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Student Feedback

"Well honestly if it was not for Dr. Prier I would not have went to Texas Tech. He told me how great the engineering program was and he was not wrong!"  - Darrell Jackson, Software Engineer, Student of 2010s


"Dr. Prier and Ms. Mann helped me figure out what different schools would be perfect for me. They taught me how to consider all the factors when picking my career and helped me find my passion instead of just trying to make money. I will be attending Stanford University and pursuing a Biomedical computational studies degree. These cool nerds also helped me find internships and never discouraged me from trying my best. under their leadership the sky was the limit and I had lots of guidance but also freedom to explore my path. My mentors also helped me stick to my goals even when I couldn’t see it was for my benefit. They helped me fight laziness with motivation and tales of their successes and journeys."  - Sydney Prier, Stanford Undergrad, Student of 2020s


"My experience with Dr. Prier was fantastic he was one of if not my number one favorite teacher and being in the class did motivate me to keep going in achieving my career goals "- Daylen Williams, Student of 2020s


"During my junior year I was having doubts about my ability to succeed in life academically, and it was impacting my contribution to the robot and Dr. Prier noticed it. He sat me down and had a conversation with me basically telling me his tale and it was then that I realized that despite how successful he is his start off was very similar to my own which encouraged me to keep trying nonetheless. That moment was an extremely life changing experience for me and whenever I’m feeling a little uncertain I just remember the conversation to keep pushing". - Quincy Kemany, University Student at UTD, Student of 2020s


"Mr. Prier helped establish confidence in my general abilities and acted as a mentor through a challenging time in my life. As a result it helped me believe in what I could do if I focused and applied myself. I did not attend college but his guidance did help me in other personal and professional aspects of my life. I am forever grateful for the impact he had on me as a young adult and have used him as a model for how I work with the young men and women I now help." - Casey Blackketter, Technician at Audi Rocklin, Student of 2000s


"At the time, I was an international exchange student. While taking an engineering class held by Mr. Prier, I joined his robotics team because It seemed fun. Being on a team like that was a new experience for me in itself. In my country, we don't really have these kinds of competitive teams (at least not in high school). The team showed me how people with different skillsets can work together to create a machine that is able to do a specific set of tasks in the most efficient way. Working on these robots, I also got interested in basic software development, which I never thought would be interesting. Mr. Prier mentored the team really well; if you were stuck on something, he would help with working out a solution together. While I always liked physics and math as subjects, the robotics team and my talks with Mr. Prier about him working as an engineer were the most significant reasons for me to study engineering in college. Right now I'm studying Mechanical engineering with a Numerical computation specialization at the University of Miskolc in Hungary. The college system here is different, so there are no majors or minors, it's close to free, etc. The experiences I had during this period of time changed my view on many things: industry, teamwork, education, etc." - János Kopasz, Full Time Student, Student of the 2010s


"I never knew what major I wanted to pursue but with Prier I was able to find my way to be in love with math. While not a stem program I was pursuing the knowledge of marketing and business management. He was very accommodating towards leadership and helped me break out my shell toward a new dawn. I was able to do that with the Robotics Team that we built and also in his classes where he used his own experience to develop our skills and passion toward certain things. He saw our flaws and skills, with that he fixed some of our errors and helped us be successful in our departments. All in all he was a big part in my decision to go to college and helped me until the very end." - Erik Gonzales, Car Wholesale Marketer , Student of the 2020s


"Dr. Prier's impact on my academic journey has been profound. Ever since meeting Dr Prier in my junior year, Prier has done nothing but push his students to their absolute best, especially in the field of engineering. His mentorship and contributions to the robotics program ignited a spark of interest and excitement in many including me. Thanks to the workload and first hand experience under Dr.Prier, I was able to decide upon my major choices (mechatronics or computer engineering), which ultimately influenced my decision to attend Texas A&M University."  - Pedro Maya, College student TAMU, Student of 2020s


"Being quite honest in our community we don’t see many black and brown people pursuing careers in STEM, however the outlook on this all changed when Prier came into the scene. Prier introduced us to not only many of his connections in STEM but also his family, a family whose DNA screamed all things STEM. Their dedication, from the youngest daughter all the way to the old man himself, inspired my peers and I to not limit ourselves to the things around us, but to achieve things that we don’t see people like us doing. Being that I am now pursuing computer science at Texas State University, maybe one day I can also come back to communities and inspire future generations too."  - Shawn Bolton, Amazon, Sortation , Student of 2020s


