Veronica Hernandez
Name: Veronica Hernandez
Age: 23
Major: Mechanical Engineering
College: College of Engineering and Computer Science
Hometown: Edinburg, TX
High School: Robert Vela High School
Why UTRGV?
When selecting which university to attend, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley was the first on my list. UTRGV does not only offer affordable tuition, but the quality of education was the primary reason that I chose UTRGV. This university offers great engineering programs and opportunities for its students that cannot be obtained anywhere else.
What made you decide on your current major?
When I was younger, I always loved creating new things, and my favorite classes in middle school and high school were my math and science classes. In middle school, I joined the UIL Math and Number sense teams and when I got to high school, I joined Mu Alpha Theta, a mathematics honor society. My calculus and physics teachers at my high school inspired me to further pursue my education in a STEM major. I chose Mechanical Engineering due to it being one of the broadest branches of engineering that applies physics and mathematics into real life applications.
What do you hope to achieve beyond completion of your major?
I aspire to being able to create and improve the current products on the market by making them more environmentally friendly. I hope to make a difference by creating more efficient and safer products. After I am finished with my degree, I would like to work at a company in the automotive industry or at one that specializes in consumer goods.
What do you like most about UTRGV?
UTRGV has some of the most intelligent and inspiring professors that do everything they can to help their students achieve their goals. Whether it be in exceling in their classes or giving direction for their future professional career, the professors at UTRGV always strive to help students be very successful in their future.
What does being a Vaquero mean to you?
Being a Vaquero means being a leader by helping and inspiring those around me to become more successful. It means doing the best in everything I do and representing the Rio Grande Valley.
What opportunities has UTRGV helped you find throughout your community?
UTRGV has some of the best opportunities for its students which include volunteering, organizations, research, and so much more! In my journey at UTRGV, I have been able to join Tau Beta Pi, an Engineering Honor Society, and become the President of Society of Automotive Engineers organization chapter at UTRGV which has helped me evolve as a leader. Aside from that, I have been given the opportunity to be a research assistant in the University Transportation for Railway Safety which focuses on improving safety in the railroad industry. I have volunteered by helping assist teaching students at summer camps and presenting how my experience at UTRGV has helped me excel in my academic career. Due to all of these opportunities, I was able to intern during the summer of 2018 at Caterpillar Inc. Company.
What are a few of your favorite books?
Some of my favorite books are “The Martian”, a science fiction novel by Andy Weir. This book is about an astronaut that ends up stranded on Mars and must ration the resources he has left until someone can come back to rescue him. I like this book because it talks about the engineering skills he uses to survive and the situations that can happen if someone was left on another planet. Another book that I like is “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald which is just a book I have always liked to read since the first time I read it in high school.
What’s in your playlist right now?
I have currently been listening to Staind and Midland, a country band from Texas. Other than that, I mostly listen to classic rock music on Spotify or classical violin music when I study.