Our Bureau
Ann Arbor, MI
The College of Engineering at the University of Michigan has awarded Somya Valecha, an undergraduate student in computer engineering, with the Distinguished Academic Achievement Award.
In just her second year at the University of Michigan, Valecha has contributed to several groups as a leader, while appearing on the Dean’s Honor List for her scholastic achievements.
As the Professional Excellence Officer for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), she organized a variety of professional development opportunities for fellow students. These include an Interview Prep Workshop and networking events. She has also served as Hospitality Chair for the Fall Engineering Career Fair, where she worked to support both recruiters and students, and she organized the Women In Leadership conference for students across the University of Michigan.
Valecha is a Sub-Lead of the Autonomous Software Team for M-Fly, where she contributed to training machine learning models for an autonomous plane. Her personal goal as a Sub-Lead is to support new members of the team and foster a respectful and inclusive culture.
For the past year, she has also served as an Outreach member of Project RISHI (Rural India Social & Health Improvement), a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the sustainable development and growth of rural Indian communities.
She will be participating in a SWE Congressional Outreach Trip in Washington, DC, from April 1–2. During the trip, she will be advocating for legislation aimed at ensuring women in STEM have equal opportunities.
With another 1-2 years of coursework ahead of her, Valecha plans to continue her focus on leadership and service, “to bridge gaps and uplift others like me, and to lead with empathy, creativity, and a focus on long-term impact.”
After classes end, Valecha will be participating in SWEIndia in Walchandnagar, India, where she hopes to inspire curiosity and confidence in STEM fields. She has prepared for this trip by volunteering at Summer Engineering Exploration Camp and at STEM nights for underserved schools in Detroit, including Gompers Middle School.
