Sophomore
Major: Civil Engineering
Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Extracurricular Activities: Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers/Mexican American Engineers and Scientists organization, Student Ambassador for the Spring 08 career fair, Resource Management (treasurer) Co-Chair for E-Week 2008

How did you end up at Iowa State University from Puerto Rico?

 Iowa State had an admissions counselor from Ecuador that visited by school every year, and I got to know him well. So, I can to visit here with my mother during February of my senior year. Everyone was so nice, the people were great here. I didn’t feel like a number at all. Even though another school I was considering was smaller than ISU, Iowa State felt like a place that really cared about me.

 What activities have you been involved with at Iowa State University?

 What haven’t I been involved with?! I serve on the Multicultural Student Advisory Council. I was a Student Ambassador for the Spring 08 career fair, and I am the Resource Management (treasurer) Co-Chair for E-Week 2008. I am president of the Puerto Rico Student Association. I’m a Student Admissions representative (so I give campus tours, etc.). I’m secretary of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers/Mexican American Engineers and Scientists organization.

Of all of these, which organization has had the greatest impact on you?

They are all great for different reasons. However, the SHPE/MAES group has probably had the greatest impact on me. Since these are national organizations, I have had the opportunity to attend conferences in Pennsylvania and Texas that have HUGE career fairs and sessions on leadership development and all sorts of topics.

What is your advice to incoming students?

 Get to know yourself and your limits. Learn to manage your time. Figure out what time of day you are mentally alert enough to study, etc.

What are your plans after graduation?

I would like to get a job as an engineer in industry that allows me to be involved in both the design and construction aspects of engineering. Eventually I would like to get my MBA and move up into management within the industry.

What is a memory from Iowa State University that you won’t forget?

In one of my Civil Engineering classes, we went to an underground mine. I didn’t think I would ever be 200 feet underground! We drove a school bus down there; it was like a whole underground city with named roads. We were on “Central Avenue” underground. When they turned off the bus and lights, it was pitch black. I just never have imagined I would ever be in an underground mine!