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From a healthy obsession with toys and games, to a knack for problem-solving, to red hair, Ohio Northern University student Lynncoln Tynan and alumna Cheyenne (Raker) Townson, BSME ’18, share a lot in common.

The two Polar Bears’ strongest connection point, however, is their desire to use their mechanical engineering skills to bring wonder and joy to others.

A toy designer in Greenville, S.C., Cheyenne is living her passion, and she’s committed to helping Lynncoln find her niche in an imaginative design field as well.

Alumni mentorship is a strong suit of �������Ƶ’s T.J. Smull College of Engineering. Faculty often introduce students to alumni working in fields that align with their career interests. Alumni in this supportive engineering network are eager to share advice and make connections for fellow Polar Bears.

For the past several months, Cheyenne has aided Lynncoln with developing her portfolio, meeting people in the industry, and finding internship opportunities.

Lynncoln says she looks up to Cheyenne not only because she has a cool job, but because she’s committed to opening doors for others.

“Cheyenne is killing it in her career. And impressively, she forged her own path. There’s so much to admire about her, especially her willingness to help others.”

Toys, games, and puzzles are Cheyenne’s jam. Growing up, she collected more than 400 stuffed animals, mainly due to her skill in operating claw machines.

“The trunk of my car is filled with games right now,” she laughed.

After graduating from �������Ƶ, she attended Georgia Tech for a master’s degree in industrial design. There she discovered that one of her Georgia Tech professors designed toys on the side.

“I had no idea this was an avenue you could take,” she said. “I was hooked. I knew what I wanted to do.”

Cheyenne started her career as an industrial designer at a lighting company and worked on toy designs in her spare time. When she was impacted by company-wide layoffs last fall, she took a leap of faith and launched her own business, .

While freelancing for almost a year, she designed packaging, used 3D printing, modeling, and rendering to engineer working mechanisms for new products, and engaged in creative problem solving. In early December, she started a new remote position as a 3D Product Artist with the magnetic tile toy company, Connectix, based in Australia.

“I’m doing similar things as I did freelancing, but with a higher focus on 3D printing, modeling, rendering, graphic design, and brainstorming new innovative ideas for the product line.”

She also recently obtained her first patent for an innovative product she designed for her master’s degree thesis project: a recyclable dog toy that can be shipped without packaging. And, she signed a licensing deal for one of her previous designs that will launch in April 2025.

“I like to be positive and have fun and be a kid at heart, and that’s this entire industry,” she said. “Solving problems and coming up with new ideas—it’s addictive.”

The toy and game industry is populated with community-oriented, supportive people—just like at �������Ƶ—and that’s another aspect she enjoys, she added.

“I was spoiled because �������Ƶ was a small community that really felt like a family. My �������Ƶ experience shaped what I was looking for in a career and industry. At �������Ƶ, everyone cares about you. They want you to learn, they want you to grow, and they’re going to push you.”

So when Dr. Abby Clark, BSME ’12, assistant professor of engineering, reached out to Cheyenne to ask her if she would talk with Lynncoln about industrial design, Cheyenne said “absolutely!”

“I’m happy to give back, just like those who have given to me,” she said. “And I know what it’s like to be in her shoes.”

Lynncoln, a third-year mechanical engineering student from Marietta, Ohio, immediately clicked with her alumni mentor.

For starters, she happens to be a toy enthusiast.

“Marvel and Star Wars toys are my go-to. My earliest memories are playing with my dad’s action figures in the attic.”

Also like Cheyenne, Lynncoln is both left-brained and right-brained. She excels at math and science, while being creative and artistic. That’s what led her to major in mechanical engineering.

“I love that you can solve any problem with engineering. It gives you the opportunity to look at the world differently, to use both sides of your brain.”

And importantly, Lynncoln also wants to use her engineering expertise to create objects or experiences that bring a touch of magic and wonderment to people. She’s not sure yet if she wants to become a toy/game designer or an engineer for theme parks or movie sets.

Cheyenne is helping her navigate the possibilities. With her support, Lynncoln has created a competitive portfolio, talked with people in the industry, and explored internship possibilities.

“She’s helped me figure out the tangible steps I need to take to get where I want to go, and she’s just been tremendously helpful in my journey.”

Cheyenne has no doubt that Lynncoln will blaze a trail to a career that brings her—and others—joy.

“The number one thing I want to convey to her is to have a positive mindset. Just keep going, keep striving, don’t give up, because you can achieve your dreams.”