First Generation College Student Finds Strength In Building Teams, Businesses
“I like to know how everything comes together. This includes understanding how engineering intertwines with business.”
Phillip Gorni has taken that philosophy and run with it.
The junior in aerospace engineering designed all aspects of an interplanetary mission to the moon in a NASA student program and worked with supersonic wind tunnels as an undergrad research assistant. He also researched and developed investment methods for younger generations in a 12-week program with Principal Financial and studied the most promising aerospace companies working with hydrogen fuels for New Vista Acquisition Corporation.
Gorni teamed up with Sarah Ng, an industrial science and engineering major, to create Safety Scan, a technology that uses artificial intelligence to alert workers if they are missing or improperly wearing safety equipment. They’ve garnered headlines and honors, including $10,000 in seed funding via a Student Innovation Fund Challenge at Iowa State. The competition was established by a gift from David Slump (’91 electrical engineering), president and CEO of Marelli and innovator-in-residence for the Student Innovation Center, and his wife Christine (’91 elementary education).
“The Pappajohn Center and Student Innovation Center
have been the most pivotal things in my college experience because they helped me combine my technical engineering background with my passion for entrepreneurship in a real-world setting,” says Gorni, who hails from Elk Grove Village, Illinois. “I think my biggest motivator is being the first in my family to go to college and be raised in America. Changing the generational trend in my family is something that keeps me dreaming big.”
On campus, Gorni founded the Polish Heritage Club to foster and engage the university’s Polish community. He also started Cross Campus Connector, a podcast for students to share experiences and opportunities.
It’s that collaborative spirit that will help Gorni bring his big dreams to life.