Tag Archives: Virginia Tech

Casting Confidence: How Victoria Rambo Ignited Her Career in Metal with FEF

After starting college during the COVID-19 pandemic, Victoria Rambo began to doubt her future as an engineer. But everything changed when she discovered Virginia Tech’s foundry and resources through the Foundry Educational Foundation (FEF) and METAL. The partnership, funded by the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment office within the Department of Defense, accelerates the development of a skilled workforce through hands-on training and internship opportunities. Rambo quickly molded her doubt into a promising future in metal. 

One year after graduating, Rambo, 23, is an associate metallurgist at Carpenter Technology Corporation who focuses on alloy research and development. The enthusiasm she stoked in Virginia Tech’s foundry has led her to creating replica missile fins for the National Museum of the Marine Corps, presenting at the American Foundry Society (AFS) national conference and being featured in the book Women in Steel Volume II. 

If you told Rambo about her current job as a freshman, she wouldn’t have believed this career path was possible. 

“When I started college during COVID, I was thrown into online classes. I was struggling to make connections with professors and with other students,” she explained. “I started with a low GPA and thought, is engineering really worth it?” 

By her sophomore year, a friend recommended Rambo visit Virginia Tech’s foundry, one of 20 FEF-certified university foundries in the country. She met FEF Key Professor Alan Druschitz and was eager to learn more about what the metal industry had to offer. Druschitz’s mentorship was exactly what Rambo needed to spark a sense of purpose—and her comeback to engineering. 

“He was one of the first professors I connected with who cared about the student to teacher relationship,” she said. Soon, Rambo’s confidence lifted, her academic performance improved, and the foundry became her second home.

Igniting a Future in Metalcasting

Rambo’s first stint in engineering was in high school. Both of her parents are mechanical engineers with the Department of Defense, and she planned to follow in their footsteps. She went to a vocational high school where she took classes like drafting and began to explore robotics competitions and STEM programs. Her first internship was at Aberdeen Proving Ground with the Army Educational Outreach Program working on weather-detection sensors for drones. 

What drew her toward a degree in material science and engineering was bringing concepts and designs to life off the paper. In the foundry, Rambo used fire and metal to do just that. 

“I was basically living there by my senior year,” she joked, as she became enamored with learning the casting process. In her classes, she studied the basics—how to make molds, steps to pouring molten metal and when to use an induction or resistance furnace. Before long, she was ready to apply these skills to innovative research and mentoring other metallurgy students. 

Through research assistantships funded by FEF and METAL, Rambo was able to support graduate students’ metalcasting projects and soon she was leading cutting-edge research of her own. 

Together, Drushitz and Rambo launched first-time research in the properties of ductile iron, which is often used in pipes, automotive parts and agricultural equipment that can withstand fluctuating temperatures. Thanks to FEF’s funding, Rambo was able to experiment with the iron for more than a year, exploring how to make the production process less expensive with manganese and aluminum instead of nickel. 

This research is ongoing at Virginia Tech’s foundry, but Rambo had the opportunity to present her preliminary findings at the American Foundry Society’s 2024 Metalcasting Congress. She said opportunities like this one provided her with the skills to be successful in her career.

“It helped me with my professional development and the technical knowledge when I was applying for the job that I have now,” Rambo said. “With the conferences, you’re also developing your soft skills, communicating and building your social network and meeting students from other universities. I think that is so important.”

Drushitz continued to mentor Rambo, encouraging her to apply to internships with the Swedish steel company SSAB and for scholarships with FEF and the American Institute for Steel and Technology. In 2023, she received FEF’s Keith Dwight Millis Scholarship for students interested in the advancement of ductile iron.

Rambo said having a great mentor is even more important for women in the metal industry. Less than one-third of employees in manufacturing are women, according to a report from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. 

“Drushitz was always there to make sure my voice was heard,” she added. “I don’t think I would’ve been able to accomplish what I have without him.”

Molding an Industry Leader

By her senior year, Rambo served as Virginia Tech’s AFS President, taught three classes in the metalcasting program and had six job offers before she graduated. Most engineering students struggle to excel after a low GPA, Druschitz said, but Rambo’s involvement with the foundry gave her the spark she needed to thrive. 

“Victoria was highly recruited by foundries and the steel industry,” Druschitz added. “She started to get involved with the Women in Steel conferences and those are great for support with people who will say, ‘you can do it.’”

In addition to her research experience, Rambo believes her expertise in the MAGMA casting design software helped her stand out to potential employers. She learned how to use the industry program through an FEF student training session and later earned a level 1 certification so she could teach MAGMA to other students. Not only was the software essential in student casting competitions, Rambo said it’s a core skill manufacturers are looking for. 

“I think that shows how much FEF is trying to make metallurgy and metalcasting innovative and part of the future,” she said. Rambo added that there’s often a misconception with students that metallurgy is an “old science,” but new technology is always pushing the industry forward. 

Sometimes Rambo still can’t believe the metalcasting and leadership experience she gained while earning her undergraduate degree. She’s thankful to FEF and METAL for the financial opportunities and support that helped mold her career. 

