Maria Ximena Cabrera Lehmann, senior industrial engineering student, has been heavily involved in community service, leadership and research at Texas A&M University and her hard work has paid off. Cabrera was awarded the Craig C. Brown Outstanding Senior Engineer Award in October.
This award is presented to graduating engineering students from the College of Engineering who demonstrate scholastic achievement, leadership and character. The prestigious award includes a scholarship, which Cabrera will use to help pay for her final semester of college.
Cabrera started her college career at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and is originally from Colombia. Her unwavering dedication to pursuing community service, high academic achievement and undergraduate research made her a perfect candidate.
The application process was long and required many steps and documents, including recommendation letters, a personal statement and transcripts. Cabrera applied in May and her application was sent to the department for review. The department can nominate up to three students and these nominations are reviewed by a committee at the college level. Students nominated by the committee then move on to an interview with a distinguished panel that includes Craig Brown, the award’s namesake.
Only around 1% of students are granted an interview with the panel, and Cabrera not only received an interview but was selected to receive the award.
Cabrera spoke with us about the award and how students can achieve this, or another high honor, like she did.
Q: What does this award mean to you?
A: This is the highest honor I have received in my life. Receiving this award is one of those moments in life where you realize that all of your effort is worth it. You realized that all of your hard work impacts the people around you and you have made a difference. I am extremely grateful for all the people who have supported me and believed in me from the beginning. My department and faculty’s support have played a huge role in my college career and I would have not been able to accomplish everything I have done without them.
Q: Which organizations are you involved in at Texas A&M?
A: Currently, I am a grand challenge scholar, industrial and systems engineering ambassador, undergraduate researcher at the Applied Cognitive Ergonomics lab, certified in Six Sigma, and recently I joined Alpha Pi Mu and Tau Beta Pi to get to know more people in my department and the other engineering disciplines. I think that Texas A&M is the perfect place to explore your interests and get involved in the many opportunities available to students.
I have been involved in multiple campus events and organizations while working toward my degree. This award is based on scholastic achievement, leadership and character, and many of these characteristics are developed inside and outside the classroom.
Q: Do you have any advice for current engineering students so they can be outstanding engineering students?
A: My advice to students is to value and recognize the opportunities they have from being an Aggie. Not everyone gets the chance to learn from some of the best engineers in the country. Academics should be a priority for every student. After all, we are here to be the next generation of innovators and for that we need the technical tools. Once you feel comfortable with your school work, I would recommend getting involved in organizations and activities you feel passionate about. Throughout my college career, I have learned that there are some lessons that are not taught in the classroom. The more you explore your potential, the closer you will come to being an outstanding engineer. It is about managing your time wisely and keeping your priorities straight.
Think of college as your opportunity to get out of your comfort zone, and this university certainly gives you the opportunity to be whatever you can imagine. Take advantage of the resources for entrepreneurship, undergraduate research, leadership and community service, while becoming a good professional.
You don’t want to miss the opportunity to build a relationship with your faculty and staff; they are full of wisdom and life lessons. I have had the best mentors in my department. Every professor I have met is seeking your success, as long as you show your hard work. The most valuable advice I have received came from one of them, “Be humble enough to know that you are not better than anyone else, but wise enough to know you are different.”
An outstanding engineering student is not the one that knows the periodic table by memory; it is a student that is able to use their problem-solving skills for the greater good. Students should always believe in themselves. The question that you should ask yourself is, “Are you ready to explore your potential as an Aggie engineer?”