HARRISBURG, PA — At Harrisburg University of Science & Technology (HU), students take center stage. Our Student Spotlight shines a light on the internships, career outcomes, published research, and other ways our learners are demonstrating their skills in science, business, technology, and more – and making an impact in Central Pennsylvania and beyond.
Originally from Houston, Texas, and now living in Enola, Pennsylvania, Caleb Houston ’27 is an Advanced Manufacturing & Robotics (ADMA) student at HU who was inspired to pursue his field by a familiar mentor. “Dr. Charles Shearrow, the founder of HU’s ADMA Program, was a mentor for my robotics team back in high school, and he introduced me to ADMA,” Caleb shared.
Since joining the program, Caleb has found his experience both rewarding and transformative. “It’s been amazing. The professors and staff are very nice and accommodating,” he said. “The community and personal connections you can make with staff and teachers is a very unique thing here at HU.”
One of Caleb’s proudest moments came from a hands-on project at HU’s STORMWERX Research Center. He designed and developed an emergency-stop-button bump guard to address a common lab issue. “The bump guard helps prevent people from accidentally leaning or bumping into emergency stop button,” he explained. Using sturdy 3D-printing filament, his design ensures that the button remains fully accessible and compliant with all safety standards and regulations, while preventing unnecessary stops. Since they were installed, no accidental stops have occurred.
Caleb presented the E-stop bump guards at Harrisburg University’s 2025 Research Symposium.
Caleb is also actively contributing to projects undertaken by the STORMWERX team, including a contract for the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). He credits instructors like Professor Cyrian Ekeagwu for pushing him to achieve more than he thought possible:
“Professor Cyrian has made the biggest impact on me during my time at HU. He was able to show me that I am capable of being pushed past my limits and achieve great things, especially when a project may seem impossible,” Caleb said.
Looking ahead, Caleb plans to pursue a career in the defense industry or work directly with the military. His advice for future students? “If you go into the ADMA Program, you’ll learn skills that will be useful for the rest of your life and future careers, even if it isn’t directly related to manufacturing or engineering.”
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ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University of Science & Technology (HU) is an independent, nonprofit university offering degrees in advanced manufacturing, engineering, robotics, nursing, cybersecurity, and other critical fields. Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, HU serves a diverse student body through bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs that link learning and research with practical applications. For information about HU’s affordable STEM degrees and professional development programs, call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay in the know by following Harrisburg University on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
MEDIA CONTACT
Do you have questions about this story? Interested in lining up an interview? Please contact Dan Wilhelm, Communications Manager for Harrisburg University of Science & Technology, at DWilhelm@HarrisburgU.edu or 717.901.5100×1724.
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