Engineering, Athletics and a Commitment to Saving Lives

For UC Davis student-athlete Lillie Vehling, engineering, athletics and community service are more than separate pursuits — they are opportunities to make a meaningful impact. A fourth-year mechanical and aerospace engineering student and member of the UC Davis women’s water polo team, Vehling exemplifies the Aggie spirit through her academic achievements, athletic dedication and commitment to water safety. She is this month’s guest on Face to Face with Chancellor May.

This summer, Vehling’s commitment to helping others made headlines when she saved three young girls from drowning in Lake Washington while attending an air show in Seattle. 

“I stood up because I was in a crowd of hundreds of people, and no one else was doing anything,” Vehling recalled. “And so I kicked off my shoes and jumped in.”

Her quick thinking and decisive action reflect the importance of water safety education, a cause Vehling champions through Swim Ags, or SWAG, a student-led program she co-founded with fellow water polo player Sadie Henry.

Beyond athletics and service, Vehling is pursuing a long-standing professional ambition. Recently accepted into the U.S. Navy’s prestigious Naval Nuclear Propulsion Officer candidate program, she has spent the past two summers ensuring the safety, maintenance, construction and regulatory compliance of naval reactor plants throughout their life cycles. She expects to continue this path at Naval Reactors headquarters in Washington, D.C. after graduation.

Balancing engineering coursework, Division I athletics and professional development requires discipline and support, Vehling said. She credits time management, academic resources and the encouragement of her professors and coaches for helping her succeed. Her most trusted organizational tool? “I definitely rely on my Google calendar,” she said. 

During the conversation, the chancellor also reflected on how an engineering background can shape leadership and decision-making. Although his role no longer involves solving differential equations or designing circuits, he explained that his technical training continues to influence his work at the university. 

“I do use that mathematical foundation to be sort of a data-driven decision maker,” May said, noting its value in campus strategic planning, fundraising and resource development.

As the women’s water polo team enters a new conference, Vehling and her teammates are training with championship aspirations and hopes of reaching the NCAA tournament. A summer trip to Greece provided an opportunity to experience international competition and strengthen team bonds.

Watch the full episode to learn more about Vehling’s heroic rescue, her aspirations and more.