Student Spotlight

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

 

 

 


 

Sergio Godinez-Hernandez
December 2023

Quick Facts:
Grade: PhD Student
Major: Structural Engineering
Outside Interests: Hiking, running, photography, video games, reading, walking his cat

Tags: GEAR graduate central mentor, PhD Program, research

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece

Mariana Gomez
October 2023

Quick Facts:
Grade: Second Year
Major: Chemical Engineering
Outside Interests: Reading, cooking, swimming, traveling, and spending time with friends and family

Tags: SHPE, LatinX Heritage Month, minority communities

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece

Faith Edrosolano
May 2023

Quick Facts:
Grade: Class of 2023
Major: Mechanical Engineering

Tags: ELC Peer Educator, First Gen, SWE, IDEA Scholar, SEI, TCLI

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece 


 

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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


Audrey Goo
May 2021

Quick Facts:
Grade: 4th year (undergrad)
Major: Bioengineering: Bioengineering
Outside Interests: Pepband, video games, geocaching

Tags: Research, Envision

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


Destiny Alvarado
March 2021

Quick Facts:
Grade: 4th Year (undergrad)
Major: Electrical Engineering
Outside Interests: Hiking and crocheting

Tags: IDEA Scholar, Gordon Scholar, SWE

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


Rachel Luu

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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


Nasim

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


Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


Alborz Jelvani

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


Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


Xochilth Saldana

Xochilth Saldana
January 2021

Quick Facts:
Grade: Senior
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Outside Interests: Film, Painting, Outreach, Horseback Riding

Tags: IDEA Scholar, EOP, SHPE, Research


Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


Sothyrak Tee Srey

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


Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


Obadiah Valdez

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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


Alberto Avalos

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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


Gabriel-Gutierrez20.jpg

Gabriel Gutierrez
Week 9 Spring 2020
 

Quick Facts:
Grade: Senior
Major: Structural Engineering
Student Involvement: IDEA Scholar and SHPE

Tags: IDEA Scholar, SHPE

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


Gabe_spotlight_1.jpg

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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


alyssa.jpg

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.jpg

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.png

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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


odemuno.png

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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


qiqi-wu.jpg

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

Click to Read Student Highlight Piece


amanda-breton.jpg

Amanda Breton
Week 4 Winter 2020
 

Quick Facts:
Grade: 3rd Year
Major: Bioengineering - Biosystems
Highlighted Student Event - SACNAS

Tags: IDEA Scholar, SACNAS, Research 

Click to Read Student Highlight Piece


 

juan_maldonado.jpg

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

Click to Read Student Highlight Piece


 

luis_garcia.jpg

Luis Garcia
Week 10 Winter 2019

Quick Facts:
Grade: 2nd Year
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Outside Interests: Hiking, Video Games, Coffee, Arctic Monkeys

Click to Read Student Highlight Piece


 

gabriel_gutierrez.jpg

Gabriel Gutierrez
Week 9 Winter 2019

Quick Facts:
Grade: 3rd Year
Major: Structural Engineering
Outside Interests: Soccer (Mexican League), Tech (phones/ laptops / etc.)

Click to Read Student Highlight Piece


torquato_brea.jpg

Brea Torquato
Week 8 Winter 2019

Quick Facts:
Grade: 3rd Year
Major: Electrical Engineering
Outside Interests: Community Outreach

Click to Read Student Highlight Piece

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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


Audrey Goo
May 2021

Quick Facts:
Grade: 4th year (undergrad)
Major: Bioengineering: Bioengineering
Outside Interests: Pepband, video games, geocaching

Tags: Research, Envision

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


Destiny Alvarado
March 2021

Quick Facts:
Grade: 4th Year (undergrad)
Major: Electrical Engineering
Outside Interests: Hiking and crocheting

Tags: IDEA Scholar, Gordon Scholar, SWE

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


Rachel Luu

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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


Nasim

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


Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


Alborz Jelvani

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


Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


Xochilth Saldana

Xochilth Saldana
January 2021

Quick Facts:
Grade: Senior
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Outside Interests: Film, Painting, Outreach, Horseback Riding

Tags: IDEA Scholar, EOP, SHPE, Research


Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


Sothyrak Tee Srey

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


Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


Obadiah Valdez

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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


Alberto Avalos

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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


Gabriel-Gutierrez20.jpg

Gabriel Gutierrez
Week 9 Spring 2020
 

Quick Facts:
Grade: Senior
Major: Structural Engineering
Student Involvement: IDEA Scholar and SHPE

Tags: IDEA Scholar, SHPE

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


Gabe_spotlight_1.jpg

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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


alyssa.jpg

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.jpg

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.png

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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


odemuno.png

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

Click Here to Read the Full Highlight Piece


qiqi-wu.jpg

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

Click to Read Student Highlight Piece


amanda-breton.jpg

Amanda Breton
Week 4 Winter 2020
 

Quick Facts:
Grade: 3rd Year
Major: Bioengineering - Biosystems
Highlighted Student Event - SACNAS

Tags: IDEA Scholar, SACNAS, Research 

Click to Read Student Highlight Piece


 

juan_maldonado.jpg

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

Click to Read Student Highlight Piece


 

luis_garcia.jpg

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

Click to Read Student Highlight Piece


 

gabriel_gutierrez.jpg

Gabriel Gutierrez
Week 9 Winter 2019

Quick Facts:
Grade: 3rd Year
Major: Structural Engineering
Outside Interests: Soccer (Mexican League), Tech (phones/ laptops / etc.)

Click to Read Student Highlight Piece


torquato_brea.jpg

Brea Torquato
Week 8 Winter 2019

Quick Facts:
Grade: 3rd Year
Major: Electrical Engineering
Outside Interests: Community Outreach

Click to Read Student Highlight Piece