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Senior Eduardo Herrera and junior Dorota Bernatek have been named this year’s Outstanding Senior and Junior at the University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering. Both students will be recognized at the Engineers Week Student Luncheon on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at Prairie View A&M University.

In order to be considered for these awards, a nomination is necessary. After a junior and senior are chosen from each department, Larry Witte, associate dean for undergraduate programs, reviews the submitted materials before making a decision. Professor Keith Hollingsworth recommended Herrera, who has the highest grade point average of all the mechanical engineering students graduating this spring.

“I met Eduardo when he was in my Thermal-Fluids Laboratory class,” Hollingsworth said. “He earned the highest average in the class and wrote some of the best laboratory reports I have seen in 14 years of laboratory teaching experience.”

Herrera utilized the college’s co-op program and obtained work experience from Chevron and NASA, Johnson Space Center. After four terms spent working with NASA, twice as a member of the Robotic System and Technologies Branch and two summers as a Summer Facilities Engineer, both companies offered him a fulltime position after graduation this May.

“I accepted the position at NASA, and I will start in July,” Herrera said. “I was fortunate enough to get two offers, but with a new family, I wanted to stay here in Houston. Plus, it’s a dream job, so I’m not passing this up.”

While the college has applauded Herrera’s efforts, he quickly recognizes the encouragement of his family.

“To succeed, you have to have motivation and accept challenges. I enjoy taking on things I know I will have to work hard at,” Herrera said. “My attitude is due a lot to my parents. They always told me to work hard and always achieve more than what’s required.”

Going beyond the call of duty is familiar territory for electrical engineering major Dorota Bernatek, who began considering engineering at a career center program in her senior year of high school. The Poland native is a member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the ECE student advisory board and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. The organizations to which Bernatek has devoted most of her time, and claims to receive so much from, are the Society of Women Engineers and the National Society of Black Engineers.

“I really enjoyed being vice chair of SWE last year,” Bernatek said. “My goal was to get SWE’s name recognized. Each year, SWE has a national conference, and last year we were awarded the most outstanding chapter in the nation. Also, we had the largest increase in membership; we increased our membership by 50 percent. Being in that position in SWE really allowed me to make a difference.”

Bernatek’s desire to work for the good of the student organizations did not go unnoticed by ECE department chair Fritz Claydon, who nominated her. Claydon applauded the academic achievements and extra curricular activities that make Bernatek a well-rounded student.

“As engineers, we are trained to be problem solvers, troubleshooters, and technically proficient; but in addition, Dorota thrives on personal interaction, leadership opportunities, and creative brainstorming,” Claydon said.

Bernatek said she is appreciative of the award, which is coupled with monetary compensation.

“I was surprised to receive such an honor as to represent the junior class of engineering,” Bernatek said. “I could not have accomplished what I have without the aid from those around me, who I feel are equally deserving of such an award. I feel that college is what you make of it, and to me, it is through academics and leadership opportunities that I’ve found my niche.”