MEP
Summ er
2014
MEPAlumni
SHARING THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF
CAL POLY’S MULTICULTURAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
We want to keep our MEP alumni informed on current events and MEP updates. Feel free to email your thoughts to mep@calpoly.edu.
More Than 90 MEP Students graduate in 2014!
MEP Students network with NetApp alumni. Graduating MEP Class of 2014 with their supporting faculty and staff. Students are wearing their MEP stoles. As the Multicultural Engineering Program (MEP) has grown, the graduation rate of MEP students has also increased. At the second annual Graduating Student Reception in May, MEP students were provided the opportunity to acknowledge a faculty or staff member who has had a significant impact throughout their
“Each one of us whether we realize it or not are leaving a trail for future generations by showing them that Hispanics too can be engineers.” -CECILIA CADENAS
academic career. Computer engineering student, Cecilia Cadenas, gave the keynote address, sharing her transition to college and the support she received along the way. We look forward to continuing this tradition next year. Interested alumni are invited to attend and speak at the event.
MEP: Strengthening the Community College Pipeline for Cal Poly
T AP i n t o T r a n s fers: a Transfer Ad v i s i n g P r o g r a m
MEP links with Allan Hancock College’s MESA and STEM Centers to create joint programming
MEP has combined efforts with Cal Poly’s Counseling and Guidance Program to reach out to Santa Maria’s Allan Hancock College (AHC) science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students. The goal of fostering this relationship is “to facilitate the career development process of AHC STEM students through group and individual interactions.” This year, AHC
students had multiple opporon a workshop specifically tunities to interact with and for AHC STEM students learn from current MEP stutransferring to Cal Poly in dents and advisors, including the fall. The workshop is participating based on current “We love having this in a campus Cal Poly transfer connection with MEP. It tour and stustudent suggesgives us someone to dent panel, tions on how to refer our students to for meeting Cal prepare for the questions—something Poly advisors fast-paced quarter we never had before.” at their career system. fair, and doing -CHRISTINE REED, AHC MESA It has been DIRECTOR a joint tour incredibly rewith MEP warding to assist students to Raytheon in Santhose in community college ta Barbara. in their transfer process, and This summer, MEP is expand MEP’s ability to folteaming up with the College low future Mustangs on their of Science and Math to put journey to Cal Poly.
Corporate Connections: Seeking Interested Alumni MEP has created a database for students to seek supportive industry members from whom they can learn and grow. Would you be interested in being a contact to students? Visit the MEP webpage to sign up and learn more about how you can help! mep.calpoly.edu/mentoring
In collaboration with the Engineering Advising Center, MEP has launched a Transfer Advising Program (TAP). The objectives of this program include providing social, academic and professional support for both new and returning transfers. Events this academic year included a new year social, resource fair, mingling tips and end-of-the-year celebration and reflection.
A WORD FROM THE DIRECTOR
MEP: Where are we now?
Over 500 students were members of MEP during this past academic year.
One-third of all MEP students are transfer students.
For the 2014-2015 academic year, MEP is opening its doors to all underrepresented student in engineering, providing automatic enrollment into the program. No application will be necessary.
MEP continues to provide academic support to the Cal Poly Scholars, now with over 140 engineers in the program.
The MEP Tutoring Lab saw more students this year than any year in the past.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Mechanical engineering senior Jose Lemus served as president of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers during the 2013-2014 academic year. Under his leadership, the club had more than 150 members and began several innovative projects. As a former veteran, Lemus sees the benefits of giving back to the community; this included creating a formal SHPE Jr. chapter in Santa Maria, hosting SHPE RLDC, working with Grid Alternatives to install solar panels on two homes of families in need, and donating care packages to U.S. troops. Lemus received the SHPE Officer of the Year award this spring, and SHPE earned Runner-Up Club of the Year at Cal Poly for it’s achievements under his leadership. This summer Lemus will be interning at JPL.
This past fall 2013, Cal Poly admitted its most diverse class. Cal Poly student population now consists of 18.5% underrepresented students. New initiatives to increase diversity have been put in place and we hope this trend continues. Our goal is to also keep increasing retention and graduation rates of this population. Consider becoming a mentor to a current MEP student! -Maria Manzano
Alumnus Gives Back to the MEP: making the study room more accommodating When the microwave in the MEP Study Room stopped working, students were motivated to find a solution. They suggested sending an email to all MEP members asking for small donations in the community purchase of the appliance. Little did MEP expect that this message would be heard by Juan Saucedo. Currently residing in Denmark working for Grundfos
MEP Students excitedly show their gratitude to Juan Saucedo.
MEP Alumnus, Juan Saucedo
Pumps, Saucedo had a brand new microwave shipped directly to the MEP. Saucedo graduated with a degree in industrial engineering in 2013 and was involved in MEP and MESA programs throughout his college career.
