Engineering Student Spotlight
Join the IDEA Center in celebrating an engineering student each month! Engineering Student Spotlight highlights individuals who embody the heritage events being celebrated, and provides inspiration to the Jacobs School community. Nominate an engineering student here.
Engineering Student Spotlight Nomination Form
Caitlin Le
May 2023
Quick Facts:
Grade: Class of 2023
Major: Mechanical Engineering with a Specialization in Controls and Robotics
Tags: ELC Peer Educator, Research, GEAR, Graduate School
Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece
Isabella Martinez
April 2023
Quick Facts:
Grade: Class of 2025
Major: Chemical Engineering
Tags: Jacobs Scholar, Internship, Research, Student Leader
Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece
Nianza Delfin
April 2023
Quick Facts:
Grade: Class of 2024
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Tags: SHPE, Outreach, PEI
Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece
Makena Leonard
March 2023
Quick Facts:
Grade: Class of 2023
Major: Electrical Engineering
Tags: SWE
Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece
Rebecca Wong
March 2023
Quick Facts:
Grade: Class of 2024
Major: Electrical Engineering
Tags: IDEA Scholar, SEDS, SEI
Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece
Anthony Omole
February 2023
Quick Facts:
Intended Degree: Doctor of Philosophy
Major: Bioengineering
Tags: Graduate Student, Sloan Scholar, TEAM Mentor, Research
Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece
Paula Kirya
February 2023
Quick Facts:
Grade: Class of 2023
Major: Bioengineering
Tags:TEAM Mentor, Transfer Student, Research
Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece
Divya Gangaramani
January 2023
Quick Facts:
Grade: 2nd Year
Major: Mechanical Engineering with a Specialization in Renewable Energy
Tags: AS Senator
Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece
Cynthia Guzman
November 2022
Quick Facts:
Grade: 4th Year
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Tags: First Gen, Research, ACES Scholar, SWE, SHPE, oSTEM
Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece
Karla Covarrubias
June 2022
Quick Facts:
Grade: 1st Year
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Tags: First Gen
Ann Truong
May 2022
Quick Facts:
Grade: 2nd Year
Major: Electrical Engineering
Outside Interests: reading, baking, video games
Tags: SWE, SEDS, IDEA Scholar, Padovani Scholar, first gen, Summer Engineering Institute
Maritza Sanchez
April 2022
Quick Facts:
Grade: Ph.D
Major: Materials Science and Engineering
Outside Interests: Community Outreach, spending time with family and friends, hiking, paddle boarding, dancing, eating good food, traveling, coffee
Tags: SHPE, Sloan Scholars, Research, Postgraduate, Mentoring
Milena Salazar
March 2022
Quick Facts:
Grade: 3rd Year
Major: Structural Engineering
Outside Interests: Thrifting, Embroidery, Film, Music
Tags: SHPE, SWE, IDEA Scholar, First-Generation Student, Research
Jordan Bunch
February 2022
Quick Facts:
Grade: 2nd Year
Major: Nanoengineering
Outside Interests: Enjoy time with friends, discover new foods, spend time with family, listen to music
Tags: Nanoengineering, Research, NSBE, NETS, ACES
Dalila González Mejía
January 2022
Quick Facts:
Grade: Senior Transfer Student
Major: Bioengineering
Outside Interests: Baking, Sewing my own clothes, Spending time with my family
Tags: TEAM Mentor, Research Experience, Transfer Student, First-Gen
Jennifer Hernandez-Mora
November 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 4th Year (Undergrad)
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Outside Interests: Space, Fashion, Music
Tags: First Generation Student, IDEA Scholar, EOP, SHPE, SEDS
Kaitlyn Wong
November 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 3rd Year (Undergrad)
Major: Mechanical Engineering: Renewable Energy and Energy Flow
with a Minor in Environmental Studies
Outside Interests: Cooking, Boba Finding, Video Games, Bullet Journaling
Tags: First Generation Student, IDEA Scholar, SASE
Ayush Gaggar
October 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 2nd Year Transfer (undergrad)
Major: Mechanical Engineering with a Minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Outside Interests: Reading, Teaching, Basketball, Self-Growth
Tags: Transfer Student, Research, ELC Peer Educator
José Santana Sosa
October 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 2nd Year Transfer (undergrad)
Major: Computer Science
