She Entered College with Three Years of Engineering Experience — J-Town’s Academies Gave Lauren Duffy Her Edge
When Lauren Duffy walked onto the University of Louisville campus to pursue her degree in mechanical engineering, she didn't feel like a typical freshman finding her footing. In terms of hands-on technical training, soft skills, and real-world networking, she had already spent years laying the groundwork.
Lauren’s journey began at Jeffersontown High School (J-Town), where she spent three years in her career pathway mastering Computer-Aided Design (CAD), taking engineering courses, and even completing a year of welding. Combined with her involvement in marching band, sports, and school leadership, J-Town provided a rich foundation—and the Academies of Louisville gave her a distinct competitive advantage from day one of college.
Hit the Ground Running in Technical CAD Skills
For many engineering students, college introduces a steep learning curve in technical software and 3D modeling. Because of her Academy coursework, Lauren skipped that learning curve entirely.
Having spent three years practicing CAD software under instructors like Jason Stepp at J-Town, Lauren entered UofL’s J.B. Speed School of Engineering with an immediate leg up.
"I came in knowing CAD, and I've loved CAD. I've done it for three years, so I've already had that kind of edge up on other students," Lauren shares. "At UofL, we use SolidWorks, which is a fairly similar basis. In our Engineering 111 class, we built windmills where we designed certain parts to hold different pieces in place. I already knew how to make them, and we already use the same software. We use Bambu printers to actually print the parts out. So it really gave me a leg up on those projects and other students."
Turning Dual Credit into Academic Momentum
Beyond technical proficiency, Lauren took full advantage of the dual credit opportunities integrated into J-Town’s Academies. By earning college credits directly in high school classrooms, she gave herself remarkable flexibility once she arrived at UofL.
"The dual credit classes I took in high school have helped me at UofL,” Lauren explains. "I'm a sophomore, but in terms of credits, I'm a junior. I've been able to skip around and play with my schedule a little bit more because I already have credits covered, and that's all from the Academies of Louisville."
Communication and Leadership as an Ambassador
While technical background gets engineers through the door, communication and leadership are what set them apart. Serving as an Academies of Louisville Student Ambassador helped Lauren develop the confidence and interpersonal skills vital for higher education and corporate environments. Supported by educators like Ashley Conway, she learned to speak up and engage with key stakeholders.
“As a sophomore, I handed my resume, and they see that applied experience—all of which I got from J-Town. They see work I did in 2D formats, 3D formats, and that’s what draws their attention.””
"It's kind of a stereotype with a lot of engineers, that we aren't usually the best at communicating or social skills," Lauren says. "Being a Student Ambassador has definitely helped with that. In a bigger class, getting to meet people and speaking out to professors is always a challenge, but as a Student Ambassador, you're already used to talking to people you don't know. So that's always helpful."
From Academy Connections to Future Co-Ops
The true hallmark of Lauren’s Academy experience is how her high school industry connections are directly driving her future career opportunities. At UofL Speed School, all engineering students participate in paid co-op internships. While searching for her co-op placement, Lauren didn't have to start from scratch—she drew on relationships she began building back at J-Town during business tours with local employers like Challenger Lifts and Lantech.
When presenting her portfolio to potential employers, her high school academy project work immediately set her resume apart from other applicants.
"When I handed my resume, trying to find a co-op, they see that applied experience, all of which I got from J-Town," Lauren says. "They see work I did in 2D formats, 3D formats, and that's what draws their attention— it’s the work I did in the Academies of Louisville. I've already made so many connections with businesses close to home, like Challenger Lifts, where mechanical engineers who went to UofL are doing what I'm doing now."
That leg up paid off in a big way when Lauren officially accepted a co-op offer with ISCO Industries, a global leader in piping solutions. By bridging her high school industry exposure with her university studies, Lauren enters the workforce with built-in professional networks and real-world confidence.
Finding Community and Looking Ahead
Transitioning to a large university campus can be daunting, but Lauren anchored herself by staying connected to her passions. Just as band provided a community at J-Town, joining the UofL Marching Band gave her a strong network of friends before her freshman classes even began.
Reflecting on her journey—from J-Town’s engineering labs to designing 3D-printed wind turbine parts and interviewing for engineering co-ops—Lauren sees a direct line between her high school preparation and her current success.
"I think UofL is a great choice, and J-Town has definitely prepared me for it," Lauren reflects. "It has been so much fun, and I love talking about what I've done with the Academies of Louisville, every single part of it. That experience applies now, and I'm going to remember it when I'm in my co-op. It’s giving me that leg up."