Over 500 students will conclude their academic journeys as Rice University Owls when they walk during the December commencement ceremony Dec. 10.
As the soon-to-be graduates look forward to receiving their degrees and making their mark on the world using the knowledge and expertise gained at Rice, many reflect on the positive experiences and relationships developed here at South Main.
Rice News caught up with a few upcoming graduates to see what their experiences at the university were like and what their next steps will be after graduation.
Carlos Quintero Peña
What field of study is your degree in?
I am graduating from the Department of Computer Science. I have a doctorate in computer science, particularly in robotics.
What has been your favorite part of the Rice experience?
I was very lucky to have been accepted here. Now graduating from Rice University, I think the best part about Rice was the opportunity to be able to collaborate with other faculty. That was something that was very easy to do. You could literally knock on someone else’s door and just start sharing ideas, and the faculty were very open to it. I think that brought a lot of diversity into my research and a lot of new opportunities, increasing my networking. That was my favorite part of being at Rice.
What’s next for you after graduation?
I just recently got a job offer right next door here at Houston Methodist Hospital. I’m going to be working as a research engineer at the Bookout Center for robotics, imaging and digital surgery. I’m excited because I’m going to be able to apply all the things that I learned through my Ph.D. experience into real-world problems, specifically in medical applications right here in Houston.
What would be your advice to incoming Rice students?
Take full advantage of collaborations with other faculty, other groups and people outside your department. I think that’s something that is going to help a lot. The other thing I would say is to take full advantage of the very strong Rice community. Rice makes a huge effort to create a strong community, not only for academic events but also for improving your personal life, which is very important to do.
Alejandra Lezcano Perez
What field of study is your degree in?
I’m graduating in the Master of Architecture program.
What has been your favorite part of the Rice experience?
It’s hard to pick because the experience here has been amazing. But I think that the main thing is that I have had the chance to travel the world and get to know more about the world, both from being in the studio and attending lectures here at Rice but also having the chance to travel internationally. We had the chance to go to Asia, Europe and South America. It’s been a unique experience.
What’s next for you after graduation?
I really feel like a part of a global community now. I am a Fulbright Scholar, and I really want to collaborate with my home country (Paraguay) but also get involved in the global community everywhere I am needed. Everywhere I’m needed, I would like to be able to respond. That’s my main goal.
What would be your advice to incoming Rice students?
My piece of advice would be to research. Research a lot about what the school has to offer, because there are so many opportunities that you need to know before coming here. Also, research about your professors and the work they do, what the studio life is like here and what the community is like at Rice. As I said, there are so many opportunities here, and it’s great to be able to take advantage of all of them.