“FEF wants to support the future generation of students coming into the industry,” Rambo said. “If you fall in love with metalcasting, give it your all because the opportunities will be there. The connections you make with professors and students will be your biggest support along the way.” 

To learn more about FEF’s METAL internship opportunities, email nbacik@fefinc.org. 

To learn more about METAL, including apprenticeships and online training, visit metalforamerica.org or fill out our contact form.

Casting the Future: Ianto Woolridge’s Journey into Metalcasting with FEF

Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning (METAL) partners with the Foundry Educational Foundation (FEF) to help build the next generation of talent in U.S. manufacturing. 

Established in 1947, FEF is the liaison between students, educators and industry leaders, ensuring young engineering talent enters the metalcasting industry. Today, it continues that mission by supporting scholarships, engineering programs and internships that shape the next generation of professionals in the field.

As part of this partnership, FEF has placed 24 interns from 10 universities in its first program phase and secured multiple industry partners to develop 10 more internships. 

FEF Interns work on real-world projects, assist with student outreach and gain critical networking opportunities that help shape their careers.

Meet Ianto Woolridge

Through our collaboration with FEF, METAL supports students like Ianto Woolridge, a freshman at Virginia Tech majoring in Materials Science and Engineering.

As part of FEF’s internship placement program, FEF placed Ianto at Virginia Tech as a foundry intern specializing in investment casting using 3D-printed expendable molds. His regular duties include setting up gating, creating molds around cast patterns and sintering molds under the direction of Virginia Tech foundry director Dr. Alan P. Druschitz.

Woolridge joined FEF in the Fall of 2024 and has since gained valuable insights and direction for his future career. Here’s what he said about how his FEF program experience has shaped his academic and professional goals.

Q: Tell us about your experience in metalcasting since joining the FEF program.

A: The FEF internship was my first real exposure to metalcasting and it’s been such a valuable experience. I joined the program in the fall of my freshman year. At that time, I had no idea what to expect. I knew I was interested in materials science, but I hadn’t explored the practical side of how those materials are used in manufacturing. Getting into the foundry for the first time was eye-opening. I saw firsthand how raw materials are transformed into usable products and that hands-on experience helped me understand the purpose behind what I’m learning in class. It was a huge shift from theory to practice and sparked a genuine interest in metalcasting.

Q: What essential skills have you learned from your time in the university foundry lab?

A: One of the biggest things I’ve developed is my problem-solving ability, especially under real-world conditions. In the foundry, things don’t always go according to plan. Whether it’s issues with temperature control, molds, or unexpected results in the casting process, I learned how to stay calm and work through challenges methodically. I also developed better communication skills. I leaned heavily on seniors in the foundry who had more experience and they were incredibly supportive. Collaborating with them taught me to ask the right questions, learn from feedback and troubleshoot effectively. I know I’ll take these skills with me into any engineering or professional setting.

Q: How do you see your metalcasting experiences influencing your career path?

A: When I first came to Virginia Tech, my plan was straightforward: get a degree, go to graduate school, earn a PhD and work in a research lab. But the FEF experience shifted my perspective. Working in the foundry made me realize that I prefer hands-on, outdoor work where I can physically interact with materials and processes. I enjoy the energy of the foundry, the teamwork and the tangible outcomes. While I still value academic research, I now see myself pursuing a more applied role in the industry—something that blends engineering with real-time problem-solving and production.


Examples of Ianto Woolridge’s work as part of the Virgina Tech FEF Program

 Q: In what ways has FEF supported your academic and industry experiences?

A: FEF has made a significant impact on both my education and my confidence as a student. Because I had early exposure to real casting and manufacturing techniques, I’ve felt more prepared and less intimidated by my coursework – especially in classes like manufacturing, where we’re expected to understand casting principles. That’s been a game changer for me. It’s one thing to study manufacturing, but it’s another to see and do it for yourself. FEF allowed me to apply what I’m learning and to connect the dots between theory and practice.

Q: What message would you share with supporters of FEF who help make these opportunities possible?

A: I can’t thank FEF and its supporters enough. Without the scholarship and the opportunity to get involved early in the foundry, I probably wouldn’t have discovered how much I enjoy this type of work. It’s not just about the financial support – though that certainly helps – it’s about being given a space to learn and explore. Because of this program, I’ve explored options for a future career after graduation. I hope donors and industry partners continue to invest in FEF because their impact on students like me is life-changing.

Q: What would you say to other students or the general public who may not be aware of opportunities in metalcasting or manufacturing?

A: There’s a gap in awareness. Many students go into engineering just thinking about high-paying jobs, but they often overlook careers in metallurgy or manufacturing. These fields are essential to the U.S. economy but don’t get the visibility they deserve. Programs like FEF help change that by exposing students to what these careers look like. They show us that hands-on, high-technology work in these industries can be just as impactful and rewarding as more traditional engineering paths.

Learn more about FEF’s programs and its mission here: https://www.fefinc.org/