Pacific students and alumni recognized at San Joaquin Engineers Council banquet

Two students and two alumni from University of the Pacific were honored on Feb. 20 at the San Joaquin Engineers Council’s annual Engineers Week Banquet. Local engineers, allied professionals, students and interested people gathered to celebrate the engineering profession, as well the students receiving scholarships and their colleagues being recognized with awards.

This year, 10 scholarships were given out alongside the Engineer of the Year and Engineering Profession Distinguished Service awards. Pacific students Emily Estrada ’21 and Jedidiah Thornton ’21 received the Paul M. Sensibaugh Endowed Scholarship toward their Pacific degrees. Both are students in the School of Engineering and Computer Science, with Estrada majoring in computer engineering and Thornton majoring in computer science with a concentration in software development. 

Joseph Reyes ’87 was honored with the Engineer of the Year award. This award recognizes an individual who has given freely their time and services for the benefit of their profession and the community. Reyes enjoys mentoring young engineers and students and has kept strong ties with Pacific’s School of Engineering and Computer Science by supporting student organizations. When Reyes was a student at Pacific, he was president of the Association of Engineering Students, Community Involvement Program and the American Society of Civil Engineers student chapter.

Engineering alumnus, former regent and member of the School of Engineering and Computer Science’s Dean’s Council José Hernández ’85 received the Engineering Profession Distinguished Service Award. In addition to a successful career as an engineer, inventor and astronaut, Hernández has dedicated his life to providing STEM education and motivation to young people from low-income backgrounds. At Pacific, he also has provided mentorship and financial support to student clubs, such as the Society for Women Engineers and the Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers.

Pacific is proud of its students, both past and present, for their accomplishments in the engineering field and the community at large.