[Faculty] Engineering Valedictorian Vote Deadline: April 12th

[Donovan Geiger]

Engineering Faculty and Staff:

As the departmental outstanding graduates have been selected, voting for
Engineering Valedictorian will now take place. Please select one and email
your choice to me by* 12:00pm, Wednesday April, 12th.*

The candidates are:

__________________________________________





*Joseph AkersMajor GPA 3.93, SDSU GPA 3.95Environmental Engineering*

I am a Marine Corps Veteran. I was living in San Diego since 2010 at
MCAS Miramar. I chose the major I wanted about a year before I left the
military. During my research, I learned that an ABET accredited school was
going to be as important to me as an Environmental Engineer as learning how
to be an Environmental Engineer. I found several schools that fit the bill
but after a few searches where google filled in the blank after SDSU with
"best party schools" I knew that I would at least have a few years of fun
if I couldn't cut it. San Diego State actually became my favorite choice
really quickly. Everything about it just made sense such as the location
and the teacher reviews. But it was February. Admissions were full and I
was going to be stuck waiting a year or so to get a spot. Looked like I was
going to Ohio State.


There was a Marine Corps Program called the Leadership Scholar Program that
allowed me to get into SDSU where my only competition for admission was
other Marines. The spots were actually filled but through sheer luck of
someone dropping out of going to SDSU and with my Marine Corps
accomplishments, I was able to get a spot to start school in fall 2013. I
quickly joined the Student Veterans Organization and even helped start
their intramural sports teams. I met some good friends through there but
decided to try more professional organizations like Engineers Without
Borders and American Water Works Association.



School was challenging but I benefited greatly from the GI Bill which paid
for my schooling and gave me the freedom to keep my grades up.
Unfortunately for me, I had to start with classes like Precalculus and
would be playing catch up to My Map. Engineering requires a couple more
credits than other degrees so I would be here for a few summer sessions as
well. There were some challenging teachers, some unorganized ones and some
amazing ones like Professor Smith and Professional Mladenov. Overall it was
a great experience.



During my time at SDSU I have become a Big Brother volunteer for Bigs of
San Diego and I have been the recipient of several scholarships, including
the Sinegal Veterans Scholarship. I am currently working with SPAWAR
because of San Diego State's veteran's programs in a research fellowship. I
can only look back and thank SDSU for the experience granted.

_________________________________________



*Victor OrtegaMajor GPA 3.81, SDSU GPA 3.91Aerospace Engineering*

Victor Ortega graduated valedictorian from Monte Vista High School in
Spring Valley before being admitted to SDSU’s Aerospace Engineering program
in the Fall of 2013. He will be earning his B.S. in Aerospace Engineering
with a 3.919 cumulative GPA this May. He has shown a dedication to helping
other students succeed through being one of the first to participate in
Monte Vista’s peer tutoring program as a math tutor and later working as a
college advisor at an inner city high school in City Heights. As a
first-generation college student and son of immigrants who originally
attended school in City Heights.  Since 2016, he has been working as an
undergraduate research assistant looking at resin injection methods of
repairing internal delamination in carbon fiber laminates in the Aerospace
Engineering Department. He has been accepted to the SDSU-UCSD Joint
Doctoral Program in Structural Engineering and awarded a 5-year fellowship
by UCSD.

_______________________________________



*Karl ReyesMajor GPA 3.87, SDSU GPA 3.93*

*Mechanical Engineering *

Karl is a senior mechanical engineering student, and will be graduating in
May 2017. As a student at SDSU, he was a member of numerous organizations,
including the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME),
Design/Build/Fly (DBF), and Tau Beta Pi – The Engineering Honor Society. In
Spring 2015, Karl worked with a team to design and manufacture a
wall-mounting mechanism of an all-terrain vehicle for the ASME Student
Professional Development Conference (SPDC) student design competition. In
Spring 2016, he contributed to the manufacturing of a prototype aircraft as
a manufacturing team member for the American Institute of Aeronautics and
Astronautics (AIAA) Design/Build/Fly competition. Currently, he is an
officer in Tau Beta Pi California Xi. Outside of his extracurricular
activities, Karl has also had internship experience with Solar Turbines
Incorporated, where he was a Mechanical Engineering Intern in the
Combustion Department. He has accepted a position with Northrop Grumman,
and will be working as a Mechanical Engineer in the Vehicle Engineering
Department after graduating in May.

_________________________________________


*Stephen West Major GPA 3.97, SDSU GPA 3.94*
*Electrical Engineering *
We nominate Stephen West as our outstanding graduate for his top 3.94 GPA
that includes 97 units taken at SDSU.  Faculty who had the privilege to
teach him in EE430 and other courses recall West to be a quiet studious,
smart, and respectful student. He has involved in student organizations and
extracurricular activities.

__________________________________________


Once again, the deadline to vote is this Wednesday, April 12, at noon.

Best regards,

*Donovan Geiger, MBA*
Student Affairs Officer
College of Engineering
San Diego State University
619.594.6079 <%28619%29%20594-6079>
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