KINGSTON, R.I. – March 18, 2025 – Walt Disney once said, “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”  Mia Mollicone ’25 of Johnston, Rhode Island, did just that and landed a highly competitive paid internship for Disney following graduation this spring.

It wasn’t magic that got her there, but hard work, dedication and making the most of her undergraduate career in the University of Rhode Island’s College of Engineering as a mechanical engineering student.

After graduating in May, Mollicone will work at Disneyland’s Facility Asset Management in California as a superintendent intern. The program lasts six months – after which she hopes to obtain her dream job as a Disney “imagineer,” engineers employed by Disney that designs and builds its theme parks, resorts, attractions, and cruise ships worldwide and those that oversee the creative aspects of Disney games, merchandise product development, and publishing businesses.

“I am beyond excited to start this awesome chapter of my life, working at such an amazing place, and living somewhere new,” said Mollicone.

Mollicone’s passion for engineering began at a young age. She spent much of her childhood building castles and forts with building bricks, so it feels full circle to work at a company epitomized by Cinderella’s castle. She’s always enjoyed figuring out how things work and can be improved. She vividly remembers going to visit her grandmother and taking apart an old telephone then putting it back together.

“I was drawn to engineering because of how it balances creativity and logic,” she said. “It requires creativity to come up with unique and new solutions, but then math and science and logic to build it.”

When it came time to choose a college, URI’s engineering programs stood out because of the hands-on opportunities it provides – such as undergraduate labs, active research, and the idea of doing a capstone senior year instead of a co-op, which typically alternates between semesters of classroom learning and paid, full-time work experience in an engineering-related field. Making the transition to college life was something new, but having the ability to join a built-in community with the Engineering Learning Living Community was appealing.

The combination of the learning living community and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers student organization assisted in establishing a support system for Mollicone. “Most of my friends and classmates who I work and study with are those same people I met freshman year,” she said.

Mollicone joined the University’s ASME chapter her freshman year. “It was such a great experience, from the advice I received and academic support from upperclassmen, to meeting more friends and getting to work on cool projects,” said Mollicone.

She served as vice president during her sophomore year and then as president her junior and senior years. “I have loved being a part of an organization that focuses on hands-on learning and educational activities. Getting to build a remotely controlled boat, a robotic arm, and meeting more mechanical engineering students have been a vital part of my college experience.”

Further demonstrating her go-getter attitude, Mollicone took advantage of every opportunity she could, especially utilizing the undergraduate career services in academic support. “I think the most important thing I did to set myself up for success was to try anything I could get my hands on,” said Mollicone.

She obtained an internship the summer after freshman year in project and construction management, another internship the summer after sophomore year in railroad engineering, and a third her junior year in test engineering. The varied experiences not only helped her identify her interests but build a resume and work experience that made her stand out.

“The key to Mia’s success has been her openness to taking internships that are not a perfect match for her career goals. By remaining open to new experiences and moving to new places, she made herself an asset,” said Lauren Creamer, coordinator for career services and employer relations at the College of Engineering. “What I hope other students can learn from Mia’s example is even if opportunities don’t exactly line up with your goals, it can still result in a positive outcome. Attitude makes the experience and, eventually, preparedness meets opportunity.”

When it came to handling a packed schedule, Mollicone also worked with her academic advisor who helped to distribute the more difficult classes each year. “I think URI has a phenomenal faculty and staff, from professors and advisors to department chairs and deans,” said Mollicone. “Everyone wants the best for the students and will always try to lend a helping hand. It makes URI an inspiring and welcoming place to learn.”

The idea of a capstone excited Mollicone when she applied to the college, and it hasn’t disappointed. Her senior capstone project is sponsored by Mearthane Products Corporation. The goal was to create a new method of cleaning polyurethane skate wheels. MPC makes commercial skate wheels for different applications, and they brand each type of wheel with an ink-jet printer; if the wheels are not cleaned properly, the ink will not adhere correctly. Her team developed an automated two-step process that starts with a hot water wash and then progresses through a conveyor belt that will abrade the wheels. This allows for easy and consistent results.

The experience of working as a team member to achieve a common goal on the project along with her education and internships transfers effortlessly to her new job with Disney, setting her up for so many exciting adventures to come.

This press release was written by Krysta Murray, a writer with the URI College of Engineering.