Name: Will Pyne

Field of Study: Mechanical Engineering

Status: Alumnus

Graduation Year: 2020

Hometown: Crofton, Maryland

Why did you choose Catholic University? The ability to major in engineering and also participate in collegiate baseball.

"Catholic is a small university feel in one of the coolest cities in the country."
– Will Pyne

Activities: Captain of the baseball team

Favorite classes: Senior design. It was a very worthwhile experience to get to design a product for a real company from the smallest nuts and bolts to the calculations and principles the design is founded on. Although my fellow seniors and I did not get a chance to finish our projects due to COVID-19, I am still thankful we were able to develop an idea into working concept.

Goals: I’m excited to continue to grow in the construction industry and learn more from those around me. For now, I’m excited to see the Catholic dining hall through and look forward to new and innovative future projects.

Is there a faculty or staff member at CatholicU who has made a significant impact on your time here? My Associate Head Baseball coach Bobby Picardo. He has helped me grow as both a person and player over the past four years. He has helped me and other players to find summer baseball leagues to play in that fit into their own individual wants and needs. For example, Bobby helped me find a team that I could get off of work in the summer and go and play nine innings of baseball. This experience laid the groundwork for me to hold the current job I have right out of college.

What makes Catholic University unique? Catholic is a small university feel in one of the coolest cities in the country. The amount of green space and freedom that students have to be “college students” but still have access to a major city with tons of resources and entertainment is completely unique.

Proudest accomplishment: I am most proud that our baseball team won the 2018 Landmark Conference championship.

An experience that exemplifies what Catholic University means to you? I was a four-year volunteer at the Nationals Youth Baseball academy in southeast Washington D.C. Two times a week I would go along with some fellow baseball players to volunteer our time with their after school program for local and at-risk youth. We would teach them baseball skills and play games as well as try to connect with them on a personal level about their everyday lives and struggles. It was a very rewarding experience and it felt so good to be able to give back to the community that I care so much about.