Junior
Grant Sheely is taking advantage of everything Oberlin College has to offer as he works towards his career-goal of becoming an environmental engineer.
The Dobbs Ferry, New York, native made the move to the midwest after being recruited for his running ability. Coupled with his parents' high recommendation of the College and the cozy feel he got during his visit, his choice of attending Oberlin was an easy one.
"It was really jarring going from being 30 minutes away from New York City to living in a small town in Ohio, but I believe this is why you go to college, to experience new things."
On campus, Sheely wears many different hats as he holds three jobs in addition to being a three-sport athlete. He serves as a grader for the astronomy department, tutors fellow students in calculus, and works at the Adam Joseph Lewis Center (AJLC).
With his career aspirations in mind, working at the AJLC is in Sheely's career path. The AJLC is a nationally acclaimed showcase for solar-powered building that has earned awards for its green building technologies and operating systems. In his many hours of work, he gathers and analyzes data to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the building even more.
In his time away from campus, Sheely continues to gain functional knowledge in the engineering field. He has already had three internships, but his experience with Sperry Product Innovation (SPI) in Boston, Massachusetts, this past summer was the most influential thus far.
"SPI takes products given to them from an outside source and innovates them. My job was to take CADs (designs) given to me and create them." He also became acquainted with the production end, as he explained in jest, "I probably made about one million feet of bubble wrap."
While he is a long way from home at Oberlin, Sheely comes from a great support network as his parents Sean and Penelope have always guided him to reach his athletic and academic goals.
"When I told them I was doing my internship in Boston this summer, they made me do it on my own. They didn't even buy my bus ticket to Boston. At first I was shocked, but now I am thankful they did not help me because I know I can survive on my own."
Prior to coming to Oberlin, he knew he wanted to be an environmental engineer. A double major in mathematics and physics, he is also minoring in environmental studies. He credits biology professors Taylor Allen and John Petersen for steering him in the right direction with his academics.
With all the work he has done on and off campus towards his career, Sheely is also a three-sport athlete, competing on the cross country team in the fall before joining the indoor and outdoor track and field teams the remainder of the year.
As a junior member of the men's cross country team, he was tasked to be a captain for the youthful 2017 cross country squad this year.
"It's been a learning process of knowing when to push my teammates and when to congratulate them."
Sheely was the team's top finisher with his 13th-place finish at the NCAC Championships this season, but his goals are set much higher than a second-team honor at conference championships as he strives for a national bid at the NCAA Regional meet on November 11.
His athletic focus will shift to the track come December.
"I love cross country, but the steeplechase has a special place in my heart. It is the type of grueling event that mentally challenges you, which has made me a better runner."
Sheely has placed third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase the past two seasons, but this year eyes are set on the NCAC championship and nationals.
Head Track and Field and Cross Country Coach Ray Appenhiemer has been a big help for Sheely.
"He is so honest, knowledgeable, and straight-forward about everything. We joke that he is like our dad on campus. We can go to him with any problem we have," he said of his coach.
Appenhiemer also has great things to say about the leader of his men's team.
"When he's in a little over his head, be it in the classroom or in running, is when we get to see his true genius. Whether it's a mechanical engineering problem or in the midst of a steeplechase, Grant looks around, looks inward, never panics, and figures things out. It's really cool to see his brain work so fast in these moments."
Sheely has had many positive influencers impact his life at Oberlin and believes the College has prepared him to succeed well into the future.
"Oberlin College has helped me make the right steps towards becoming an environmental engineer and is preparing me well for grad school and my career ahead."
