Graduating Senior Nancy Escalante Flores '23 Urges Engineers to Dream

by Adrianna Owens
December 15, 2023

For first-generation aerospace science and engineering senior Nancy Escalante Flores, commencement tomorrow (Dec. 16) is the start of many dreams coming to fruition.

Hailing from San Jose, California, Flores reflects on her time at the UC Davis College of Engineering with fond memories. Her favorite memories include going bowling with other Aggie Engineers after presenting large projects and being inspired by engineering professors who show passion for the field.

Group photo of LEADR students — Flores sits with fellow Leadership in Engineering Advancement, Diversity and Retention (LEADR) students for a group photo.

Group photo in front of a presentation board — Flores and team pose for a photo with Christina Harvey, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the annual Engineering Design Showcase.

“My favorite professors are Christina Harvey and Valeria La Saponera,” she said. “They go above and beyond for their students, showcasing a genuine passion for their engineering studies.”

These professors pushed Flores to pursue a career in engineering and she’s excited for the wealth of opportunities awaiting after graduating. To her fellow Aggie Engineers, Flores has one piece of advice: continue to dream.

“This is the time to make dreams come to life,” she said. “If you want to fly, make it happen.”