Outside Interests: Music, Fashion, Animals, and Traveling/Exploring
Tags: Transfer Student, SHPE, oSTEM, TEAM
Audrey Velasco-Hogan
August 2021
Quick Facts:
Major: Materials Science and Engineering
Outside Interests: Hiking and getting out in the sun
Tags: Sloan Scholar, Internship
Audrey Goo
May 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 4th year (undergrad)
Major: Bioengineering: Bioengineering
Outside Interests: Pepband, video games, geocaching
Tags: Research, Envision
Skye Edwards
May 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 5th year (undergrad)
Major: Bioengineering: Biosystems
Outside Interests: Salsa, bachata, crocheting, and singing
Tags: IDEA Scholar, SHPE, BMES
Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece
Samantha Fong
May 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 5th year (undergrad)
Major: Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Environmental Systems
Outside Interests: Reading, Doodling, and Traveling
Tags: IDEA Scholar, Gordon Scholar, Research, ESW, SWE, JUMP
Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece
Ved Vakharia
April 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 4th year (PhD Student)
Major: Materials Science and Engineering
Outside Interests: Photography, basketball, gym, and biking
Tags: PhD Student, Research, Team Internship Program
Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece
Kanksha Patel
April 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 3rd year (undergrad)
Major: Bioengineering: Biotechnology
Outside Interests: Tennis, Concerts, Hiking & Art
Tags: IDEA Scholar, GEAR, Research, SWE
Ariana Mirian
March 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: PhD Candidate
Major: Computer Science and Engineering
Outside Interests: Circus arts, cosplay, and anything related to food
Tags: CSE DEI Committee
Destiny Alvarado
March 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 4th Year (undergrad)
Major: Electrical Engineering
Outside Interests: Hiking and crocheting
Tags: IDEA Scholar, Gordon Scholar, SWE
Rachel Luu
February 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 3rd Year (undergrad)
Major: Mechanical Engineering (Specialization in Mechanics of Materials)
Outside Interests: Going to concerts, collecting vinyl records, taking photos, and playing video games
Tags:ACES Scholar, Chancellors Scholar Alliance Program, Research
Nasim Eshragh-Nia
January 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: PhD Candidate
Major: Bioengineering
Outside Interests: Digital illustration, landscape photography, exploring the outdoors, and cooking
Tags: JUMP, Research
Alborz Jelvani
January 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 4th year PhD Candidate
Major: Bioengineering
Outside Interests: Learning new languages, cooking, and 3D-printing
Tags: JUMP, Research
Xochilth Saldana
January 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: Senior
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Outside Interests: Film, Painting, Outreach, Horseback Riding
Tags: IDEA Scholar, EOP, SHPE, Research
Sothyrak Tee Srey
December 2020
Quick Facts:
Grade: 2nd Year Master Student
Major: Computer Science
Outside Interests: Cooking/DJ'ing
Tags: First Generation Student, TEAM, HKN, oSTEM, BS/MS Program, Internship
Obadiah Valdez
December 2020
Quick Facts:
Grade: Sophomore
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Outside Interests: Art, reading, gaming, and exploring
Tags: First Generation Student, IDEA Scholar, GEAR
Alberto Avalos
November 2020
Quick Facts:
Grade: Senior
Major: Nanoengineering
Student Involvement: Reading, gaming, surfing, climbing, camping, and hiking
Tags: First Generation Student, IDEA Scholar, Research
Gabriel Gutierrez
Week 9 Spring 2020
Quick Facts:
Grade: Senior
Major: Structural Engineering
Student Involvement: IDEA Scholar and SHPE
Tags: IDEA Scholar, SHPE
Gabe Shatkin
Week 8 Spring 2020
Quick Facts:
Grade: Senior
Major: Bioengineering:Biotechnology
Outside Interest: Writing/recording music, snowboarding, rock climbing
Tags: IDEA Scholar, Research, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, SEI Peer Facilitator
Alyssa Chiang
Week 7 Spring 2020
Quick Facts:
Major: Bioengineering
Outside Interest: Mental Health/Wellness, Burlesque Dancing, Exercising, Cooking, Sustainability, Traveling, and Music
Tags: Jacobs Scholar, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece
Dora Ogbonna
Week 5 Spring 2020
Quick Facts:
Grade: Sophomore
Major: Chemical Engineering
