Miguel Angel Enriquez Salgado

Good morning, honored guests, faculty, staff, proud parents, and, of course, the graduating Class of 2024. Today, I’ve prepared a short speech. Luckily for all of us, that draft did not make it through.

In all seriousness, today marks a significant milestone in our individual lives, one that seemed distant and unreachable. However, today we also celebrate our collective achievement. I stand before you as a proud, first-generation Hispanic engineer, and I am honored to address you all on this momentous occasion.

It feels like just yesterday when we arrived on campus with dreams in our hearts, a passion for learning and a desire to make a difference. We faced numerous challenges, sleepless nights and moments of self-doubt. But with unwavering determination and resilience, we overcame every hurdle.

As a first-generation Hispanic engineering graduate, I speak to the power of dreams and the opportunities that education can provide. I know many of my fellow graduates share similar stories of overcoming obstacles, breaking barriers and defying expectations. We never gave up; we embody perseverance and resilience.

Let us not forget the people who have been with us every step of the way — our families. To our parents, grandparents and extended families, who have sacrificed so much to give us the opportunity to pursue an education, we owe immeasurable gratitude. They have been our pillars of support, our guiding lights and the source of inspiration when the going got tough. Today, their dreams become a reality.

Before delving into the future, let’s reflect on a profound lesson: the importance of applying academic knowledge to everyday situations. This lesson was not learned from complex theories, but from an acronym I came up with: C.E.P.P.I. — Cost Efficiency of Pizza Per Inch — or CEPPI for short.

With this humorous acronym, I will explain how engineering and learning are in everything we do. First, to find CEPPI, we harness the power of Excel to determine the circumference of each pizza size listed on the menu. Next, we crunch the numbers to figure out the most cost-effective pizza size. Lastly, and most importantly, well, usually the pizza is home already because my family’s impatience trumps calculating CEPPI. While light-hearted, CEPPI encapsulates the essence of engineering — applying scientific principles to solve both grand challenges and mundane decisions. It serves as a reminder that our education equips us not just for academic pursuits but also for navigating life’s complexities, from space exploration to smart pizza choices.

In our pursuit of success, let us remember empathy, compassion and inclusivity. Let us be champions for diversity, breaking down the barriers that hinder progress and embracing the richness of different cultures, perspectives and experiences. Together, we can create a world that is just, loving and filled with boundless opportunities for all.

Remember, success is not measured solely by our accolades or the positions we attain. It is found in the lives we touch, the communities we uplift and the difference we make in the lives of others. And lastly, to close this speech, what we have all been waiting for — WHOOSH! We did it, Comets!

---

Miguel Angel Enriquez Salgado is from Katy, Texas, and is graduating with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. While navigating his academic career, he balanced over two years of professional experience through internships and co-op’s. As an active member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), he played a pivotal role in the Shell Eco-marathon Americas competition, contributing to the design and development of energy-efficient vehicles. Through the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) at UT Dallas, he has connected his peers with valuable co-op opportunities. Additionally, he led his UTD Collegiate League of Legends team to the championship semifinals. His achievements culminated in his nomination for the Best Capstone Project of 2024 with his team, MEDTECH, showcasing his innovative approach to engineering solutions.