Dean Ivan Favilia
MEP Welcome Committee
Meet the members of this year's MEP Welcome Committee!
Meet the members of this year's MEP Welcome Committee!
Hello! My name is Adora and I am majoring in Aerospace Engineering. A fun fact about me is that I have short term memory loss! A fun fact about me is that I have short term memory loss!
Hey y'all! My name is Adrian Marquez, and I am a senior studying Mechanical Engineering. On campus, I am heavily involved in both MEP and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). I chose Illinois because of its rigorous curriculum that will set me up for success anywhere I go.
Hi! My name is Anastasia and I'm studying Mechanical Engineering! On campus I am involved with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and the Themed Entertainment Association. Some of my hobbies are watching television shows, drinking coffee, watching baseball, and arts and crafts.
Hi everyone! My name is Ashley Oliver and I and am Junior Bioengineering major on the track and field team. I and involved in the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and the National Society of Black Engineers. In my free time I like to play golf and spend time with my family!!
Hi! My name is Chase Cope, and I am a freshman majoring in Aerospace Engineering. I’m from Denver, Colorado, and I have two younger siblings back home. I enjoy trying new foods, learning languages, playing volleyball, and I’m a bit of a space nerd.
Hey everybody! My name is Donllen Cooke and I'm sophomore in Mechanical Engineering! I am a former lacrosse captain of which I played for 6 years and manage to break a bone. I enjoy the stars and the moon more so than almost anything else. Finally, I believe that with mechanical engineering I can have a real and broad impact on the world.
Hello! My name is Elaina Gipson and I am currently a sophomore studying Civil and Environmental Engineering. I am involved in Sustainable Solutions, Engineers in Action- Bridge program, EMBRACE, and NSBE this semester and I enjoy volunteering on campus as well. I hope to one day become a structural engineer!
Hi! I'm a freshman in Computer Science from Waukegan, IL. My involvements around campus include Black, Indigenous, Latinos in Tech, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, and CS Student Ambassador Research Scholars. I chose UIUC because of the strong engineering program and the encouraging community within MEP.
Hello! My name is Emma Anderson, from Vernon Hills, IL, and I am currently a sophomore in Chemical Engineering at U of I. My involvements on campus include being the Marketing Chair of the National Society of Black Engineers, a member of the National Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, the Track and Field Club, and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. In my free time I enjoy running, reading, and cooking with friends. I look forward to meeting you all and keeping in contact throughout next semester!
Hello! My name is Emmanuel Buabeng and I am a Graduate student in Computer Science. I am currently in the combined Bachelor's and Master's degree and I will finish in the Spring. I love to dance, dodgeball (on the school team too!), play basketball, and racing. One advice I'd like to give is: you can only go as far as you dream so dream big
Hi, I'm Erik! I'm a senior studying Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Computer Science. My favorite song to play on the piano is 'Another One' by Mac DeMarco. I also used to have a few pet chickens!
My name is Gerardo Paramo, but most people call me Gerry! I am currently a Junior in Bioengineering on the therapeutics track and I am also pursuing a minor in Chemistry. Outside of my classes, I am an SI for Organic Chemistry, a CA for BIOE courses, and a researcher in the Sirk Lab. When I'm not doing something academic, you can either find me at the ARC, cooking/baking, or playing rugby.
Hi, my name is Grant Lindsay, and I am a senior majoring in Civil Engineering. I'm currently involved in Empowering Minorities and Building Representation Across Civil and Environmental Engineering (EMBRACE), the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE).In my free time, I like to ice skate, swim, and hang out with friends. I chose Illinois primarily because of MEP and its ranking as an engineering school.
Hi, my name is Isaiah, and I'm a junior majoring in Mechanical Engineering. On campus, I'm involved with the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) as Internal Vice President, a volunteer at MechSE MakerWorks Club, and a member of both Grainger's and MechSE's DEI committees. In my free time, I enjoy playing video games, watching anime, playing/listening to music, and hanging out with friends.
Hello, I'm Kamila Castillo, and I'm a junior studying Environmental Engineering. On campus I'm involved with (SHPE), the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. For fun I enjoy reading, adult coloring books, and hiking.
Hello! My name is Landon Lindsay and I am a sophomore in Mechanical Engineering. I love to create music, whether that is playing the piano or working in FL studio. I also spend a lot of my time playing volleyball, worshiping with the InterVarsity community on campus, and working within the National Society of Black Engineers to create professional opportunities for minorities.
Hi, my name is Leonardo Gonzalez and I’m a Computer Engineering student with a minor in Philosophy at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I’m passionate about exploring the intersection of hardware and software, with a particular interest in cybersecurity and embedded systems. As a proud member of the Morrill Engineering Program, I strive to support and uplift students from diverse backgrounds. In my free time, I enjoy coding personal projects, mentoring peers, and playing volleyball.
Hi! I'm Lesley, and I am a sophomore studying Mechanical Engineering. Outside of academics I am involved in the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers along with ARISE, I am also involved in Off- the-road Illini(BAJA SAE), and TRIO SSS. During my free time I like to play soccer, workout and hangout with friends.
Hi, I'm Liz! I'm a sophomore pursuing Computer Engineering. My home is back in Chicago with my cute, elderly pup, Missy. Also, my favorite holiday is Christmas because of all the pretty lights and cozy nights making Puerto Rican food with family!
Hello, my name is Luis Vasconez, and I am currently a senior in Civil Engineering. I am part of Society of Professional Hispanics in Engineering (SHPE) where I am the Alumni Relations Chair. I have a passion for civil engineering and would love to help others learn more about it. I taught ENG 100, so I have a good knowledge on commonly answered topics for 1st year students, and I have also studied abroad.
Hello! My name is Maximilian Elloye, I'm a Senior in Industrial Engineering with a minor in Hoeft Technology and Management. On campus, my involvements include National Society of Black Engineers, Volunteer Illini Projects, Mixed Student Union, and Illini Boxing. The greatest lesson I learned from MEP is that you are in college for yourself, not by yourself.
Hi! My name is Montse and I’m a sophomore pursuing Computer Science. I’m involved in the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) and Black, Indigenous, Latinos in Tech (B[U]ILT). I’m a very social person who loves the color pink and everything Hello Kitty, so feel free to reach out—I’d love to connect!
Hello! My name is Santiago Leyva and I'm a junior studying Mechanical Engineering. I'm an executive board member for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, and I'm also a part of a research group on campus that does additive manufacturing in space applications. I am a student that transferred from civil to mechanical engineering, so if you have any questions about either of the two, feel free to reach out! In my free time, I like to watch movies, dine out, and play sports.
Hi, my name is Sophia! I am a Junior in Bioengineering with a minor Computer Science. On campus, I am a VP for the National Society of Black Engineers and a CARE tutor. I love long runs, books, music, movies, volunteer work, time with friends, and coffee! I am very grateful to MEP and the community it has helped me establish here at UIUC, and I am eager to share it with you :)
Hey, I'm Zachary, and I'm a senior studying Mechanical Engineering. I'm an active member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Offroad Illini Baja SAE, and have been a tutor for the Center of Academic Resources in Engineering. For a full semester I studied abroad in Paris, France, so feel free to ask me about it. Otherwise, ask me about cars, playing basketball, baseball, or guitar.