Student Spotlight:
Kerstin Ly

What makes Washington State University’s Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture stand out from the crowd for those looking to get a degree?

We ask chemical engineering major Kerstin Ly for her thoughts on what makes WSU such a special place.

Which scholarships have you received?

• Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture Ralph and Gladys Waller Lowry Scholarship
• Gene and Linda Voiland College of Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering Melvin M. and Ruth M. Smith Scholarship
• Crimson Opportunity Scholarship
• Washington STate Academic RedShirt (STARS) Scholarship

What have you learned during your time at WSU that will help you most in your future?

Often the quickest way to learn and improve is by asking for help.

Before I met my mentors at WSU, I thought that I had to do everything alone, learn everything the hard way, and that this mode of being made me better.

It does not! Trying to learn on my own was emotionally and physically exhausting and slowed my progress to improvement. I’ve learned how to ask questions and seek guidance, which will help me immensely in my engineering career. In a relatively challenging field, these skills will help me learn quicker and contribute more to whatever field I may be a part of.

What made you decide to attend WSU? Why did you choose your major?

I chose chemical engineering after taking the general chemistry series at my local community college. I was fascinated by the atomic and subatomic interactions that made up the observable characteristics of this world. I believed that if I could hone this knowledge, further it even, I could push the bounds of possibility in scientific and technological innovation both for my own curiosity and for the betterment of humanity.

I researched chemical engineering programs and found that one of the best in the country is only a five-hour drive away from my home!

Why would you recommend attending Washington State University?

I’d recommend WSU particularly for its engineering program. The faculty are incredibly supportive and are invested in the development of successful students and engineers.

A faculty member in the Mechanical Engineering department, a mentor of mine, said to me “You have potential to be a great engineer, and it’s my job to get you there”.

I will also say that my peers within the engineering department have been nothing but supportive and willing to help each other in the same way faculty are willing to help students.

In my experience, WSU is certainly a collaborative environment.

There are many career/professional development opportunities as well. My email is always loaded with opportunity after opportunity for networking events, internships, resume workshops, etc. With as many opportunities Voiland College offers its students, the only limit as to how much one improves is up to oneself.

What advice do you have for fellow or prospective students?

Don’t hesitate to ask for help when you are struggling. There is no shortage of tutors, faculty, or fellow students who are more than willing to help you at Washington State University.

I used to question if the engineering profession was for me, if I could realistically become an engineer after being challenged so intensely by some of these classes. As long as you know in your heart that the major and career you are pursuing is what you want to do, don’t let challenging courses discourage you. Ask for help and you will regain confidence.

What has been your favorite class, club, or program that you’ve been involved with at WSU, and why?

I am currently an undergraduate researcher in WSU’s Hydrogen Properties for Energy Research Laboratory. The HYPER lab is hands-down the most incredible, rewarding, and inspiring program I am involved with at WSU. The lab is where I met all my mentors, where I’ve found community, where I’ve rapidly gained technical skills that transfers to industry, where I’ve developed as a professional, and where my love for engineering grows every day. All this in under a year of being a part of the lab, I’m excited for what else it has in store for me.

Is there anything else you’d like to mention about your experience at WSU?

I love it here. Wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.