Patrick McKinley is a 2014 graduate of Penn State Behrend who made quite an impact during his time there, most notably for starting the engineering fraternity Triangle Fraternity. Patrick is now a controls engineer at MECCO, a manufacturer of industrial part identification systems, in Cranberry, PA and works with Seneca Valley high school as a engineering mentor for their RotsIQ team.
Age:28
Hometown: Irwin, PA
Status: In a relationship
Favorite TV show: “Right now? The Muppets, Childhood Characters Doing Adult Things.”
Favorite Band: The Avett Bothers
Favorite food: “Chicken alfrado: noodles, cheese, and chicken, all my favorite things”
What is your favorite college memory?
“Forming Triangle. Being able to start an organization and meet all my best friend from it, and all the memories I created from that… And the beach house,” the fraternity’s hangout house off campus.
What made you want to start a fraternity?
“Mainly boredom. I had a lot of free time and I don’t do well with free time. I wanted to be around like minded people, and I liked the idea of starting something myself instead of just joining something that already existed. “
Why Triangle?
“It brought something new to Behrend. It’s engineering major specific, so it brought together a lot of like minded people; people who understand the work loads and schedules of an engineer. It also provided more social connections for engineers.“
If we’re sitting here a year from now celebrating what a great year it’s been for you, what did you achieve?
“Got a promotion at work, moved in with my girlfriend and been to another country.”
Do you like to travel?
“I do! It doesn’t matter if it’s for work or for pleasure, I just like to be in new places.”
Where has been your favorite place to travel?
“London. When I went there with my brother when I was 19. It’s not the most different from here compared to Germany, but I got to experience more of the cultural differences because I was with my brother, and not with my high school.”
If you could have a superpower what would it be?
“Spidey sense. Knowing if something is going to happen before it happens. If your Spidey sense is tingly, you know something bad is going to happen. I think that would be very useful in everyday life.”
What advise would you give college students?
“Don’t worry about not knowing what you want to do, get involved, and do your homework.”