Student Involvement: ACES Scholars Program
Tags: ACES Scholar, Goldwater Scholarship, RA, Research
Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece
Priyal Suneja
Week 4 Spring 2020
Quick Facts:
Grade: Junior
Major: Computer Science
Outside Interests: Reading, running, and listening to music
Tags: WIC, CSE DEI Committee
Odemuno Prudence Ogelohwohor
Week 3 Spring 2020
Quick Facts:
Grade: Sophomore (Class of 2022)
Major: Electrical Engineering
Outside Interests: Dancing, exercising, painting, trying out new restaurants, and exploring connections between art and technology
Tags: NSBE, PiB, ASA
Qiqi Wu
Week 7 Winter 2020
Quick Facts:
Graduation Year: 2018
Major: Computer Science with a minor in Design
Highlighted Student Organization: WIC
Tags: WIC, Alumni
Amanda Breton
Week 4 Winter 2020
Quick Facts:
Grade: 3rd Year
Major: Bioengineering - Biosystems
Highlighted Student Event - SACNAS
Tags: IDEA Scholar, SACNAS, Research
Juan Maldonado
Week 9 Spring 2019
Quick Facts:
Grade: 4th Year
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Outside Interests: Long-distance running, science-fiction books, skateboarding, and salsa dancing
Luis Garcia
Week 10 Winter 2019
Quick Facts:
Grade: 2nd Year
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Outside Interests: Hiking, Video Games, Coffee, Arctic Monkeys
Gabriel Gutierrez
Week 9 Winter 2019
Quick Facts:
Grade: 3rd Year
Major: Structural Engineering
Outside Interests: Soccer (Mexican League), Tech (phones/ laptops / etc.)
Brea Torquato
Week 8 Winter 2019
Quick Facts:
Grade: 3rd Year
Major: Electrical Engineering
Outside Interests: Community Outreach
Dalila González Mejía
January 2022
Quick Facts:
Grade: Senior Transfer Student
Major: Bioengineering
Outside Interests: Baking, Sewing my own clothes, Spending time with my family
Tags: TEAM Mentor, Research Experience, Transfer Student, First-Gen
Jennifer Hernandez-Mora
November 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 4th Year (Undergrad)
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Outside Interests: Space, Fashion, Music
Tags: First Generation Student, IDEA Scholar, EOP, SHPE, SEDS
Kaitlyn Wong
November 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 3rd Year (Undergrad)
Major: Mechanical Engineering: Renewable Energy and Energy Flow
with a Minor in Environmental Studies
Outside Interests: Cooking, Boba Finding, Video Games, Bullet Journaling
Tags: First Generation Student, IDEA Scholar, SASE
Ayush Gaggar
October 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 2nd Year Transfer (undergrad)
Major: Mechanical Engineering with a Minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Outside Interests: Reading, Teaching, Basketball, Self-Growth
Tags: Transfer Student, Research, ELC Peer Educator
José Santana Sosa
October 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 2nd Year Transfer (undergrad)
Major: Computer Science
Outside Interests: Music, Fashion, Animals, and Traveling/Exploring
Tags: Transfer Student, SHPE, oSTEM, TEAM
Audrey Velasco-Hogan
August 2021
Quick Facts:
Major: Materials Science and Engineering
Outside Interests: Hiking and getting out in the sun
Tags: Sloan Scholar, Internship
Audrey Goo
May 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 4th year (undergrad)
Major: Bioengineering: Bioengineering
Outside Interests: Pepband, video games, geocaching
Tags: Research, Envision
Skye Edwards
May 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 5th year (undergrad)
Major: Bioengineering: Biosystems
Outside Interests: Salsa, bachata, crocheting, and singing
Tags: IDEA Scholar, SHPE, BMES
Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece
Samantha Fong
May 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 5th year (undergrad)
Major: Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Environmental Systems
Outside Interests: Reading, Doodling, and Traveling
Tags: IDEA Scholar, Gordon Scholar, Research, ESW, SWE, JUMP
Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece
Ved Vakharia
April 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 4th year (PhD Student)
Major: Materials Science and Engineering
Outside Interests: Photography, basketball, gym, and biking
Tags: PhD Student, Research, Team Internship Program
Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece
Kanksha Patel
April 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 3rd year (undergrad)
Major: Bioengineering: Biotechnology
Outside Interests: Tennis, Concerts, Hiking & Art
