Edna Orozco is a lecturer, assessment coordinator and undergraduate coordinator in the UTRGV Department of Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering, who was awarded the 2024 National Society of Manufacturing Engineers Faculty Adviser Award for her impactful mentorship.
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) is an organization that provides students with hands-on experience.
Orozco said the most rewarding part of being a faculty adviser is the mentorship she provides the students. She helps students believe in themselves and improve their skills.
“One year, I took the students to a competition in Houston, and then they saw other universities,” Orozco said. “They saw Rice University, Texas A&M, UT-Austin and they couldn’t believe that they were actually competing against those universities. And on top of that, they were placed among the first three places in the state. And so, when I allow these stepping stones to the students to see that they are as worthy as other universities, and that we put the name of UTRGV out there.”
She said some of her mentorship methods include examples because it works as motivation for the students.
“I always tell the students, ‘It doesn’t matter if right now, at this point, you don’t have the best grades in your class,’” Orozco said. “You just need to push forward and discipline is gonna get you there.”
Her advice for faculty members who may consider becoming advisers of any organization is to not be scared of the challenge.
“The cool thing about that is that you don’t do it by yourself, you always have the students,” Orozco said. “Regardless if it’s one student, five students, 100 students, there’s always gonna be people that are gonna help you.”
SME accepts middle school, high school and college students. For middle school and high school, the membership is free. For college students, the annual membership fee is $20.
To sign up for the organization, visit SME membership online or join via its website.
This is Celeste Cruz for Vaquero Radio.
