Meet the NJIT Class of 2028: Student Athletes from Sweden, Portugal and Minnesota

Student athletes are coming from across the U.S. and around the world to study and compete at New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Here's a closer look at three new Highlanders from the Class of 2028 who play basketball, soccer and volleyball. Welcome to University Heights!

Piper Engelby
Andover, MN
Biology
Women's Basketball

Strong academics and ample opportunities to learn outside the classroom drew Piper Engelby to NJIT, where she's majoring in biology with the goal of working in pediatrics.

"I have always been interested in medical fields and have had a chance to shadow multiple doctors and clinicians," said Engelby, of Andover, MN. "Watching them interact with patients and witnessing their passion for what they do made me think I would like to help others in a similar way."

She credits relatives for shaping her outlook on life.

"My parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts. They have always supported me but [also] challenged me to push for more and not settle for what is easy," Engelby explained. "My family has given me advice from their experiences and allowed me to learn independently. If I want to achieve something, it will take a lot of effort and time, but goals are achievable."

At NJIT, she's excited to play guard on the women's basketball team while tackling a challenging curriculum at NJIT's Jordan Hu College of Science and Liberal Arts. On the horizon is medical school. But right now, she's all about Team NJIT: "Go Highlanders!"

Nathaniel Jast
Stockholm, Sweden
Computer Engineering and Applied Physics
Men's Soccer

For Nathaniel Jast of Stockholm, the chance to play NCAA Division I soccer in the U.S. was a huge draw.

Academically, he's taking a hybrid approach, focusing on both computer engineering and applied physics. "I chose applied physics because I couldn't decide between CS and engineering, so I went down the middle," he explained.

In his first year, Jast hopes to earn playing time as a midfielder and achieve a grade point average of at least 3.50. His career goal is simple but wise: "Get into a field where I'm happy to work every day."

Ema Torres
Gondomar, Portugal
Industrial Engineering
Women's Volleyball

Ema Torres, of Gondomar, Portugal, looks forward to meeting people and discovering new places. As she put it: "This is all new to me."

Torres is majoring in industrial engineering at NJIT's Newark College of Engineering while competing on the women's volleyball team.

In the process, she aims to achieve the "best grades possible" as she works toward earning a bachelor's and eventually, a master's. Today, however, she's proud to study in a different continent at a good school.

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