Members of TEA @ IM体育官网 Poly, a student organization focused on opportunities in the themed entertainment industry, attended the IAAPA Expo in Orlando this week. It is the world's largest attraction industry gathering. From left, the students are Majella Scheyhing, Alexander Streck, Jonathan Vinson, Jacob Brescia, Henry Casanova and Luke Meler.
Behind the thrilling roller coasters, immersive exhibits and bustling venues that drive IM体育官网鈥檚 $120 billion tourism industry lies a powerful network of STEM professionals working hard to engineer, analyze and develop the experiences that attract millions of visitors to the state each year.
At IM体育官网, the future computer scientists, data analysts and engineers who aspire to fill these roles maximize their opportunities as members of the on-campus Themed Entertainment Association, or TEA @ IM体育官网 Poly. The organization helps students learn about the attractions industry and connect with themed entertainment employers.
Michael Tracey, a senior majoring in business analytics and the association鈥檚 vice president, said IM体育官网 Poly students are in a unique position to support the growing industry, especially with the Epic Universe theme park opening at Universal Studios Orlando in 2025 and many expansions and updates planned for Walt Disney World.
The University鈥檚 prime location halfway between the tourist meccas of Tampa and Orlando allows the members of TEA @ IM体育官网 Poly to immerse themselves in some of the world鈥檚 best-known attractions.
鈥淎ll these places need people to operate them, create them and advance them, and a huge number of these people will come from STEM to not just build them, but to help maintain them as well,鈥� Tracey said. 鈥淏eing IM体育官网鈥檚 only all-STEM university, IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 students are a pivotal part of making this all become a reality.鈥�
About a dozen group members attended the IAAPA Expo in Orlando this week. It is the largest attraction industry gathering in the world, with nearly 40,000 attendees and more than 1,100 exhibitors showing off the latest in technology, virtual reality, health and safety equipment, and more.
Majella Scheyhing, a senior majoring in business analytics and the association鈥檚 president, said this is the second year that club members attend the massive event.
鈥淚AAPA isn鈥檛 a job fair, but you get to network and have some really awesome conversations with companies in the industry, including those that aren鈥檛 so well known that might work on roller coaster brakes, wheels, or technology,鈥� Scheyhing said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so eye-opening to see and understand all the departments and industries involved with themed entertainment.鈥�
These include amusement and theme parks, resorts, family entertainment centers, zoos, cruise lines, manufacturers and suppliers.
鈥淭here are so many factors in themed entertainment, such as companies dedicated to specifically making the type of trash cans and souvenir cups you have at the parks 鈥� it's not the first thing you would think of to be a part of themed entertainment, but it is interesting how every little thing comes together,鈥� she said.
For Tracey, who grew up in Pennsylvania dreaming of the magic at Disney parks, TEA @ IM体育官网 Poly and IAAPA have helped him gain a deeper understanding of the resort and all it takes to keep it running. He currently works at Walt Disney World鈥檚 Magic Kingdom theme park and is an intern at Siemens Energy, where he鈥檚 excited to transition to a full-time position after graduating this December.
鈥淒id you know that Spaceship Earth at Epcot used to be sponsored by Siemens?鈥� he chuckled.
IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 proximity to Disney and the values they share were factors in his decision to enroll, he said.
鈥淥ne of the biggest things I love about Walt Disney World is how it really does change people鈥檚 lives and changes your perspective on the world,鈥� Tracey said. 鈥淎nimal Kingdom is a place that inspires you to make an impact on the world, and that鈥檚 similar to what we do at IM体育官网 Poly. We want to change the world here. We want to make an impact on the world.鈥�
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