Florida Tech Panther’s Scholar-Athlete Spotlight Recognizes Volleyball Player Audrey Keenan
By Florida Tech Sports Information // September 1, 2021
Keenan enters her fifth year with the volleyball program
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Being a scholar-athlete at Florida Tech takes an incredible amount of hard work and dedication to excel both in the classroom and on the field.
In this Scholar-Athlete Spotlight, we are featuring Florida Tech volleyball player Audrey Keenan.
The Houston, Texas native enters her fifth year with the volleyball program and this summer had a chance to gain meaningful experience at an internship in her desired field. We caught up with Keenan to learn more about the incredible opportunity.
What company were you interning for this summer? What was your title and role with the company?
I worked for BASF, the largest chemical production company in the world based out of Germany. I was their production engineering intern.
What are some exciting projects you were able to work on in the internship?
They gave me multiple meaningful projects this summer such as creating their website, utilizing Microsoft PowerAutomate to create an automatic time tracking system for technicians, and updating process and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs).
The project I enjoyed the most was developing and implementing digitized versions of daily safety inspections. I worked with one of the company’s mobile solutions engineers to transform paper inspections into a digital form.
I enjoyed this specific project because the immediate impact was visible and I was able to hear positive feedback from process technicians and site managers. It is rewarding to know the site will continue to use the digitized inspections even after my internship ended.
Did the internship prepare you for a career you would like to do after graduation?
Absolutely! I enjoyed getting hands-on experience at a plant site and look forward to having the opportunity to work as a chemical engineer following graduation.
What is your major at Florida Tech? Why did you choose this direction for your education and is this something you always wanted to pursue?
I’m pursuing a Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Nanotechnology.
I chose this degree because engineering teaches you how to think. There are numerous career paths with a chemical engineering background; the degree opens many doors.
How has being a collegiate athlete prepared you for the work you are currently doing?
Being part of a team is second nature to me. I have been a part of a team for over 18 years.
I saw this contribute to my success at my internship because I do not shy away from asking questions and involving others.
I like to hear other people’s opinions as well as having a place to talk through my own. I had such a great time talking through ideas with my boss (Juan Velazquez – Production Engineer).
What skills did you acquire at the internship that you plan to bring back to help lead the volleyball team?
Flexibility and service mentality. The internship pushed me to work on a few projects that were outside of my comfort zone, for the betterment of the plant site.
I welcomed these new challenges with an open mindset and that is what I am doing this season. This year, we have a lot of new people, including a new coach.
Even though I am entering my fifth season, many aspects of the program are brand new. I am very excited and confident in what Coach Ashlee Crowder brings to the court.
This being my third year as a captain, I am looking forward to leading the team by example as well as servitude. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to play a fifth season and plan on helping the team capitalize on the potential in front of us.
What advice would you give another athlete/prospective athlete who is looking to pursue the path you’ve taken?
Communication is the key. Communication with your coach, professors, and potential job opportunities.
Do not be afraid to reach out and ask for what you want. Networking and relationships open many doors.
LinkedIn is my favorite online platform for networking.
What are you looking forward to most in your final volleyball season?
I see this extra season as an incredible gift.
I plan on appreciating every rep in the gym, conditioning sprint, late-night away game, and especially every moment with the team.
I am thankful for being at Florida Tech and excited to represent the school on the court for one last season!
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