Marmion senior lands engineering job at Ford before even graduating

Henry Medernach has just accepted a job offer with Ford Motor Company’s engineering division.

He’s still a senior at Marmion Academy.

An Aurora native, Henry will be attending Kettering University in the fall to study mechanical engineering. As part of the school’s co-op program, Henry secured a paid, full-time internship at Ford that will begin this July.

“It’s kind of funny,” Henry said. “You’re sitting in class, and you realize you have your college and your job lined up. It’s exciting. And a little surreal.”

Henry’s path took shape inside Marmion’s Computational Prototyping and Research Center (CPARC), where students move beyond textbooks and into real-world engineering challenges.

“I came into high school knowing I wanted to try engineering,” he said. “In CPARC, I pushed myself. I learned to set my own goals, lead fellow Cadets, and work with real companies. I even turned a few ideas sketched on a napkin into a modern computer model I can use to run professional-level tests.”

“That hands-on experience is exactly the point,” says Dr. Victor Pinks, who leads the program.

“We’re training students for the real world of engineering,” he said. “Companies need people who can design, simulate, and solve problems from day one. That’s what our students learn to do.”

In the collaborative environment of the Computational Prototyping and Research Center, older students mentor younger ones, building both technical skills and confidence. Henry became one of those leaders, helping others while sharpening his own abilities.

Dr. Pinks puts it simply: “It’s about hard work and passion. Henry loves what he’s doing. That’s what makes the difference.”

For Henry, the result is clarity. “Everything is starting to fall into place,” he said. “Now I just have to keep going.”