B.S. Construction Engineering & Management '21

Hometown: East Chicago, IN

"Everyone's journey to getting an engineering degree is unique - do not stress yourself out trying to compare your journey to those around you." Mayra attended the 2017 Academic Boot Camp the summer before her first semester at Purdue. She stated that the program allowed her to meet other engineering students who became some of her best friends at Purdue.

Mayra credits the Minority Engineering Program as playing a huge role in her success at Purdue. Being able to go to the Academic Success Center and study with other engineering students was a game-changer her first-year. From the many tutors for the First-Year Engineering Courses to the upper classmen who were in the center studying, everyone was always willing and happy to help if she found herself struggling.

MEP was a network of support throughout Mayra's time at Purdue. She noted that the staff made it known that they cared for each of the students' milestones and were also there to listen and help guide them when things were not going as planned.

Mayra's advice to incoming students, "Dedication, persistence, and hard work is the key to being successful in your courses - being "smart" does not cut it."

After Mayra graduated in May 2021, she joined Burns & McDonnell Engineering Co. as a Construction Coordinator at their Chicago office.