This fall, the Department of Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering's IISE students at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, once again demonstrated their drive to prepare for the real world in hosting a collaborative Six Sigma Green Belt Certification that drew impressive participation across class years. Led by Professor Lisa Cudney, IISE Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Professor at Maryville University, the certification gave students hands-on experience with problem-solving tools, data-driven decision-making and the kind of process improvement strategies that define modern engineering careers.
IISE Professional Director Rylee Hanlon said she was thrilled by the turnout and the momentum the training created. “I hope the students are proud of their initiative to grow their skills and learn more about how to apply their ISE degree to real world scenarios,” she said.
Professor Cudney shared that she was especially inspired to see first-year students dive into the material. “I was impressed to see freshmen already taking advantage of this opportunity, learning process improvement early, and building their resumes for internships and full-time careers. Their professionalism and drive were inspiring, and I’m excited to see the impact they will make.”
For many students, the certification not only strengthened their technical toolkit but also changed their confidence, perspective and professional direction.
IISE President, Karissa Patel saw the course as a chance to stand out. “This certification gives students a chance to gain industry experience and really excel,” she said. Unsure at first what skills she needed to succeed as an ISE major, she found clarity and a competitive edge through Six Sigma. During her summer internship at Comcast, she even applied the DMAIC methodology directly to her projects. “It helped me make decisions based on facts and data instead of assumptions,” she said. “This certification opened so many doors to leadership opportunities, internships and more self-confidence in my classes.”
Sophomore Ridhima Vakkalagadda enrolled after hearing a relative describe how impactful Six Sigma had been in their owncareer. She found the training deeply connected to her coursework: “It taught me to apply what I’m learning now to data analytics and real business strategies.”
For senior Dimiter Kramer, the training validated just how essential these tools are in practice. “I’ve used SPC and related analyses many times in my internships. It’s a must-know set of topics for ISE.” He also highlighted Professor Cudney’s leadership insights: “Her practical lessons for leading teams and managing projects were invaluable—a treasure for anyone seeking a leadership role in the future.”
And for Aleena Chulanon, the experience underscored the value of stepping beyond the classroom. “It’s a great opportunity to learn practical skills and see real-world applications across so many fields,” she said.
Across each perspective, one theme was clear: students are choosing to invest early in the skills that will shape their careers. By hosting and participating in this Six Sigma Certification Training, they are not only preparing themselves for internships, they’re building a foundation for lifelong leadership and professional excellence.
When students graduate with both a top-tier engineering degree and industry-recognized credentials, they step into the workforce not only prepared but empowered. This year’s cohort showed exactly what that future can look like.
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