Why did you choose Mānoa?

I came to Mānoa for engineering because I heard many great things about the engineering program during my time at Waiākea High School. Many of the brightest alumni from our school went on to complete their higher education at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and hearing about the many opportunities that the university offered, both professional and extracurricular, excited me and informed my decision to go to school here. Furthermore, knowing that Hawaiʻi is such a close-knit community, I knew that attending Mānoa to pursue a career in engineering would cement my network and provide many opportunities to find a local career that would help me achieve my mission of helping develop and improve the infrastructure and quality of life throughout the state. 

What opportunities have you had while at Mānoa? 

The many opportunities I have had while at Mānoa include access to clubs and projects. The one project that most interested me coming into the University of Hawaiʻi was the concrete canoe project, so when I started attending as a freshman it was one of the first clubs I got involved with. Getting involved with concrete canoe led to me joining ASCE and meeting many other students in engineering.  Through this involvement, I have had the chance to lead the concrete canoe team as the project manager my junior year, coordinating research, construction, and transportation of the canoe to our competition in California. Furthermore, I have had the chance to become the president of the ASCE student chapter, getting to oversee and work with countless students, professionals, and other student leaders who have expanded my network and helped me refine my soft skills. 

What engineering organizations are you involved in? 

I am most heavily involved with American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and Chi Epsilon, but I also enjoy attending events hosted by other organizations such as Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and Engineers Council of the University of Hawaiʻi (ECUH) to meet fellow engineers beyond my major. 

How has Mānoa prepared you to work in the industry? 

Mānoa has gone above and beyond to prepare me for working in the civil engineering industry. The many alumni of the Unviersity of Hawaiʻi's College of Engineering are always very supportive of students, and Mānoa facilitates many networking opportunities with these professionals. Every internship I have had throughout my college career was made possible thanks to the career fairs providing the space for face-to-face interactions with the many local firms that attend. 

How has Mānoa prepared you to work successfully on a team? 

The many classes that require group work, such as labs and seminars, have all taught me a lot about how to be a good groupmate, and how to communicate well with people that approach problems differently. Furthermore, being involved with ASCE has allowed me to meet a diverse group of people and given me the chance to gain leadership and management experience as I took on more responsibilities throughout the years in the club. 

Any advice or words of encouragement for incoming first-year engineering students

The path ahead may seem daunting and scary for many of you, but it is always important to remember that you are not alone and that many other engineering students have been in your same position. Never be afraid to reach out and get involved with student organizations no matter how intimidating and scary it may seem at first, making these connections is the easiest way to make the most out of your time in college. Finally, always remember that you are all capable individuals who deserve to be here no matter what difficulties you may encounter along the way! 

Why did you choose Mānoa?

I actually transferred to UH Mānoa after starting a program at an engineering school in Michigan. While I really enjoyed my program at my previous school, I began realizing that I wanted to pursue a career more on the environmental side of engineering. I found that Mānoa offered a concentration in "Sustainability and Innovation" within the Civil track, and that there were lots of professional opportunities in Hawaiʻi in the fields that I was interested. 

What opportunities have you had while at Mānoa? 

At Mānoa, one of my most meaningful experiences was participating in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. Under the guidance of Dr. Zhiyue Wang, I received funding to conduct environmental engineering research. This experience not only improved my research skills but also provided me with valuable presentation experience at various symposia.

In addition to my research, I've been actively involved in several student and professional organizations at Mānoa. Currently, I serve as Vice President for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and as a member of Chi Epsilon, where I was the Editor in Fall 2023. I'm also a member of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), where I am a captain for our "Sustainable Solutions" event this semester. 

What engineering organizations are you involved in? 

Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Chi Epsilon (XE), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

How has Mānoa prepared you to work in the industry? 

Besides the technical expertise I've gained through Mānoa's courses, the College of Engineering and involvement in student groups has also broadened my professional skills. Opportunities for networking and mentorship, through things like professional development events and career expos, have allowed me to frequently engage with industry experts and receive invaluable advice about working in the industry. 

How has Mānoa prepared you to work successfully on a team? 

My experience at Mānoa has involved a significant amount of teamwork, particularly within labs or on class projects. Student clubs and organizations have also been very helpful in building my teamwork skills, as they often involve complex projects that require a higher level of communication and collaboration with peers than is typically needed for class projects. 

