1. Who am I? Akihiro Nakamura Junior at Mercer
Studying IST with a minor in Com Sci
Did some bio informatics for MIC

2. Kevin Long Computer Science Graduate
So My name is Akihiro Nakamura. I am an junior at Mercer and an IST major, which is basically a study of the use of technology and how to apply them. I have
Worked for Mercer’s innovation center, doing some bioinformatics works, such as entering and aggregating patients data into a database and now I am working as ambassador, giving you the reasons to go to Mercer’s computer science .
So, with that explained I am here to introduce you guys a Mercer graduate and his experiences with Mercer. Here I have Kevin Long who graduated Mercer with a computer science degree.

3. Background Born in Nashville, Tennessee Resides in Warner Robins
Went to Mercer because of proximity
Studied a B.S in Comp Sci
So Kevin was born in Nashville, Tennessee. He came down to Warner Robins not too long ago, basically when he was a still a high schooler. And so he finished highschool at warner robins and wanted to look for a college. And I unlike many of you who are choosing colleges based on prestige or what programs it has, he choose to go to Mercer because of its proximity from his house. From here, he choose to under take a computer science degree.
He basically didn’t have any experience in programming or anything of that skill and choose the degree because he had liked computers. He didn’t really think about it that much, of how the workload was or the fact he just choose a computer based program on a whim and that’s not nesccarily bad or sorts. Some of us don’t have a long and concrete plan of what to do. Sometimes we just need to wing it.
Now Kevin was pretty relaxed until the day came to take his first programming classes. He told me he was actually pretty timid. He wasn’t sure of his ability to perform well and he had really only gotten to study computer science on a whim.

4. Influential Professors
Dr. Bob Allen had a huge influence on him
Dr. Digh as well.
Both professors ingrained some confidence in him.
They were clear and understanding.
Luckily the Mercer computer science department had some pretty awesome professors. Two of which that helped Kevin on his journey through Mercer. These two professors were Dr. Allen and Dr. Digh. (Point to the respective professors). They really put some much needed confidence in Kevin. These two were approachable in terms of there character. They were never to turn down a student regardless of the situation. They stuck with you until you got that problem solved or you understood what was going on in class. This attitude in the professors really helped Kevin in his journey in Mercer. He felt confident now that he had someone behind his back and felt that he could tackle a degree like computer science and make it out alive.
And he did. He graduated Mercer with a B.S in computer science

5. Where is he now? Works at the Mercer Engineering Research Center
Got the job by Interning there
Focuses on Web Development
And that leaves us the question to where is he now? Well, Kevin now works at the Mercer Engineering Research Center. It is a non profit provider of engineering and logistic services. They do lots of stuff that includes field testing of aircraft structural analysis and design, reverse engineering and prototyping, electronic warfare software algorithm, and web deployed applications with integrated database access and many more of that sort.
Kevin focuses on web development side of things. He got that job actually interning at Merc and they like him so much because of his confidence and work ethics that he gained from staying at Mercer.. Now he still resides in Warner Robins working for the talented MERC.

6. Advice to upcoming freshman
Start projects not the night before, but start them as soon as you get them.
So, Kevin actually gave me some advice for all of you potential freshman. And that’s basically don’t procrastinate. On your projects. This is true regardless of which major you’re in. If you start projects the night before, you’re going to be in a rude awakening. You might think, “oh this won’t take to long” but then you get to the part of project that has you tearing your hair and crying at night because you didn’t commit the time to look through it.
Think about it like a bench press. You don’t want to do 300 pounds at one time.

7. Why Mercer?
The professors are there for you. Don’t have to wait in line for them and are always helpful.
So come to Mercer because of the tight knit community and the attentive professors. You will learn and experience so much