May 07, 2026
Katelynn Marquez overcame challenges and doubts during her academic journey to become a confident self-starter, problem solver and proud Mizzou Engineer.
Katelynn Marquez followed her passion to Mizzou Engineering, where she learned not only the principles of the profession but also to believe in herself. The Oak Lawn, Illinois, native will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a minor in aerospace engineering in May 2026.
During the pandemic, my family and I watched a documentary about the engineers who built Disney World.
I was amazed that science and technology could create so many impressive things. Ever since I was little, I loved to build and create, from wooden benches and dog houses to the sets for my high school plays. I wanted to take my passion for building and turn it into a career that I loved and would be proud of. Watching that documentary showed me a career path I had never thought about before.
The most valuable lesson I have learned was to never give up.
There were countless moments when I thought I wasn’t cut out to be an engineer. I was never an excellent student in high school. I was never positive that engineering was the path I truly wanted to take. I failed and made mistakes over and over. But I was stubborn and I had support and people who believed in me. Now that I’ve made it this far, I feel more confident than ever.
Undergraduate research gave me hands-on experience with tangible results.
It also made me more confident in my abilities as an engineer outside of the classroom. Through research, I have been able to grow outside my comfort zone and become more of a self-starter. I got to learn from my peers and research professor, run my own experiments, use mechanical devices, set goals and present what I learned.
I want to shout out the amazing faculty and staff at Mizzou Engineering.
William Nelsen was my academic advisor all four years. Dr. Christopher O’Bryan and Dr. Yingchao Yang were my research professors. Chris Strehl and Sophie McKeown on the facilities team. All the professors who inspired me with their classes: Dr. Roseanna Zia, Dr. Noah Manring and Dr. Craig Kluever. Everyone I met either inspired me enough to keep going or was a source of support that made my experience here more enjoyable.