"Drs. Prier and Mann were very influential in building my academic confidence in highschool when at the time I didn’t apply myself. By showing me that I had a talent for problem solving and providing a welcoming environment for ideas I learned that engineering can be fun and a way for me to have a purpose in the world. I ended up attending Texas A&M University with a major in Civil Engineering. There I found my passion for project management and designing large scale projects which led me to join LJA Engineering as a graduate engineer in their residential Land Development division. As of now I am currently working on my Professional Engineering License." - Jonathan Woodfield, Graduate Engineer at LJA Engineering, student of the 2010s


"My experiences with Mr.Prier in robotics class showed me that even if I didn’t believe in myself or the dreams I wanted to chase, I knew that he would back me 100 percent of the time. Him backing my dreams gave me the confidence to do what I do now for a living. I’m currently 20 years old, only a couple of years out of high school & I’m making at least $80,000 a year. The career path I chose was to be a certified Airplane Technician and it only took me two years to do it. I started school at MIAT college of technology 3 days after graduating from carver high school. While all my friends were worried about enjoying their summer before they started their 4 year school, I was grinding to make sure my dreams came true sooner than later ! There‘s a saying I’ve been living by since I graduated & it goes “Do the hard work while you're young. Work hard until it feels normal. Never settle. Never settle !!” Thanks for listening to my story". - Justin Eaglin, Airframe & Powerplant Technician (A&P) for WC Aviation, Student of the 2020s


"As a foreign exchange student, I sought an opportunity to explore and discover myself in the United States. Fortunately, I was fortunate enough to have the chance to be one of Mr. Prier’s students, which turned out to be an incredibly rewarding experience. Recognizing my potential, he extended an invitation for me to join his robotics team, an opportunity I will forever cherish.

Under his guidance, I not only learned the technical aspects of robotics but also imbibed invaluable life lessons. Mr. Prier emphasized the importance of teamwork and encouraged us to adopt an engineer's mindset. Instead of providing us with direct step-by-step instructions, he adeptly guided us in thinking systematically, brainstorming collaboratively, and unleashing our creativity to overcome challenges.


His unique approach and teaching style deeply inspired me, igniting a passion that propelled me towards a career in design engineering. Through his mentorship, I discovered my affinity for engineering and my aspiration to contribute to innovative design solutions. This journey has been a direct result of his mentorship and has played a pivotal role in shaping my academic and professional path.


In conclusion, my time as a member of Mr. Prier's robotics team not only enriched my understanding of engineering but also instilled within me the drive to pursue design engineering as a career. His coaching style and unwavering belief in my potential have had a lasting impact on my life, for which I am truly grateful." - Kasidit Vatcharasukpo, Chief Design Engineer/ISUZU TECHNICAL CENTER OF ASIA, Student of the 2000s


"When I was deciding on where to go for school, Dr. Prier would educate me on what I need to look out for and to understand what it is I am going to school for. This is how I was able to know what to research for in a school and how to decide on what school was truly for me."  - Donovan Toran, Quest Trust Company, Jr. Business Analyst , Student of the 2010s


"Don and Monikka have made an immensely positive impact on my life. Attending college was always a goal of mine but, there seemed to be an endless supply of turmoil within my family unit, and as an aspiring first generation college student, I had minimal guidance and support to help me navigate the process. I really struggled after high school. Don and Monikka stepped in and provided me with the support that was essential to keeping me motivated to accomplish what often felt impossible. Monikka is the embodiment of an empowered woman and seeing her in action is a sight to behold. She is a fierce leader but at the same time very nurturing and compassionate. I often lean on the “Monikka” archive saved in my memory to help me through whatever challenge I am facing. If I can’t find the answer there, she is often the first person I call and she always makes time to help me sort things out. As a woman striving to be successful in a world primarily run by men, it’s a blessing to have such an incredible female role model to aspire to be like. Like Monikka, Don is also a wonderful role model. He is as persistent as they come, and always pushes you to strive to be your absolute best. He is constantly teaching, in and out of the classroom, and he does it with a quirkiness that just makes the challenge fun! He has an infectious laugh, it is impossible to hear it and not immediately cheer right up. Don and Monikka have been an integral part of my development as a human, and to keep me in the mindset necessary to accomplish everything I ever hoped to. Their belief in me over the years is what gave me the strength to continue to believe in myself. When I veered off path, they were there to steer me in the right direction. I attended a handful of colleges and stumbled across a few roadblocks along the way, but ultimately I completed my bachelors of science in accounting at Western Governors University. I loved it so much that I kept the train rolling and completed my masters less than a year later and now I am a Financial Controller at a local manufacturer." - Natasha McCreary, Financial Controller, Olympic Mountain Products, Student of the 2000s