{"id":4926,"date":"2022-08-11T07:30:37","date_gmt":"2022-08-11T14:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vcea.wsu.edu\/student-success\/?p=4926"},"modified":"2025-08-15T12:45:43","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T19:45:43","slug":"kerstin-ly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vcea.wsu.edu\/student-success\/2022\/08\/11\/kerstin-ly\/","title":{"rendered":"Student Spotlight: Kerstin Ly"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"breadcrumbs\" typeof=\"BreadcrumbList\" vocab=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/\">\r\n\t<!-- Breadcrumb NavXT 7.2.0 -->\n<span property=\"itemListElement\" typeof=\"ListItem\"><a property=\"item\" typeof=\"WebPage\" title=\"Go to Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture.\" href=\"https:\/\/vcea.wsu.edu\/\" class=\"main-home\" ><span property=\"name\">Voiland College<\/span><\/a><meta property=\"position\" content=\"1\"><\/span><span property=\"itemListElement\" typeof=\"ListItem\"><a property=\"item\" typeof=\"WebPage\" title=\"Go to Voiland College Student Success.\" href=\"https:\/\/vcea.wsu.edu\/student-success\" class=\"home\" aria-current=\"page\"><span property=\"name\">Voiland College Student Success<\/span><\/a><meta property=\"position\" content=\"2\"><\/span><\/div><header class=\"wsu-article-header \">\r\n\t<h1 class=\"wsu-article-header__title\">\r\n\t\tStudent Spotlight: <br>Kerstin Ly\t<\/h1>\r\n\t\t<\/header>\r\n\n\n\n<p>What makes Washington State University&#8217;s Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture stand out from the crowd for those looking to get a degree?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We ask chemical engineering major Kerstin Ly for her thoughts on what makes WSU such a special place.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\" wsu-overlap wsu-spacing-after--xxmedium\">\r\n\t<div class=\"wsu-overlap__container\">\r\n\t\t\n<div class=\" wsu-overlap__column\">\r\n    <div class=\"wsu-overlap__column-inner\">\r\n        \n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large wsu-image--style-framed\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"792\" height=\"1056\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-vcea\/uploads\/sites\/3466\/2022\/03\/Kerstin-Ly-792x1056.jpeg\" alt=\"Kerstin Ly.\" class=\"wp-image-4929\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-vcea\/uploads\/sites\/3466\/2022\/03\/Kerstin-Ly-792x1056.jpeg 792w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-vcea\/uploads\/sites\/3466\/2022\/03\/Kerstin-Ly-396x528.jpeg 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-vcea\/uploads\/sites\/3466\/2022\/03\/Kerstin-Ly-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-vcea\/uploads\/sites\/3466\/2022\/03\/Kerstin-Ly-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-vcea\/uploads\/sites\/3466\/2022\/03\/Kerstin-Ly-990x1320.jpeg 990w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-vcea\/uploads\/sites\/3466\/2022\/03\/Kerstin-Ly-1188x1584.jpeg 1188w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-vcea\/uploads\/sites\/3466\/2022\/03\/Kerstin-Ly.jpeg 1390w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 792px) 100vw, 792px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n<div class=\" wsu-overlap__column  wsu-overlap--surface-column wsu-overlap--overlap-xmedium\">\r\n    <div class=\"wsu-overlap__column-inner\">\r\n        \n\n<div style=\"height:70px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer wsu-hide--tablet\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wsu-container wsu-dropshadow--medium wsu-color-background--white wsu-spacing-top--xmedium wsu-spacing-padding-right--xmedium wsu-spacing-padding-left--xmedium wsu-spacing-bottom--sxxsmall\" >\r\n    \n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Major:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/degrees.wsu.edu\/degree\/chemical-engineering\/\">Chemical Engineering<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Expected Date of Graduation:<\/strong> 2024<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>High School:<\/strong> Bothell High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Activities:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/hydrogen.wsu.edu\">Hydrogen Properties for Energy Research Lab<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/vcea.wsu.edu\/stars\/\">STARS Peer Mentor<\/a>, VCEA Student Ambassador<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\n\t<\/div> \r\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading wsu-font-size--large\">Which scholarships have you received?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture Ralph and Gladys Waller Lowry Scholarship<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gene and Linda Voiland College of Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering Melvin M. and Ruth M. Smith Scholarship<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Crimson Opportunity Scholarship<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Washington STate Academic RedShirt (STARS) Scholarship<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading wsu-font-size--large\">What have you learned during your time at WSU that will help you most in your future?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Often the quickest way to learn and improve is by asking for help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It does not! Trying to learn on my own was emotionally and physically exhausting and slowed my progress to improvement. I\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading wsu-font-size--large\">What made you decide to attend WSU? Why did you choose your major?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I chose <a href=\"https:\/\/degrees.wsu.edu\/degree\/chemical-engineering\/\">chemical engineering<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading wsu-font-size--large\">Why would you recommend attending Washington State University? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019d recommend WSU particularly for its engineering program. The faculty are incredibly supportive and are invested in the development of successful students and engineers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A faculty member in the Mechanical Engineering department, a mentor of mine, said to me \u201cYou have potential to be a great engineer, and it\u2019s my job to get you there\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In my experience, WSU is certainly a collaborative environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class='embed-youtube' style='text-align:center; display: block;'><iframe class='youtube-player' type='text\/html' width='640' height='390' src='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DcfDE7YuXKA?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;autohide=2&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;wmode=transparent' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen='true'><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading wsu-font-size--large\">What advice do you have for fellow or prospective students? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019t let challenging courses discourage you. Ask for help and you will regain confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading wsu-font-size--large\">What has been your favorite class, club, or program that you\u2019ve been involved with at WSU, and why?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I am currently an undergraduate researcher in WSU\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/hydrogen.wsu.edu\/\">Hydrogen Properties for Energy Research Laboratory<\/a>. 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\u2019ve found community, where I\u2019ve rapidly gained technical skills that transfers to industry, where I\u2019ve 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\u2019m excited for what else it has in store for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading wsu-font-size--large\">Is there anything else you\u2019d like to mention about your experience at WSU?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I love it here. Wouldn\u2019t want to be anywhere else.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kerstin Ly is a chemical engineering major graduating in 2024.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1120,"featured_media":4929,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_wsuwp_accessibility_report":null},"categories":[570],"tags":[591],"wsuwp_university_location":[332],"wsuwp_university_org":[498,443],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vcea.wsu.edu\/student-success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4926"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vcea.wsu.edu\/student-success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vcea.wsu.edu\/student-success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vcea.wsu.edu\/student-success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1120"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vcea.wsu.edu\/student-success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4926"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/vcea.wsu.edu\/student-success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4926\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9055,"href":"https:\/\/vcea.wsu.edu\/student-success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4926\/revisions\/9055"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vcea.wsu.edu\/student-success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4929"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vcea.wsu.edu\/student-success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4926"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vcea.wsu.edu\/student-success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4926"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vcea.wsu.edu\/student-success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4926"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vcea.wsu.edu\/student-success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_location?post=4926"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_org","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vcea.wsu.edu\/student-success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_org?post=4926"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}