​What year did you receive the scholarship, and what were you studying at the time?

I received the undergraduate scholarship three times, from 2022-2024. I studied Civil Engineering at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF).

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What is your current role, organization, or area of focus?

I am a Transportation Engineer working at Caltrans. I am in the Traffic Operations Division specifically working as a bike and pedestrian safety improvement engineer.

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How has receiving the scholarship impacted your educational or career journey?

The scholarship was incredibly impactful, as it covered all my college tuition while I was at CSUF completing my undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering. Even more meaningful, however, has been the incredible network of people I've met through WTS. I've gained amazing mentors who have guided me in both my education and career, and through them, I've seen firsthand the importance of mentoring the future of transportation.

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​What milestones or accomplishments are you most proud of since receiving the scholarship?

Since receiving the scholarship, I have graduated from CSUF and started a great job right out of college. I also earned my EIT license and passed the 8-hour portion of the PE exam, so I'm proud to be working toward obtaining my full PE license. During my time in college, I served on the board of the student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE) and as Co-President of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE). I also conducted research on concrete resistivity under one of my professors, which allowed me to receive a fellowship and present my work at the Transportation Research Board (TRB) in Washington, D.C.

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What advice would you give to current or future scholarship recipients?

Feel comfortable exploring the different  fields within your major. By the time I graduated, I had completed several internships in both the public and private sectors, as well as research under a professor. These experiences helped me better understand what I was looking for when it came time to find my first full-time job out of college. If you're having a hard time landing your first job, don't hesitate to ask the professionals around you for help. In my experience, many professionals are very open to mentoring students and early-career engineers who take the initiative to reach out.

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Is there a fun fact or personal interest you'd like to share?

I enjoy puzzling in my free time, so let me know if you would like to do a puzzle swap!