College of Engineering Honors its Outstanding Seniors of 2026

As a tournament chess player, I got bored of practicing online and desired an over-the-board training experience. So, I decided to build a chess-playing robot in high school. I spent multiple summers building prototypes from scratch using wooden parts, servo motors and an Arduino microcontroller. I finally produced a robotic arm that identifies the board position with computer vision, positions itself with inverse kinematics, and beats me every time I play against it. It was this moment of satisfaction after months of planning and testing that drew me to pursue engineering. UC Davis connected my interest in engineering with opportunities to make a broader impact, like the development of a jaundice sensor that provides continuous, non-invasive monitoring in newborns. 

Growing up as a first-generation student, my path wasn’t always clear, but I was driven by my love for the puzzle-like nature of science. I knew I wanted to build a deeply impactful career, especially to support my local communities. I found engineering to be the perfect bridge between science and people. Alongside engineering, I pursued a minor in social, ethnic and gender relations to better understand the communities my work would impact. In the balance between the technical rigor of my engineering courses and the critical perspectives gained from my ethnic studies courses, my time at UC Davis has shaped my goals from vague desires into a lifelong commitment to engineering solutions that are accessible to everyone.  

My senior capstone project involved designing a bioreactor for converting cheese waste byproducts into biodegradable plastics. The project allowed me to apply my analytical skills to real-world problem-solving and showed me I was capable of working as an engineer after college. Not only was I able to contribute to meaningful research in sustainable bioprocessing, but I also improved my skills in teamwork, project management, critical thinking and innovation. Working in a big team, I learned how to relinquish control to make way for mutual responsibility.  

My biggest "project" was leading the Cyber Security Club at UC Davis for the past two years. In particular, partnering with a nonprofit for server racks and computing equipment, as well as negotiating with the university for permanent space and an internet connection to ensure that club members and students have access to high-quality computing environments for learning practical cybersecurity skills. The struggles that have come with this process have given me valuable real-world experience in navigating bureaucratic procedures. 

I took a study abroad course about sustainable wastewater treatment systems in Guadalajara, Mexico, in the summer before my senior year. The class culminated in a project where we designed a decentralized wastewater treatment system for a small town outside of the city. It was a really important example of how people can be centered in engineering problems. Beyond the calculations, we focused on sustainability and community resilience, something I hope to carry with me into my career. 

In no particular order, I would like to thank Assistant Professor Slobodan Mitrović for advising the Davis Competitive Programming Club, helping us compete in the International Collegiate Programming Contest, and giving me the opportunity to do research with him. I wouldn't be where I am right now without him. I would like to thank Assistant Professor Jasper Lee for teaching me how to write proofs and teach, as well as for the support and advice he provided throughout my academic years.  

One of my favorite engineering professors is Associate Professor Priya Shah. I had the great opportunity to do research in her lab starting in my sophomore year. She fosters a really supportive and fun atmosphere. In my senior year, I also had her as my kinetics professor. She was very engaging and had a fun, unique way of teaching. She even has a TikTok page about kinetics, took us bowling, and we made class T-shirts together. Her enthusiasm and the environment she created made both research and learning genuinely enjoyable experiences. 

I would tell incoming students to join more clubs and diversify the types of clubs that they join, so they can pursue many interests and meet more people along the way. I would also recommend that people have at least one hobby so that they have something of enjoyment to hold onto when the going gets tough. And lastly, I would encourage every new student to join Andrea Khoo’s self-defense class at the ARC. Not only does it help one stay physically safe, but it’s also very enjoyable and is an easy way to stay or become fit. 

Take advantage of the opportunities to explore and learn! Join clubs, attend events and don’t hesitate to try things outside your comfort zone. Being proactive, seeking out experiences and staying curious can open doors you didn’t even know existed. The more involved you are, the more you will gain from your time here, both academically and personally.  

Talk to more people, form study groups and socialize as much as possible. I met a majority of my friends through a circuits study group, and I have many friends within Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Honor Society, through tutoring and other events. Moreover, I would have told myself to pursue my interests even further by not hesitating to start the projects in my head, or even to just join a club related to what I want to do in the future. The biggest struggle for everyone, I feel, is initiating rather than continuing. 

During this year’s Concrete Canoe Competition, another school’s canoe cracked during transportation. The host school offered to let them bring their canoe into their lab and help them fix it, and our team joined to help as well. Ultimately, it didn’t work, but it felt very special to have 40 engineering students, from three different schools all working together on the same problem on a rainy night. It made me feel proud to be an engineer. 

One of my favorite memories from college was sitting in the fourth-floor study lounge of Kearney Hall with the other undergraduate engineering students on my floor, including one of my now-closest friends, watching the sunset, then laughing late into the night while studying for our general chemistry exams. These simple moments truly made college all the more enjoyable and brought a sense of camaraderie among our engineering class.