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SOLES Board

PRESIDENT

Anthony Gallegos
Name: Anthony Gallegos [Contact]

Position: President

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Year in school: Fifth

SOLES member since: 2005

Positions previously held in SOLES: ACES Director, Conference Representative, Taco Bowl Representative

What motivated you to be in the SOLES board? I've been involved in SOLES since I started college at UCLA, and I have come to know how great of an organization it is. I wanted to be on the board to continue this and make SOLES the best it can be, in term of membership development and community outreach.

What do you like most about SOLES? The friendship within our organization, and also meeting new people from other SHPE chapters at conferences and regional events.

What is your favorite SOLES event? Social event: Ski Trip, always a good time
Outreach event: Science Center Day, it' my favorite outreach event because the volunteers have just as much fun at the Science Center as the kids do.


Future plans? I want to graduate UCLA a year, travel the world for a few months, get a real job for a few years, go to graduate school and get a master's degree in business, then we'll see what happens from there.

VICE PRESIDENT

Raul Carrillo Jr.
Name: Raul Carrillo Jr. [Contact]

Position: Vice President

Major: Computer Science and Engineering

Year in school: Fourth

SOLES member since: Fall 2005

Positions previously held in SOLES: ACES Co-director, Treasurer

What motivated you to be in the SOLES board? SOLES provided me with personal, academic, and professional skills. I felt it was my turn to be on the other side of the spectrum and help out the newcomers.

What do you like most about SOLES? The outreach; as an ACES co director I realized how much of an impact this organization has on students from elementary to high school. The fact that a weekly session of tutoring can be the key to their motivation is what I think makes SOLES an amazing organization.

What is your favorite SOLES event? Ski trip - The best way to bond, have fun, and recharge the batteries after winter break!

Future plans? Too many to list. I'm definitely going to stick around with SOLES as much as possible, either in the board or as a rep. I want to get a job in the corporate world right after getting my bachelor's and most likely return to school for a master's. I want to travel to every corner of Mexico.

ACES DIRECTOR

Jesse Anthony Diaz
Name: Jesse Anthony Diaz [Contact]

Position: ACES Director

Major: Civil Engineering

Year in school: Third Year

SOLES member since: 2007

Positions previously held in SOLES: ACES Co-director

What motivated you to be in the SOLES board? When I became a member in 2007, I was going to events here and there, and towards the end of the year I told myself that I needed to get more involved. After running (unsuccessfully) for Secretary, I was given the opportunity to Co-Direct the Advancing Careers in Engineering and Science (ACES) program. I took the opportunity, and I loved SOLES even more ever since. Giving back to the community is my main motivation.

What do you like most about SOLES? There are many reasons to like SOLES, but I'll pick two: 1. The tutoring program that we offer for K-12 students. It is rewarding for the students when they understand the concepts, and it is rewarding to you because you made it happen! And 2. There is a lot of friendship within the organization, which means a lot of funny moments and good times.

What is your favorite SOLES event? Ski-Trip for sure...and our kidnapping event for the freshies and new transfers during Summer Bridge/BREES!!

Future plans? I'll stick with SOLES until I graduate, while at the same time try to start/join a band on campus and play some gigs during my spare time. After graduating, I plan to work for a major civil engineering company (not sure exactly where yet) for a few years, then go back and get my Master's degree in Civil Engineering..then more music, we'll see.

TREASURER

Ernesto Almanza
Name: Ernesto Almanza [Contact]

Position: Treasurer

Major: Aerospace Engineering

Year in school: Third Year

SOLES member since: 2007

Positions previously held in SOLES: Male Activities Coordinator

What motivated you to be in the SOLES board? The idea of helping run such a great organization and knowing that as I grew as a person and a leader I would be helping others do the same was really inspiring for me.

What do you like most about SOLES? What I like most about SOLES is that all my the members are my friends and as we help the organization become stronger we grow closer as a result. Also SOLES is something we can really unite behind, a common goal we can all embrace.

What is your favorite SOLES event? My favorite SOLES event has got to be the kidnapping of the freshmen and new transfers during Summer Bridge/BREES. That tradition is one of SOLES's great ones in my mind and will continue to be for years to come.

Future plans? In the future I plan on graduating from UCLA and going on to work for a major aerospace company like Lockheed Martin or Boeing as an aerospace engineer working on state-of-the-art projects on anything from satellites to fighter jets.

SECRETARY

Elizabeth Lizarzaburu
Name: Elizabeth Lizarzaburu [Contact]

Position: Secretary

Major: Chemical Engineering

Year in school: Third Year

SOLES member since: 2007

Positions previously held in SOLES: Female Activities Coordinator

What motivated you to be in the SOLES board? I wanted to become more involved in community outreach.

What do you like most about SOLES? The people

What is your favorite SOLES event? Ski-trip and WISE day

Future plans? Pursuing a master's degree after graduation

FEMALE ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR

Ashley Tiapon
Name: Ashley Tiapon [Contact]

Position: Female Activities Coordinator

Major: Chemical Engineering

Year in school: Second Year

SOLES member since: 2008

Positions previously held in SOLES: Historian

What motivated you to be in the SOLES board? SOLES began reaching out to me from before I had even signed my SIR for UCLA. I attended Freshmen Weekend, and the whole time that I was there SOLES members truly made me feel like I was welcomed into their family and that this really is much more than just an average student organization. I joined the SOLES board because I wanted to take every opportunity to help other students feel that same family aspect that drew me into the organization.

What do you like most about SOLES? My favorite part about SOLES is that it is very broad. It offers opportunities for everything from professional development to networking with other schools, other organizations, and industry. I enjoy the balance between social, professional and academic events that few other organizations can truly offer.

What is your favorite SOLES event? I would have to say that my favorite SOLES events are the conferences. Not only do they provide great opportunities, the conferences are a lot of fun. For last year's national conference in Phoenix, I really enjoyed bonding with other members on the drive to and from the conference as well as the bonding with older students over the duration of our stay in Phoenix.

Future plans? My future plans at this point are simply to stay active in SOLES as well as being more active in the other student organizations.

MALE ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR

Jose Perez
Name: Jose Perez [Contact]

Position: Male Activities Coordinator

Major: Computer Science

Year in school: Third Year

SOLES member since: 2007

Positions previously held in SOLES: Freshman Representative, Conference Representative

What motivated you to be in the SOLES board? Having been on the E-board my freshman year, I got to see some of the inner workings of a successful organization. It was my ever since to rise up in the organization and leave my mark.

What do you like most about SOLES? The family aspect of the org

What is your favorite SOLES event? The national conference.

Future plans? I hopefully will be on the board again next year.

ADVISOR

Rick Ainsworth
Name: Rick Ainsworth [Contact]

Position: Advisor

Positions previously held in SOLES: None

Director, UCLA Center for Excellence in Engineering and Diversity (CEED)