News from The Mahurin Honors College

Esmeralda “Esi” Hernandez, a sophomore majoring in electrical engineering with a minor in computer science, has quickly carved out her place at WKU through a combination of academic excellence, leadership, and involvement. Though she already has enough credits to be considered a junior, she prefers to identify as a sophomore: “I’m probably a junior by credits, but I still feel like a sophomore by experience.”

Growing up in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Esi chose WKU to remain close to family. “I wanted to stay near my mom, and scholarships made it possible. We’re a close family, and that mattered a lot.” As the youngest of four, she carries the hope of becoming the first to finish college. “My siblings all went to college but didn’t finish. My family looks to me as the one who will make it, and that’s a lot of pressure—but also pride.”

Her love of math and science naturally led her to engineering. She first considered chemical or aerospace engineering but found herself drawn to coding. “I was just a big STEM nerd. I liked knowing I could make things myself, which felt really cool.” That interest has guided her toward software and machine learning, work she now pursues as a student research engineer at WKU’s Center for Energy Systems.

In the lab, Esi collaborates with industry partners on real-world projects. “It’s not just research and a paper—it’s working with a company, learning how meetings work, and figuring out what’s realistic.” Though nervous to apply, encouragement from a peer in engineering helped her land the role. “I’m the youngest in the lab, but it’s been such a valuable experience.”

Beyond research, Esi is active in the Mahurin Honors College and engineering organizations. She served as an Honors counselor most recently during M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan orientation, and is currently a WKU ambassador for the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Outreach Liaison for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). “Most of my friends are from Honors. It’s such a tight-knit group, and I love being able to walk across campus and always see a familiar face.”

Living in Minton Hall her first year and joining the Honors LLC also shaped her experience. “The activities made it easy to relax and connect with people who also pushed me to grow.” She describes becoming an honors orientation counselor as one of her proudest moments. “I was so shy in high school, but orientation made me more outgoing. It felt good to give that same support back to new students.”

Looking ahead, Esi hopes to pursue graduate study—ideally a PhD—and continue making her mark at WKU. “I didn’t want to just come to WKU, graduate, and leave without doing anything. I want to make an impact.”

She also offers advice for students facing the pressures of STEM: “It’s easy to get overwhelmed, but you can do it. Take a break, grab ice cream with a friend, and then come back to your work. Sometimes you just need that pause.”