Grateful students stood around the microwave with their lunchboxes and Cup o’ Noodles with a sign reading “Thank you Juan” to show their appreciation for his gift. Thank you Juan Saucedo and other alumni for supporting MEP students!
I N P REPARATION
FOR N EXT Y EAR …. P ROGRAMS TO G ET S TUDENTS C ONNECTED
MEP New Students BBQ: Every year MEP hosts an event to welcome new students. It’s a great way for new students, continuing students, industry and alumni to get to know one another Transfer Student Social: Many transfer students have a difficult time making social connections on campus. Our Transfer Student Social: Game Night Edition will introduce new transfers to one another and their fellow classmates.
First-Year Seminar: FYS is a course for first-year freshmen and transfers to orient themselves to Cal Poly. Sessions include time management and career advice from an industry/alumni panel. Fall Industry Workshop Series: To get students geared up for the Career Fair and internships, industry representatives share tips that range from being a successful student to obtaining an internship. Group Advising: To adapt to our increase in students within MEP, we are implementing opportunities for students to do group advising.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Sal Navarro transferred to Cal Poly from Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria three years ago in pursuit of his electrical engineering degree. Almost immediately he became part of the MEP and SHPE family. Navarro’s genuine interest in people and passion for engineering opened up numerous doors for him throughout his time here. “The biggest key to my success here at Cal Poly was not being shy,” Navarro explained, “I went after every opportunity that was given. Getting involved made the greatest difference.” Through SHPE he created connections with industry, which would lead him to internships with San Diego Gas Electric and PG&E. He was also elected vice president of the club chapter.
“How Can I Get Involved?” Many Ways Alumni Can Participate in MEP Today!
Attend an MEP or campus event You are more than welcome to attend our MEP BBQ and Speed Networking, or participate on one of our panels We’d love to have you! If you’re in SLO, feel free to stop by. Hold a workshop for current MEP students Your experience is valuable to current students. Feel free to hold a workshop sharing your own stories about industry, graduate school and leadership. Become a mentor mep.calpoly.edu/mentoring Corporate Connections links MEP students to supportive alumni and industry members to assist them in gaining knowledge about the world outside Cal Poly.
Connect with your fellow alumni There is strength in numbers. Keep MEP alive by sharing its growth and progress with others. Join your local SHPE, SBES or AISES professional chapters to stay involved with the clubs. Organize a group workshop or tour. Stay connected www.alumni.calpoly.edu Keep your email and mailing address current with Cal Poly to ensure you receive campus and college e-news and printed publications. Make a Gift mep.calpoly.edu/give We cannot survive without your support! Help us provide tutoring, advising, mentoring, scholarships and other great professional and academic resources to students.
Why to get involved? Wise words from an alumna MEP alumna, Christina Diaz, explains why she thinks it’s important to give back I am currently a systems engineer in the Natural Space Environments group at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. I graduated from Cal Poly in 2013 with a bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in aerospace engineering. I’ve worked on some pretty great projects within my year in working at the lab. People often ask me what has helped me the most in my journey as an engineer. Besides copious amounts of coffee, a strong support system has helped me in every respect – I couldn’t have done without the good friends and resources I met at the MEP. Many are often surprised to hear how much I struggled in school, at one point feeling that engineering may not be in my path! It was tough, and without the mentoring resources, tutoring lab and study
lounge, I couldn’t have gotten by. I met students who were on the same boat as I was and we motivated each other to conquer those engineering classes! Seeing them every morning, so cheerful and sunny, made the day that much better too. I feel I have overcome a large hurdle in my life, and as I look back, I can’t help but remember where the momentum to push through originated. It came from a small quiet building on a corner of campus and the wonderful people within it – the MEP. Because of that, outreach and mentorship is one of the best things I can do to give back to the new generation of students and eventually future engineers. As the MEP grows more and more each year, we have that many reasons to give back. It’s when alumni come back and show the results of their hard work and education that students feel inspired. Sometimes, all it takes is some words of wisdom to change a student forever. I remember the conversation that inspired me. Do you?
Upcoming Events August 15/16 Student Leadership Workshop
September 22 Classes begin September 28 MEP BBQ October 7 Industry & Alumni Panel October 8/9 Fall Career Fair January 20 MEP Speed Networking January 21/22 Winter Career Fair April 15/16 Spring Career Fair DCAB Leadership Workshops
May 15 SHPE Banquet MEP IAB Meeting May 29 Graduating Student and Faculty/Staff Appreciation Reception
Multicultural Engineering Program 1 Grand Ave, Bldg. 40, Room 117 San Luis Obispo, CA 3407 805-756-1433 mep@calpoly.edu www.mep.calpoly.edu