Class of 2016, BS in Environmental Engineering

Ever since he visited a solar energy farm while he was an Easton Area High School student, Angel Solares has been interested in environmental engineering—which is why, following his graduation this May, Solares will spend another academic year earning his master's degree from Temple University's College of Engineering.

As part of the college's Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program, outstanding students such as Solares begin taking graduate-level courses their senior year. "The courses are definitely a little tougher, but it's a good experience that requires you to really manage your time well," says Solares, who is graduating with honors.

Born in Guatemala, Solares moved with his family to Easton when he was four years old. The summer following his sophomore year at Temple, he worked at Easton's wastewater treatment plant. What he learned there was later reaffirmed in a wastewater systems design course he took with Rominder Suri, chair and professor of civil and environmental engineering and the director of the colleges' Water & Environmental Technology (WET) Center.

"I've always been drawn to water," Solares says of one of his potential career directions. "People are always going to be drinking and using water, and making sure it is clean, potable and not contaminated will continue to be a prevalent issue."

Since his sophomore year, Solares has tutored other College of Engineering students in physics, calculus and statics. "A lot of them had trouble with the statics course so I was happy to help," says Solares. "I got a lot of satisfaction out of helping them. To see them succeeding afterwards in upper level courses and being that much closer to completing their senior design projects and ultimately graduating has been very satisfying."

Solares has also demonstrated leadership by co-chairing three different committees of the Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity (PSP), including co-chairing the Fundraising Committee that raises funds for Autism Cares; and by serving as the academic chair of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), which schedules group study events for members.

"I really love Temple," he says. "It's been a great experience and I am really looking forward to spending another year here to complete my master's degree. I don't think I would have chosen anywhere else."