Daniel Montalvo

Name: Daniel Montalvo
Age: 22
Major: Manufacturing Engineering
Class: Senior
College: College of Engineering and Computer Science.
Hometown: Mission, Texas.
High School: Sharyland High School in Mission. 

Why UTRGV?
I chose to attend UTRGV because of the many scholarship opportunities provided to me compared to the other universities I had applied to.

What made you decide on your current major?
I love seeing the process of how things are made. Originally, I was going to major in civil engineering, but I realized I had a passion for manufacturing thanks to my high school mentor, Trung Nguyen, who was plant manager at the time of manufacturing company, Royal Technologies. I was exposed to the world of manufacturing at the plant on a small weeklong internship working in the assembly line and really enjoyed it following two job experiences I had with the company post high school graduation. I saw that UTRGV had a manufacturing engineering degree and based on the curriculum, I changed my degree to manufacturing engineering.

What do you hope to achieve beyond completion of your major?
I hope to gain a job in industry as a manufacturing engineer and to gain the skills and knowledge of lean manufacturing.

What do you like most about UTRGV?
What I like most about UTRGV is the engineering faculty. Everyone from the manufacturing engineering faculty to the overall college staff are always there to give the knowledge and assistance needed to not just me but to every student in the CECS.

What does being a Vaquero mean to you?
Being a Vaquero means to take risks and to be prideful of where I am from. I have experienced living in other communities and showing that Vaquero pride up north is very unique because not everyone can show that Vaquero pride unless you are from the Rio Grande Valley and are at UTRGV. We show such special experiences and skills that just are not seen beyond the RGV that it makes us feel prideful of where we are from.

What opportunities has UTRGV helped you find throughout your community?
UTRGV has helped me become a leader. I am currently the president of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and having this opportunity of being a part of the student organizations here has allowed me to help other students on campus.

What advice do you have for fellow students pursuing their degrees?
I would say to my fellow students to be as outgoing and curious about everything. When I was a freshman, I was fairly quiet and did not take as many opportunities in my first year in talking to others and seeing what the university has to offer for us students. It was hard for me due to having most of my degree online at the beginning of my college career. For the incoming students, I want them to join student organizations, talk to the professors, know what opportunities that the college has to make themselves more successful for the future.