Any advice or words of encouragement for incoming first-year engineering students

The number one piece of advice I have is to engage with your professors. Beyond just getting extra guidance and help with assignments; talking to your professors can open up opportunities for things like mentorship, career advice, or even research experience. 

Why did you choose Mānoa?

Originally, I chose Mānoa due to financial reasons. I got some scholarships to come to UH for college and for me it was the better option compared to paying more money to go away for school. I didn't necessarily know it at the time, but UH was also the best choice for me because of the connections that the faculty have with the job market for engineers here in Hawaii. Especially since I wanted to stay in Hawaii once I graduated, having professors/faculty who are connected to professional engineers here makes it a little easier to find a career once you graduate. 

What opportunities have you had while at Mānoa? 

Maybe my favorite opportunity during my time at UH was being a part of the Micro VIP research project. I really enjoyed this project because it was my first introduction into machine learning during my sophomore year and because of this project machine learning remains one of the most interesting engineering topics for me even now. By being on this VIP team I was also able to have the professor overseeing the project be a reference when applying to internships. This was extremely helpful because the place I would eventually intern at knew of my professor because he would collaborate with that company on certain projects and I'm sure that him being a reference was able to help me get the internship that I wanted. 

What engineering organizations are you involved in? 

None.

How has Mānoa prepared you to work in the industry? 

I think that overall, Mānoa has done a pretty good job at preparing me for working once I graduate. Being a part of research project has helped me learn gain some hands on experience compared to just learning in the classroom and I also think that events like the career expo do a good job of exposing students to recruiters in the industry to see specifically what certain companies are looking for. 

How has Mānoa prepared you to work successfully on a team? 

Mānoa has done a good job of preparing me to work on a team a few different ways. I think the first is that through my student job that I've had at the college of engineering, I have had to do a lot of work with my coworkers to work on tasks such as planning events and effectively dividing up working tasks which has helped me effectively work in a team. Working on a research project with others has also helped me gain the interpersonal skills to succeed in a team, especially on engineering related projects. 

Any advice or words of encouragement for incoming first-year engineering students

College is what you make it to be! Get out of your comfort zone to talk to new people, sign up for events, and just do whatever you want to make the most out of your college experience. 

Why did you choose Mānoa?

I came to Manoa for engineering because of the COVID-19 pandemic. I was originally going to school at Whittier College in Whittier, CA and I transferred back home to be closer to family during that time. Manoa was the only accredited engineering school in Hawaiʻi and I was able to have most of my credits transfer into the Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace program in the Fall of 2020. The pandemic may have altered my plans but I feel Manoa was the right choice for me because of the vast Pacific Islander community on-campus, the low-cost of tuition, and the tight-knit network I was able to create with engineering students & faculty. 

What opportunities have you had while at Mānoa? 

Some opportunities I was able to participate in was UHM-INDOPACOMʻs Intelligence Mentorship Internship with the College of Social Science, the Associated Students of UHM as a Student Senator for the College of Engineering, a Pasifika member in the Pan Pacific Association, a student fellow with the LGBTQ+ center and the TIDES-AANAPISI program with SEED, and the Earth Planetary Explorations Technology (EPET) course series in the ME Aero program. 

What engineering organizations are you involved in? 

Native Hawaiian Science & Engineering Mentorship Program (NHSEMP)

How has Mānoa prepared you to work in the industry? 

I feel that Manoa has prepared me immensely to work in the industry. From hands-on projects in the EPET courses series (EPET 400 + EPET 401) I was exposed to the aerospace industry side and how different factions within the systems engineering field all play their parts to creating a satellite. 

How has Mānoa prepared you to work successfully on a team? 

Manoa has continuously prepared me to work successfully with others on a team. Being one of the very few Pacific Islanders in the entire college I am able to work with diverse groups of students from all backgrounds. 

Any advice or words of encouragement for incoming first-year engineering students

If you ever feel alone, are the first in your family to pursue an engineering degree, or one of the few people in your community to get into engineering -- find community in what you do, in who you meet, and where you are. There are many clubs and organizations on-campus to assist you in achieving your academic endeavors. 

Get out and talk to people as well! As you trail along your academic journey as an undergrad the people you meet and network with could be the very people to get you a career. Remember, you network is your networth! Donʻt let anyone tell you that you canʻt do it, outlive and outdo those stereotypes and keep moving forward. Uplift yourself, your family name, and most importantly -- donʻt forget to pay back to the people/community that raised you.