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Meet the Ambassadors
Sydney Biddix
Major: Biomedical Engineering
I am a second year Biomedical Engineering student. I have always wanted to be in the medical space but not as a surgeon or a doctor. This drew me to biomedical engineering. I love the idea of making an impact that can save millions of lives. I am currently involved in undergraduate research through the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Aside from being a College of Engineering ambassador I am also a University Ambassador for the Office of Admissions. I absolutely love the community I have found at the U within not only the College of Engineering, but as the University of Utah as a whole. Go Utes!
Emma Brindley
Major: Materials Science & Engineering, Nuclear Engineering
I am a second-year Ph.D. student in Nuclear Engineering and am from a small town in Colorado. I got my bachelor's degree from the U in 2022 in Materials Science and Engineering with a minor in Nuclear Engineering. Growing up, and even now, I always wanted to learn new things wherever I went. When I finish school, I want to work at NASA. However, if I can make a difference somewhere else, that is all that matters!
Outside the classroom and the lab, I enjoy hiking, baking, reading, and playing video games. I have two dogs and like to spoil my sister's cat!
Chase Canning
Major: Computer Science
Ever since I was a kid, I've loved solving puzzles and finding the hidden patterns that others might have missed. I even used to dream of being a detective, until I was 15 when I had a crucial revelation – I'm not great with blood. Still, my love for solving problems didn't fade; it just led me to a different path, and that's how I landed in data science. Numbers aren't just numbers to me; they're like threads that weave stories and show trends. I'm all about using data to find out cool stuff that helps us understand the world better. I can't wait to see how the University of Utah will help me get better at this data thing and hone my skills as a date detective.
Midge Cook
Major: Electrical Engineering
I am a second-year ECE student. I chose ECE because circuits are like a sudoku puzzle, you need to finish each part before getting the whole picture. Additionally, I hope to work in clean energy to improve our future.
Kerrigan Denham
Major: Mechanical Engineering
I am a senior (fourth year) in mechanical engineering. I am interested in the biomechanics side of engineering, specifically my research focus has been aimed at classifying damage in cerebral blood vessels with the hope of improving traumatic brain injury treatment. In the future, I hope to become a graduate student at the U in mechanical engineering and branch my research out to compare fully developed cerebral blood vessels to preterm infants’ cerebral blood vessels. Outside of class, I love exploring the beautiful sights that Utah has to offer and participating in local events happening in the city.
Saarah Kureshi
Major: Electrical Engineering
I am an undergraduate student in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Computer science. Having the opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation, developing new technologies as well as improving existing ones, excites me. Electrical engineering involves complex problem solving in designing systems to specific needs. Being able to find creative solutions to these problems grows my knowledge and skill set greatly. There are various career paths that you can take with Electrical Engineering. I especially enjoy nanotechnology, chip design, and I am interested in the aerospace industry. The University of Utah has exposed me to various industries and fields available to their students, and that has been very invaluable to me.
Sana Kureshi
Major: Computer Science
I am a fourth-year Computer Science student, with a minor in Mathematics. The decision to pursue a major in Computer Science was instinctive and aligned perfectly with my interests. This field has always attracted my attention with the constant technological advancements that profoundly influence how we live and interact. The ever-evolving nature of technology captivates me, and I want to be part of making things happen. As an Engineering Ambassador, I want to highlight the variety of opportunities that await engineering students at the University of Utah. The campus offers numerous pathways for involvement and professional advancement, allowing students to flourish.
Manny Lopez
Major: Computer Science
I am a fourth-year student hailing from Logan, Utah. I am currently pursuing dual majors in Mathematics with an emphasis on Statistics and Computer Science, alongside minors in Spanish and Latin American Studies. Beyond my academic commitments, I am deeply engaged on campus. I hold the roles of University Ambassador for the Office of Admissions, Ambassador for the College of Science, and Ambassador for the College of Humanities. These roles fuel my passion for fostering connections within our academic community. Additionally, I serve as a Resident Advisor, contributing to creating a supportive living environment here on campus.
In those precious moments of free time, you will likely find me experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen or working on some new sculpting projects. I also have a bad habit of collecting more plants than my room can handle; it's almost like I'm running a mini rainforest cafe in there.
I'm always eager to meet new people and share experiences, so if you see me around campus, please feel free to stop and say hi!
Faith Magda
Major: Chemical Engineering
I am a second-year student majoring in Chemical Engineering. Currently, I work for the Industrial Assessment Center, an energy consulting program within the Chemical Engineering Department, and have actively participated in research projects within the department. My passion for STEM led me to engineering, driven by my desire to apply classroom knowledge to solve real-world problems. I am still debating what specific industries I want to pursue a career in because there are many choices as a chemical engineer. As an ambassador, I hope to ignite the same passion and excitement for engineering and STEM in others as I felt when I was a child. While school takes up a majority of my life, outside of it I enjoy cooking, hitting the gym, and tennis.
Grace Mead
Major: Biomedical Engineering
I am an Honors Biomedical Engineering student, with a minor in Mandarin Chinese. In the past year, I've had the privilege of being involved in research at the University of Utah's Department of Surgery, specifically within the Otolaryngology Division. Simultaneously, I have taken on the role of a New Student Orientation Leader.
