Omar Shaheed III Makes History as South Carolina State University’s First Mechatronics Engineering Graduate
Omar Shaheed III has carved his name into South Carolina State University’s history, becoming the first graduate of the university’s Mechatronics Engineering program, a milestone that reflects both personal determination and the forward-thinking vision of the institution.
A 2020 graduate of Berkeley High School, Shaheed took a bold step into a then-unfamiliar field after being encouraged by Dr. Hasanul Basher, professor and chairman of SC State’s Department of Engineering Technology, to apply to a newly forming academic program. At the time, the Mechatronics Engineering degree was still in its developmental stage at the Historically Black College and University (HBCU), and Shaheed would become its very first student.
Officially launched in 2023 under the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Transportation, the Mechatronics Engineering program is designed to prepare students for careers at leading global companies such as Boeing, BMW, Eli Lilly, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Savannah River Nuclear Solutions. The multidisciplinary field blends electronics, robotics, control systems, communications, computer technology, and power systems to meet the demands of modern industry.
Despite having limited prior exposure to mechatronics, Shaheed embraced the challenge. Throughout the program, he gained hands-on experience designing, testing, and manufacturing intelligent systems used in robotics, assistive technologies, human-machine interaction, manufacturing processes, and unmanned systems.
His academic journey was further strengthened by four competitive internships across major engineering organizations. As a sophomore, Shaheed completed his first internship at Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, where he contributed to the design of an HVAC system layout. He later joined Boeing for three separate internships, each focused on a different engineering discipline. These included Lean Six Sigma process improvements in Charleston, South Carolina; manufacturing engineering in Oklahoma City, where he worked on Air Force One; and product engineering in Charleston, supporting the Boeing 787 Dreamliner program.
Reflecting on his experiences, Shaheed highlighted the versatility of mechatronics engineering. “Each 787 is a different plane, so I got to work directly with customers and learn how adjustments are made,” he said. “All my internships were in different areas because mechatronics is so versatile. I’ve learned a lot.”
His impressive internship track record has already translated into career success. Shaheed has secured a full-time engineering position with Boeing South Carolina in North Charleston, set to begin in early 2026. In his new role, he will rotate through multiple engineering departments every six months while working on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Shaheed officially earned his Bachelor’s degree from South Carolina State University on December 11, marking not only a personal achievement but a defining moment for the university’s engineering program.“I’m very excited because it’s been a long time coming,” Shaheed shared. “But more importantly, it means a lot to Dr. Basher and the program that someone finished.”
As South Carolina State University’s first Mechatronics Engineering graduate, Omar Shaheed III stands as a trailblazer, setting a powerful precedent for future students and reinforcing the university’s growing impact in advanced engineering education.
