Cooperative Education Student Achievement Award Recipient

Marek Gibson, Purdue University

Marek Gibson is a May 2025 graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University. His specialization area is propulsion, reflected in his five semesters of Co-op work completed between Cummins and Rolls-Royce. Four with Cummins in Seymour, IN at the Seymour Engine Plant (SEP) working as a Manufacturing Engineer, and his fifth with Rolls-Royce within Manufacturing Operations in Indianapolis, IN. 

While at Cummins Marek was involved in every aspect of manufacturing, working rotations in Operations, Quality, Materials, HSE, and in the Manufacturing and Product Engineering groups. Marek’s favorite role was as a Test Validation and Performance Engineer. His time at Cummins concluded with him winning the 2022 North American Ergo Cup Award for Innovative Design and Original Solutions for his project to revitalize the boxing process for export-controlled engines, saving over $120,000 to date. At Rolls-Royce, his project work covered a wide base including cost reduction, risk assessment, throughput improvements, quality control plans, and other SQCDP goals.  He will return to Rolls-Royce full-time as part of their Manufacturing Engineering Graduate Development Program upon graduation. 

He has been described as a transparent collaborator with exceptional analytical and problem-solving capabilities that allow him to hit the ground running on all projects. His ability to stay organized and lead in a fast-paced manufacturing environment has been critical to his success. He has a strong desire to learn, share, and show his peers that anything is possible. 

At Purdue Marek is actively involved in several organizations. Most notably the Professional Practice Ambassadors, a club dedicated to promoting the Co-op program at Purdue. He has served as their President, Vice President, and External Relations Director. For the past three years, he has also been a Teaching Assistant for the Office of Professional Practice where he has mentored students and promoted their experiential learning programs.