Student Spotlight: ME student Joshua Clark finds passion in the amusement industry

One of the perks of a Mechanical Engineering B.S. degree is it gives you the skills, theories and knowledge to explore a wide range of engineering fields. This holds true for Joshua Clark, a sophomore in the Mechanical Engineering program, who has found his engineering passion in the amusement industry. Now in his second year at UW-Madison, Joshua is taking classes where he is learning about the science behind the roller coasters he is so curious about.

What has your engineering journey been like? Did you ‘always’ want to be an engineer?

In elementary and middle school, I discovered my passion for engineering through hands-on projects and design activities, like making Lego cars or spaghetti bridges, at summer camps. I also found myself fascinated with construction, design, and analysis videos for new football stadiums, million-dollar tree houses, and amusement attractions. But, I ultimately knew I wanted to study some form of engineering in college, when I found my high school CAD, robotics, and manufacturing classes more engaging than any other subjects. 

Can you explain what the Amusement Industry is and how you got interested in it? How have your ME classes prepared you for this field?

The amusement industry is a sector that produces roller coasters, water parks, pendulum rides, and other forms of adrenaline entertainment. My interest in this field began in 2017 when I had a season pass for my home park, Six Flags Great America. When visiting, I would take photos of the attractions and post them on social media. This social media presence allowed me to meet many similarly passionate individuals I grew to have great friendships with. We would discuss different theories regarding Six Flags’ parks, like what rides would come to each park, what would get removed, or how various attractions operated on a technical level. These discussions made me realize I wanted to get involved with the theme park industry as I saw how it produced experiences that became lifelong highlights for generations of people.

After talking with one of my amusement park friends, and badger alum, Evan Grubis [ME ‘24], about how I could get involved and learn more about the industry, he suggested I look into a mechanical engineering degree. I took some pre-mechanical engineering courses in high school and loved them. Now, in my sophomore year at Madison, I am taking classes, like ME 240: Dynamics, ME 306: Mechanics of Materials, and Physics 202, where I am gaining the skills and knowledge to better understand how these attractions are designed.

Are you involved in any student organizations? If so, which ones and what is your involvement?

I am involved in a couple of student organizations. I am currently a member of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) UW-Madison Chapter, where I have been able to develop my professional skills through career fairs and workshops.

Additionally, I have been a hardware subteam member and lead for Wisconsin Autonomous. Wisconsin Autonomous competes with 10 other schools from the US and Canada, tasked with converting a 2022 Chevy Bolt EUV to an autonomous vehicle. As a hardware member, I help create mounts for the autonomous technology required for the car to operate. As the hardware lead, I was responsible for making sure projects like custom circuit boards, fake road signs, and other vehicle modifications made good progress, while keeping the software subteams updated.

This last year, I helped found a student organization called Badgers In Themed Entertainment (BITE), whose goal is to develop interest in the amusement industry. As the group’s president, I worked on getting the paperwork, funding, and guest speakers organized for the group.

Can you talk about your experience with undergraduate research or co-ops/internships?

I worked at Six Flags Great America for 4 seasons. During this time, I got to work with many attractions in the park and I look back on my internship/work experience fondly. Some of the rides I got to work on, Maxx Force and Whizzer, are both one of two currently operating attractions of their type in the world, which is cool to think about. 

As a Unit Supervisor and Unit Supervisor Intern, I inspected attractions, trained team members, and completed other general management tasks. This experience gave me a great perspective on amusement park’s business strategies and why management decides to close or open attractions. It was also interesting to see how bad design choices slowed ride dispatch times and created issues for guests unable to be accommodated by a seat. 

As a seasonal mechanic, I saw how the mechanical systems behind these attractions worked and were maintained. Toward the end of the 2024 season, I assisted with getting American Eagle Red Side’s vehicle ready. This included disassembling each ride car, inspecting the components, cleaning each part, and carefully reassembling the vehicle. Being able to experience how commonly broken parts were always placed in inconvenient locations or having little to no clearance to put a rachet on a bolt gave me a new perspective on some of the challenges mechanics face. Working as a mechanic was a valuable experience that I suggest all aspiring design engineers should gain.

What is a favorite memory or accomplishment you have from your time in ME or at UW? 

My favorite UW memory  is upsetting Arizona in basketball earlier this season. I was volunteering at the concession stand during the game and could feel the excitement from the crowd. During my break, I was able to watch part of the second half when the game got close. But when we established a solid lead by the end of the game, the arena was electric, and seeing the fans storm the court after a major win was unforgettable.

Why did you choose to attend UW-Madison? What might you share with perspective students who are considering attending UW-Madison for their undergrad degree? 

When I was considering where to attend college, I was split between going to UW-Madison and Purdue, it was one of the most difficult decisions I have made in my adult life. But after much thought, I chose to attend UW-Madison for a few reasons. One was due to Madison’s athletic teams and level of school spirit. I attended a STEM-focused high school where sports programs weren’t available. Going into college, I wanted to find a school that would allow me to cheer on many successful sports teams since I didn’t have the opportunity to do so in high school. I also love all the activities you can do in the Madison area, like getting food on State Street, running to Picnic Point, or walking on Lake Mendota during the winter. I was also motivated by UW’s business certificate program, which has a lot of great resources.

My suggestion to prospective students who are in a similar situation as me is to keep in mind that you will not be in a classroom, doing homework, or studying 24/7. So, find a place that lets you balance school and personal life. It will make your college experience much better!