Collin Freeman ’26 is going into winter break with one of the most requested holiday gifts on Merrimack’s campus – a job offer.
Once the mechanical engineer major graduates next spring, he’ll enter General Dynamics Mission Systems’ three-year engineering leadership program. He interned at the company as a hardware engineer this past summer.
“It’s a rotational program that allows me to see different parts of the business while receiving my master’s degree,” he explained. “I’ll rotate around different programs within the company every 6 to 9 months.”
At this time, Freeman plans on getting his master’s in material engineering. He’s still weighing his options on where to apply.
“I had an internship at MassDOT during my junior year,” he explained. “I was a highway engineering intern where I worked on a $5 million project that built a bike path in Westfield, Mass., my hometown. When I came back from winter break that year, I switched to a materials intern. I was in the lab testing materials all day. It really piqued my interest.”
Growing up, Freeman said he was deeply interested in building, whether it be with Legos or video games. He learned about engineering through some of his family members who worked in the field.
“It was a big reason why I wanted to be an engineer,” he continued. “It’s cool to say I’m also an engineer in our family.”
As one of 24 students in his high school class, Freeman said he wanted to find a college that had a strong community element.
“I went to a Catholic high school and during that time, my faith became more and more important to me,” he explained. “Continuing on to a Catholic college was huge for me as well.”
Merrimack’s campus felt like home for Freeman ever since the first time he stepped onto campus, so much so that he kept coming back for tours and took a total of five before finally applying.
“I had the same tour guide every time,” he laughed. “I don’t know how that was even possible. We ended up becoming friends. Now I’m on the executive board of the tour guides here on campus. The kids that I see around campus, a lot of them remember me as their tour guide. It’s amazing to have such a wide network of people.”
Freeman spent his time at Merrimack getting involved in as many student organizations as he could. During his freshman year, he joined the American Society of Mechanical Engineers at Merrimack – and he currently serves as president of the chapters. He was also part of the Let’s Innovate student club and once participated in the annual steel bridge competition.
“I wanted to see everything,” he explained. “I really didn’t know anybody. I thought if I got into these clubs and met new people, it would help me find who I want to be here. It led me to make friends that I still have today and meet people I’ve been able to network with professionally.”
Reflecting on the past four years, Freeman said he’s proud of how he spent his time.
“It’s surreal (that I’m graduating soon),” he said. “I didn’t think it would go by this fast. I have loved every moment I’ve been here. I feel like Merrimack has really prepared me for professional life. The faculty here helped me get my resume done, write a cover letter and find a job. It’s been a huge resource for me.”
