Fall 2006/Winter 2007
Last May, Dominique Ralph and Miguel Arellano graduated from CSU Chico with Bachelor of Science degrees and in June, both of them went to work for Chevron Corporation. But that's not all the two grads have in common. They both say they owe their success to the MESA Engineering Program (MEP).
Ralph has a degree in computer science and is assigned to Chevron's International Business Processes and Systems division at its San Ramon headquarters. She is currently providing technical support for the human resources department of the company's oil and gas exploration operations in Thailand, Indonesia, Angola and a host of other countries.
Arellano majored in computer engineering and minored in computer science. He is part of a seven-person IT team at Chevron's Concord office that is developing and installing state-of-the-art hardware and software at the company's operations in Anchorage, Alaska.
Arellano is originally from Yuba City, Calif. He and his sister, who earned a degree in business administration this year, are the first in their family to go to college. He was the president of the CSU Chico chapter of Latinos in Technical Careers, the local chapter of the national Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. Ralph is from North Hills, Calif. Like the Arellanos, she and her older sister are the first ones in their family to graduate from college. She was the president Upsilon Pi Upsilon, the honor society for computer science majors and an active member of the National Society of Black Engineers.
Lupe Jimenez, the associate director of the MESA Engineering Program at CSU Chico, remembers the pair as conscientious students. "Both Miguel and Dominique excelled from the beginning and were able to maintain the quality of their work," he said. "Miguel was at the MESA Study Center until the wee hours of the morning utilizing all of the resources here—the computer lab, tutoring, advising services, and study groups. Dominique is naturally gifted and inquisitive and was a consistently outstanding student."
"It was wonderful to have MESA to back me up," said Arellano. "The MESA staff was always there to give me advice on what classes to take, my career goals and even personal issues."
Ralph had a similar experience with MESA. "If MESA didn't have a tutoring center and study teams, I wouldn't have gotten through school," she admitted. She and Arellano met with their calculus study team three nights a week.
"Coming to a new school and not knowing anybody, it would have been tough to find people to study with, Ralph said. Meeting together, brainstorming and asking question was very helpful to me."
Mike Metzger, a Chevron recruiter, said that the MESA career fairs at CSU Chico have been helpful in finding good employees. He said that Ralph "has a great blend of technical and organizational skills. Chevron looks for well-rounded candidates with strong communication skills and involvement in organizations who fit well and can take leadership roles."
Ralph and Arellano are off to good starts in their new careers and both are looking toward future advancement. Arellano said that he has many career options at Chevron but he expects to be in management some day. Ralph plans to someday earn a master's degree in computer science and teach at a university. She also wants to join Chevron's recruitment team so that she can help the company spot disadvantaged youth with talent and potential.
According to Jimenez, they should have no problem realizing their goals. "The two of them are so motivated and hard working, they will excel at whatever they do." he said.
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