The College of Engineering’s Ambassador program sends Huskers to classrooms across eastern Nebraska, instructing and inspiring the next generation of engineers. For Abraham Cervantes Garcia, the program offers a unique way to connect with others and share what he's learned.
From his current internship engineering new ways to measure soil moisture to assisting with faculty-led research using machine learning to monitor the human heart, Cervantes Garcia has picked up a lot of high-level experience during his time at the College of Engineering.
As president of the Engineering Ambassadors, Cervantes Garcia is brings his wealth of engineering expertise to K-12 classrooms in Nebraska. While the concepts he and his fellow ambassadors teach aren’t very complicated, his enthusiasm is big.
I just love working with students. Simplifying those really hard concepts and seeing their eyes light up when something really clicks for them...it’s just so much fun.
“I just love working with students,” Cervantes Garcia said. “Simplifying those really hard concepts and seeing their eyes light up when something really clicks for them...it’s just so much fun.”
The Engineering Ambassadors team up with teachers and school systems to spread their knowledge of and passion for engineering to future engineers.
“We try to be a fun and engaging break from students’ regular routine,” Cervantes Garcia said. “When we show up, I’m like, ‘Hey, everyone, I’m from UNL and I’m here to teach you about roller coasters, prosthetics, music engineering — all these different topics,’ and you can just see them perk up.”
The level of detail differs depending on the age group of their students, but at all levels, they emphasize the importance of hands-on learning.
“If we’re talking about roller coasters, we’re getting out the PVC pipe and marbles and building a model roller coaster. If we’re talking about prosthetics, we’re making prosthetics for teddy bears. Students are learning that engineering isn’t just a bunch of math — it’s also application, which is the fun part.”
All this time in classrooms adds up huge impacts: Nebraska’s Engineering Ambassadors Network reached 4,864 Nebraska students last year alone, with Cervantes Garcia himself teaching at least once a week.
For him, every single interaction matters.
“Getting called over by a student to help with what they’re working on and seeing their wheels turning, I can’t describe how gratifying that is,” Cervantes Garcia said. “You feel you’re doing something that matters.”
