Seven months. 

That’s how long Mary Bellino had been a member of the Formula SAE team before she was elected team captain. The mechanical engineering major stepped up to the position and led the UM-Dearborn team to stronger showings at international competitions. 

“I work hard to make sure that our team experiences as much success as possible," she said. "We are very capable of being a top contender at competition and continuing the steady growth we have shown over the past few years is very important to me.”

Formula SAE requires students to design, manufacture, build and race their own car. In September, the UM-Dearborn team placed fourth in the International Toronto Shootout SAE competition. 

“Mary is simply an exemplary leader. She commands respect  through her hard work, exceptional organizational skills and dedication to detail,” said Patrick Lynch, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and team adviser.

Mary is committed to reaching out to youth interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). She spends her time away from the racetrack volunteering at events hosted by the College of Engineering and Computer Science for incoming freshman and high school students. She also is a high school calculus tutor. 

Mary has been able to apply skills she gained as team captain to her position at Roush Industries in design and program management, which also has sparked an interest in the automotive industry.

“Being named team captain and president of the Formula SAE team gave me the opportunity to grow as a leader," she said. "It was the catalyst that put me on the path to where I am today.”