Tags: IDEA Scholar, GEAR, Research, SWE
Ariana Mirian
March 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: PhD Candidate
Major: Computer Science and Engineering
Outside Interests: Circus arts, cosplay, and anything related to food
Tags: CSE DEI Committee
Destiny Alvarado
March 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 4th Year (undergrad)
Major: Electrical Engineering
Outside Interests: Hiking and crocheting
Tags: IDEA Scholar, Gordon Scholar, SWE
Rachel Luu
February 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 3rd Year (undergrad)
Major: Mechanical Engineering (Specialization in Mechanics of Materials)
Outside Interests: Going to concerts, collecting vinyl records, taking photos, and playing video games
Tags:ACES Scholar, Chancellors Scholar Alliance Program, Research
Nasim Eshragh-Nia
January 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: PhD Candidate
Major: Bioengineering
Outside Interests: Digital illustration, landscape photography, exploring the outdoors, and cooking
Tags: JUMP, Research
Alborz Jelvani
January 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: 4th year PhD Candidate
Major: Bioengineering
Outside Interests: Learning new languages, cooking, and 3D-printing
Tags: JUMP, Research
Xochilth Saldana
January 2021
Quick Facts:
Grade: Senior
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Outside Interests: Film, Painting, Outreach, Horseback Riding
Tags: IDEA Scholar, EOP, SHPE, Research
Sothyrak Tee Srey
December 2020
Quick Facts:
Grade: 2nd Year Master Student
Major: Computer Science
Outside Interests: Cooking/DJ'ing
Tags: First Generation Student, TEAM, HKN, oSTEM, BS/MS Program, Internship
Obadiah Valdez
December 2020
Quick Facts:
Grade: Sophomore
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Outside Interests: Art, reading, gaming, and exploring
Tags: First Generation Student, IDEA Scholar, GEAR
Alberto Avalos
November 2020
Quick Facts:
Grade: Senior
Major: Nanoengineering
Student Involvement: Reading, gaming, surfing, climbing, camping, and hiking
Tags: First Generation Student, IDEA Scholar, Research
Gabriel Gutierrez
Week 9 Spring 2020
Quick Facts:
Grade: Senior
Major: Structural Engineering
Student Involvement: IDEA Scholar and SHPE
Tags: IDEA Scholar, SHPE
Gabe Shatkin
Week 8 Spring 2020
Quick Facts:
Grade: Senior
Major: Bioengineering:Biotechnology
Outside Interest: Writing/recording music, snowboarding, rock climbing
Tags: IDEA Scholar, Research, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, SEI Peer Facilitator
Alyssa Chiang
Week 7 Spring 2020
Quick Facts:
Major: Bioengineering
Outside Interest: Mental Health/Wellness, Burlesque Dancing, Exercising, Cooking, Sustainability, Traveling, and Music
Tags: Jacobs Scholar, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece
Dora Ogbonna
Week 5 Spring 2020
Quick Facts:
Grade: Sophomore
Major: Chemical Engineering
Student Involvement: ACES Scholars Program
Tags: ACES Scholar, Goldwater Scholarship, RA, Research
Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece
Priyal Suneja
Week 4 Spring 2020
Quick Facts:
Grade: Junior
Major: Computer Science
Outside Interests: Reading, running, and listening to music
Tags: WIC, CSE DEI Committee
Odemuno Prudence Ogelohwohor
Week 3 Spring 2020
Quick Facts:
Grade: Sophomore (Class of 2022)
Major: Electrical Engineering
Outside Interests: Dancing, exercising, painting, trying out new restaurants, and exploring connections between art and technology
Tags: NSBE, PiB, ASA
Qiqi Wu
Week 7 Winter 2020
Quick Facts:
Graduation Year: 2018
Major: Computer Science with a minor in Design
Highlighted Student Organization: WIC
Tags: WIC, Alumni
Amanda Breton
Week 4 Winter 2020
Quick Facts:
Grade: 3rd Year
Major: Bioengineering - Biosystems
Highlighted Student Event - SACNAS
Tags: IDEA Scholar, SACNAS, Research
Juan Maldonado
Week 9 Spring 2019
Quick Facts:
Grade: 4th Year
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Outside Interests: Long-distance running, science-fiction books, skateboarding, and salsa dancing
Luis Garcia
Week 10 Winter 2019
Quick Facts:
Grade: 2nd Year
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Outside Interests: Game of Thrones, Video Games, Philz Coffee, Artic Monkeys
Gabriel Gutierrez
Week 9 Winter 2019
Quick Facts:
Grade: 3rd Year
Major: Structural Engineering
Outside Interests: Soccer (Mexican League), Tech (phones/ laptops / etc.)
Brea Torquato
Week 8 Winter 2019
Quick Facts:
Grade: 3rd Year
Major: Electrical Engineering
Outside Interests: Community Outreach