Exploring the Art of Technology
By Sarah Burke
How a CMU scholarship sparked an exceptional education
From robotics to jazz performance, Sam Rainey (E 2021) is making the most of his time at CMU — and is grateful for the support that has made it possible.
“I can’t describe how much it means to me to attend such an amazing institution thanks to the kindness of my scholarship donor,” says Rainey, who received the Milton (E 1947, 1949) and Cynthia Friedman Scholarship. “I have fallen in love with everything about Carnegie Mellon.”
This generous scholarship support has allowed Rainey to combine his passion for music with his academic work in electrical and computer engineering — both inside and outside the classroom. In addition to pursuing his degree, Rainey has designed his own guitar pedals, created musical robots through the Robotics Club’s RobOrchestra project, played guitar for Scotch’n’Soda Theatre and performed with a jazz ensemble in Kresge Theatre.
“I have experienced so many ‘firsts,’ grown so much and learned things that can only be learned through a college experience at CMU,” he says.
Rainey’s scholarship not only allows him to advance his curiosity and education, but fulfill his family’s dreams for his future. A first-generation college student, Rainey says affordability was a major concern for him and his parents — and that his scholarship opened the door to CMU.
“Neither of my parents attended college, but both believe in the power of an education,” he says. “CMU donors have shown me that this school stays true to its values and that ‘My heart is in the work’ is more than just a saying.”
Rainey credits his studies with sparking his interest in signal processing, a subfield of engineering that powers innovative technologies like speech recognition, wearables and autonomous driving. “My classroom and lab experiences have opened my eyes to so many possibilities within engineering,” he says.
After graduation, Rainey plans to use his CMU education to work on “anything that uses technology to make life better,” from self-driving cars to improving the accuracy of medical devices.
Rainey appreciates how Carnegie Mellon encourages creativity and exploration across all disciplines, from STEM to the arts. He has enjoyed learning alongside classmates who come from different backgrounds and have a wide range of interests and talents.
Rainey explains, “Carnegie Mellon is truly a unique place, and there is something special about the people here.”