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Outstanding Undergraduate for International Engagement Mohammed Alwakeel

Mohammed Alwakeel is a mechanical engineering student being awarded an Outstanding Undergraduate for International Engagement Award from the College of Engineering and Applied Science and the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering. Learn more about him and his accomplishments in the Q&A below. 

Mohammed Alwakeel at the Kurobe Dam in Japan as part of the Misk Global Leadership Program at the University of Tokyo. 

Share about your background and what led you to study engineering. 

Searching for my passion has been a long journey. It started in elementary school, and I still have not reached my final destination. The process of elimination is what helped me find my passion. In high school, I was involved in different activities, such as summer programs, national physics Olympiad, and I conducted research at a local university. These experiences combined with my love for physics and math helped me eliminate what I was not interested in. Through reading about the different fields of study, talking to professors and visiting universities, I found that mechanical engineering was the best fit for me.

What does the award you are receiving mean to you?

I am honored to be named an Outstanding Undergraduate for International Engagement. This recognition is a motivation for me to keep being engaged internationally.

Share an accomplishment from your time at CU Boulder that you are proud of.

The accomplishment that I am proud of the most is how much I have grown since freshman year, both academically and personally. CU Boulder gave me the tools and skills to think and execute my ideas, and I am proud that I used these tools and skills to grow.

How have you gotten involved throughout your college career? 

I have been part of different organizations on campus, such as CU International, CU Gold and the Saudi Students Association. I also had an internship at the University of Tokyo. I learned from these experiences how to work with people from different backgrounds and be open to ideas that are different from my own. Getting out of my comfort zone and expressing myself in a different language were my biggest challenges, but I was rewarded with meeting great people and making long-lasting friendships.

What do you plan to pursue post-graduation? 

After my graduation, I am going back to Saudi Arabia to work in a petrochemical company.

What is the impact you hope to have on the world?

I hope that I can be part of making the world a better place through STEM.

Have you received any other awards/honors?

My business capstone project won first place in the shark tank competition.

Any closing remarks?

I would like to thank my parents, family and friends for their constant support and encouragement. I would also like to thank SABIC for sponsoring me and giving me the opportunity to study abroad.