious organization. There, she had the chance to work with colleagues from across the globe.
She again returned to Ohio, this time working for Forest City in Cleveland, where she created, led and managed energy and utility savings programs across a portfolio of nationwide apartment, commercial and office buildings.
Today she is a principal and senior project manager of building optimization for HEAPY, an engineering and sustainability company that works with those in the healthcare, education, government, and cultural and science technology industries.
“As a female going into engineering, I had a lot of self-doubt, especially as a junior and senior in high school,” said Stephanie. “The support from my teachers, principals and advisors was critical for me. They taught me that you don’t know if you can succeed at something until you take a chance and trust yourself.”
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