Alaa Almounauar would tell you one of the best things that happened to her was someone calling her out — to pursue more education.
“A person saw potential in me. She knew many individuals who transferred from Washtenaw Community College to the University of Michigan, and she wanted that for me,” says Almounauar, 24, originally from Damascus, Syria.
At one point homeless, Almounauar earned her GED and was encouraged to further her education. At WCC, Almounauar was a STEM Scholar, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society member and recently graduated with honors, earning a Pre-Engineering Science associate degree.
She's currently attending the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering.
Q&A
Q: Describe your internship and hands-on experiences?
A: After graduating from WCC, I have been working through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program at the University of Michigan in the Mechanical Engineering Energy Transport Lab (ETL). My internship involves testing ice adhesion strength on different surfaces … to be able to create ice-phobic surfaces. Ice-phobic surfaces would help reduce the damages and disasters caused by ice formation and accumulation.
Q: What are your educational goals?
A: I plan to major in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan. Additionally, I want to earn my Master’s and, hopefully, a Ph.D. in Aerospace engineering.
Q: What was your experience like at WCC?
A: It was the best thing that happened in my life. It’s a college that has so many clubs and programs that assist students. It’s a community that houses cultures and backgrounds that allow students to widen their perspective about life.
Q: Did you receive financial support?
A: WCC helps students get to the finish line. At first, I worked part-time and went to school part-time and thanks to WCC’s STEM Scholars program, I was able to attend full-time and work minimally. With the scholarships, I was also able to do internships and volunteer in areas that gave me so much knowledge about sciences in my field.
Q: How else did you get involved?
A: I have tutored a lot because I want to help others like I was helped. One student increased their grade. It makes me so happy. I want to be an inspiration for fellow students, especially girls in STEM.
Q: What advice would you give new students?
A: When you’re at WCC, you're never really alone because you have a community. Never give up and don't be shy to ask for help because there's always somebody who can help you.
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This story appears in the Fall 2024 edition of Launch magazine. See complete issue.
Tags: Alumni, Alumni Profile, Launch, Launch Fall 2024, STEM Scholars Program, Student Success