Business administration, computer science, finance, and psychology are among the top 10 degrees for 10,000 graduates at San Diego State University (SDSU). According to SDSU, which was designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution in 2012, this year’s commencement ceremonies will be held from May 25-27.
SDSU’s College of Engineering will hold its graduation on May 26. Among those who will be honored is graduating senior Jamilla Thomas, SDSU News said. Jamilla is following a career path blazed by her mother, who earned a degree from SDSU 25 years ago and now works on Mars rover projects at a contractor for NASA’s Goldstone Deep Space Network.
Jamilla will start work at Rockwell Automation this July. Mother and daughter both prospered at the College of Engineering under the same mentor, Theresa Garcia, currently assistant dean of engineering for student affairs. (Read more at “Engineering senior Jamilla Thomas follows in her mother and older sister’s footsteps at SDSU“)
Prior to her role as assistant dean, Theresa directed the undergraduate-level MESA (Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement) program at SDSU from 1997 to 2014, assisting students with their professional and personal growth along with their academic success in preparing them for the STEM industry or for graduate school.
The college also announced that alumni Alfredo Aldrete (BSEE 97’) and Sandra P. Aldrete (BSME 97’) made a gift to establish the Alfredo Aldrete and Sandra Pulido Aldrete MESA Endowed Scholarship for Engineering.
Alfredo is a radio frequency communications test and evaluation engineer at G2 Software Systems, which performs work for businesses, government contractors, and military agencies, and Sandra is a systems engineer at Northrop Grumman. As an Air Force Veteran, Alfredo used his GI Bill to pursue his education at SDSU with credits he’d already earned at the Community College of the Air Force. Sandra transferred from San Diego Community College to SDSU.
“It’s a pleasure for us to make this gift. Much of our academic success can be attributed to MESA, and we feel blessed to be able to give back to the program,” Alfredo told SDSU.
Since their graduation in 1997, the Aldretes have remained active in MESA (formerly known as the Minority Engineering Program (MEP)) by providing annual scholarships, serving on the MESA board, and volunteering for various college efforts. They both credit the MESA program with much of their academic success.
For both Mr. and Mrs. Aldrete, scholarships, study groups, and internships helped them achieve success. MESA provided opportunities to work on undergraduate research projects within the college, according to Alfredo. Sandra wants students to know that being an engineer is a great career choice.
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