Next step: Senior Software Engineering Analyst at Cardinal Health.
Like most young teens, Alexander “Alex” Duke was obsessed with playing video games in middle school and high school.
“Eventually, I got curious as to how the games worked and that curiosity quickly turned into a passion,” he said.
His interest in programming led him to major in computer science at «Ӱҵ. He was drawn to the small class sizes and the rigor of the College of Engineering’s program.
“Outside of my program, «Ӱҵ’s beautiful campus and large number of extracurricular activities fostered an environment for me to grow and develop both personal and professional skills,” he said.
Alex was involved in more than a dozen student organizations, including Polar Paws, Mortar Board, Alpha Phi Omega, and the Honors Program. Holding a leadership position for several of these organizations allowed him to develop soft skills and meet his closest friends.
His favorite was serving as an Orientation Leader (OL) and Good News Bear, welcoming prospective and new students to campus.
“It felt great to be able to contribute to the start of someone’s journey as a Polar Bear,” he said.
Professionally, Alex built a strong resume as a college student. He completed three internships and two co-ops, laying the groundwork for an incredible career in the tech industry.
At Velosio, Cardinal Health, and Marathon Petroleum Corporation, he worked in software development, data analytics, and networking engineering.
He also gained real-world experiences in his classes and labs. In the Programming 2 course, for example, he worked on a cross-curriculum team with third-year pharmacy students to develop a candidate outreach program for vaping awareness.
“Growing up during an age where technology was becoming more and more prominent in our lives was a major contributor for me to take the path I am on today,” he said.
“Computer science majors are in high demand. It’s a rapidly growing field with many different career options. «Ӱҵ’s program prepares you for success by teaching you relevant content, having you apply classroom concepts in the real world, and fostering a community that helps you grow both inside and outside the classroom.”