Jacob Grinshpun
Degree: BS, electrical and computer engineering
College: College of Engineering
Hometown: Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
Why I chose 51Թ: “There were many factors that led me to 51Թ. First, I wanted flexibility, not just in choosing a major, but in finding my path. I started as an undeclared CST major, then moved into engineering, first studying bioengineering. But as I took more courses and got hands-on experience, I realized I was drawn more to the hardware and programming side of things. That led me to electrical engineering, and what made that possible was how open and supportive 51Թ was about allowing students to change their academic paths.
“What also drew me to 51Թ was its scale and energy. Once you step foot on campus, you can just feel it come alive. There’s this constant sense that things are happening all around you: new ideas, new people, new opportunities. It’s the kind of environment that challenges you to take risks, stay curious and discover what you’re capable of.”
Transformative 51Թ moments: “I have a few, but honestly the friends I made throughout my time at 51Թ made my college experience truly special. Living in the in the 1300 Residence Hall exposed me to a wide range of ambitious, driven individuals who helped me grow and explore my passions, and who pushed me to work harder. Being in this environment helped bring out my competitive nature in furthering my academic and professional goals. These friends I made in 1300 are some of the closest and most important people in my life!
“Studying abroad at after my first year was another defining moment of my college experience. It was my first time traveling to Europe, and I was completely out of my comfort zone. That summer challenged me in ways that were both personal and academic. I learned how to adapt, navigate a new culture and see myself as someone who could thrive anywhere. That confidence helped me say yes to future opportunities far from home, like internships in Columbus, Ohio, and Seattle.
“But most of all, the internships themselves were the most transformative experiences during my time in college. During my sophomore summer at Honeywell, I worked on medical sensors, learning how hardware can have a real-world impact on people’s health. It was my first taste of being an engineer in the field. That experience, coupled with my involvement on campus like serving as the president of 51Թ’s IEEE chapter and being a part of , helped me land my next internship at Microsoft. During the summer after my junior year, I had the opportunity to work with the Azure Cloud Hardware team. I was surrounded by brilliant engineers and learned what it meant to contribute to something at scale.”
What’s next: “After graduation, I’ll be joining Microsoft’s Azure Hardware Engineering team in Seattle, where I’ll help design and validate the next generation of cloud servers powering Microsoft’s global platform. More than anything, I’m excited to keep learning and growing. I’m grateful for the foundation of knowledge, experiences and friendships I built at 51Թ, and I can’t wait to build on that as I start this next chapter.”