Maritza Renteria

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Major:
Mechanical Engineering

Year:
Senior

Hometown:
Elgin, IL

Executive Positions:
  • Technical Executive
    (Fall 2021)

Other extracurricular activities:

  • Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority
  • Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)

Research/Internship/Co-op experience:

  • GE Aviation
    Mechanical Engineering Intern
    (Summer 2022)
  • Caterpillar Inc.
    Parallel Coop Engineering Intern
    (May 2020 - December 2020)
  • STEM Savvy
    Teacher Assistant Intern
    (Summer 2019)

Why Illinois?

UIUC was my #1 choice when choosing schools. Ever since I set foot onto campus and heard the Altgeld Chimes ringing, I knew this was going to be my home for the next 4 years. I chose Illinois because of the outstanding engineering program it had to offer. I wanted to be part of a place who made an impact in the world all while showing school pride. The Illini family is like no other.

What has been your best experience at Illinois?

"My best experience at Illinois is definitely getting involved in different RSOs from the very start. One in particular that has contributed a lot into my successes is SHPE, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. Through SHPE, I have met many intelligent people coming from different backgrounds just like mine, making it easier to connect with one another. Being involved with the New Member Roundtable, Community Service Committee, and the Internal Team has greatly helped in developing my leadership and interpersonal skills.
In Spring 2022, I became a sister of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority. Being apart of the sisterhood has been one of the best decisions I have also made while being at UIUC."

Favorite part about being an engineering student?

As an engineering student, I am exposed to a variety of amazing opportunities. With my major, I can use my degree to go into a variety of areas in the engineering workforce, since after all, engineers are needed everywhere. As an engineer, I am encouraged to be creative and use my thinking to come up with solutions. Once an idea is set into place, I can then get into designing these and see the idea come alive in real life! Being an engineer means I get to work towards solving problems of everyday life. We’re here for a good time, not a long time, so it’s important to live an efficient life all while having fun.

Why did you join EA?

Promoting STEM has always been something I have been passionate about. When I was younger, I had no idea what the word engineer was or meant. I was never exposed in great detail to what STEM was and thinking about it now, it could have opened my eyes to a lot more at an early age. This is why I believe reaching out to the younger generation is very important, as they are the future of our world. Seeing this was the EA mission, I was truly inspired to join.

What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing a STEM degree?

Stay motivated. Pursuing a STEM degree is going to take a lot of time and dedication. There are going to be many times where it will seem so difficult, but sticking to it and being motivated will prove nonetheless that a roadblock cannot stop you. That’s essentially what STEM is, solving problems of everyday life, so of course there are going to be obstacles to get through, and that’s the exciting part of STEM! This is where your creativity comes into play- there is never one right solution when it comes to STEM and that is why I love it. Having your eye aimed at your goal will help greatly in staying motivated.

What do you plan on doing post-graduation?

After graduation, I plan to spend 3-4 months traveling and exploring the world. After that, I strive to work at an aerospace company for full time.