Dance has been a significant part of my life since the age of 3, and I was a member of the Corner Canyon Dance Company. Alongside my dance and other hobbies, community service has always been integral to my identity. Over the past few years, I have dedicated approximately 300 hours to serving my community, initially as Miss Teen Draper 2018, then as Miss Draper 2021, and now as a member of the Miss Draper Committee.
My personal passion is helping students develop their interest and confidence in STEM fields. In 2018, I initiated a social media campaign and website called 'Bright Futures Begin With STEM,' which provides valuable resources for parents, teachers, and administrators to inspire students' interest in STEM subjects. In recognition of this work, I received the STEM Innovation Award from CenturyLink and the NBA in 2019.
As an Engineering Ambassador, I am excited about the opportunity to further my mission of encouraging young students to pursue STEM education. I also look forward to sharing the countless opportunities available to Price College of Engineering students.
Dillan Mena
Major: Computer Science
I am a second-year undergraduate student born and raised here in SLC, Utah. I initially didn’t think I’d be choosing any sort of degree that had to do with engineering and started out my college journey studying biology. That was a short lived decision as I realized that I was more inspired by problem solving and innovative technologies rather than the powerhouse of a cell, shoutout mitochondria. In retrospect, I should’ve known I would like CS more since I loved math as a kid and would also spend hours studying algorithms to get faster at solving my rubik's cubes. Nonetheless, switching to this major has proved to be a great decision and I greatly appreciate the resources that the U has to offer. I hope to inspire other students who are intimidated by engineering to join and be thrilled by all the opportunities it brings. Most of the time you’ll find me coding at the CADE lab but outside of school you’ll find me reading, watching movies, playing video games, or being outdoors. I’m excited to meet you all!
Zachary Rasmussen
Major: Chemical Engineering
I am a second year in the Chemical Engineering program where I’m a part of a research lab that’s developing a rapid low-cost tuberculosis sensor, and I lead the Chemical Engineering Car team to build a car that runs on chemical reactions. I’ve known I’d be going into chemical engineering since 10th grade after googling “highest paying college majors”, but it wasn’t until my first year that I learned why I wanted to be a Chemical Engineer. I love the problem solving aspect of it, and the satisfaction that comes with applying the things I learn in school into real life problems. Outside of school I enjoy having game nights and playing pickleball with friends.
Dani Valderrama Saldivia
Major: Mechanical Engineering
I'm Dani Valderrama Saldivia, a junior and a proud first-gen Latina student from Sandy, Utah. I am pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering with an emphasis in biomechanics. On campus, I serve as the president of Phi Sigma Rho, a position where I lead and support fellow women in our engineering community. Advocating for diversity in STEM is a personal mission of mine, and I find joy in mentoring first-generation college students and inspiring a passion for STEM in younger generations in my community. Currently I am working as an R&D intern in the medical device industry and have a passion for improving patient outcomes. When I'm not busy with my studies or work, you'll often find me unwinding by playing Stardew Valley, Minecraft or Pokémon!
Abigail Stringfellow
Major: Civil and Environmental Engineering
I've harbored a passion for pursuing a career in engineering for quite some time, but it wasn't until I started at the U that I chose civil engineering. This field serves as an intersection of my greatest passions: math, art, and physics. I derive immense satisfaction from creating and witnessing my work evolve into something substantial, and in my opinion, engineering offers the most fulfilling avenue for this pursuit.
In addition to my role as an ambassador, I also serve as an undergraduate research assistant in a collaborative project between the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Art and Art History. In this project, I am developing a Vitamin C sensor using photo paper.
Upon completing my undergraduate studies, I intend to pursue a Master of Architecture program. My ultimate goal is to become an architect, blending elements of classical and Gothic architectural styles with modern materials and designs in my career.
Alex Venezie
Major: Mechanical Engineering
I am a 2nd year student majoring in Mechanical Engineering and minoring in Biomedical engineering. Here at the U, I lead a team of mechanical engineers in the making of a chemically powered car for our ChemE Car team. I also currently work as an intern for a startup company associated with the University called Bloom Surgical! Previously, I worked in research developing atmospheric water harvesting devices through the Mechanical Engineering Department. Ever since I was young, I was always passionate about building, creating and designing new things at all times, whether that be with lego’s, raspberry pi’s or other small things I could find around the house. Nowadays, I find interest in everything to do with the brain, biology and biomedical devices. Outside of being an engineer at the U, I spend my time doing everything related to music and I love to cook.
Victoria Yong
Major: Software Development
I am a software development major. I had no idea what I wanted to do in my future career, but I knew that I’d always been curious and that I loved creating things. After taking a few intro courses in computer science through the U, I knew that it was definitely something that would challenge me in a way that felt rewarding and would give me the opportunity to see what creative controls I could take in my future career. The University of Utah’s engineering programs have not only helped me strengthen my coding skills, but have also allowed me to make friendships and connections along the way that would last a lifetime.