Passion for Cars Steers Graduating Senior into Mechanical Engineering
Growing up in San Juan Bautista, Vanessa Andrade loved hanging out with her father and his collection of cars and tractors.
She spent hours in the “barn” or shop, helping change the oil in cars, playing with tools and tinkering with her grandfather’s old Allis-Chalmers tractor. So perhaps it’s no surprise that this UC Merced senior — and Chancellor’s Scholar — found her academic calling in mechanical engineering.
On Dec. 15, Andrade will participate in the university’s fall commencement ceremony. She next plans to pursue a master’s degree in mechanical engineering.
