18 Tec graduates win major U.S. scholarship: Fulbright-García Robles

18 graduates and one professor from Tec de Monterrey have received the 2024 Fulbright-García Robles scholarship for graduate studies in the United States from the U.S.-Mexico Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange (COMEXUS).

This year, the Tec was the institution with the most students recognized by this scholarship. They were from the Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, León, Puebla, Santa Fe, Querétaro, Sonora Norte, and Morelia campuses, as well as one professor from the State of Mexico campus.

Alejandro Poiré, Vice President of Outreach and Engagement at Tecnológico de Monterrey, commented on the news:

“It fills us with pride that 18 Tec graduates have been recognized through this scholarship for their training and potential.

Studying on an international graduate program represents a great opportunity to deepen knowledge, add diversity, and display the Tec spirit with new colleagues in other academic centers to create new realities and a different and better world.”

For his part, Ken Salazar, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, spoke about the awarding of these scholarships, saying:

“What you’re doing represents the wealth that exists between these two countries, and Tec de Monterrey is an institution that stands out not only in Mexico but also worldwide.”

The Tec graduates and the rest of the 2024 Fulbright-García Robles recipients were given their certificates by officials from the Ministry of Public Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico.

Scholarship for graduate studies and research

The Fulbright-García Robles Scholarship came about from an agreement signed between Mexico and the United States in 1990 and is administered by the binational organization COMEXUS.

Through this program, both countries support Mexican and U.S. students, professors, and researchers for research stays, graduate studies, and professional development programs.

The recipients, including the Tec graduates, will study in 23 of the 50 U.S. states.

Among the most prominent universities that Tecnológico de Monterrey students will attend are the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard Kennedy School, Rice University, and New York University.

“It fills us with pride that 18 Tec graduates have been recognized through this scholarship for their training and potential.” – Alejandro Poiré

The scholarship winners include students and teachers from 21 Mexican states, with the presence of various educational institutions such as the UNAM, Universidad Iberoamericana, Universidad Panamericana, and the Center for Economic Research and Teaching (CIDE).

Jorge Tlatelpa, General Director of Educational Policy at the Ministry of Public Education, mentioned that this scholarship represents the relationship between the two countries in the academic field.

“The last names Fulbright and García-Robles are and will continue to be a point of reference for the funding that Mexican and U.S. students receive for their graduate studies, research, and professional development.”

Forty-two scholarships were awarded to students who wish to continue their professional studies in the United States.

“The Tec is an institution that stands out not only in Mexico but also worldwide.” – Ken Salazar

Tec winners of the Fulbright-García Robles scholarships

Alan Ricardo Salceda Monge

A graduate with honors in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the Sonora Norte campus, with a double degree from Hochschule Esslingen, Germany, he has worked as a seal engineer at Ford Motor Company and will pursue a Master’s degree in Engineering Management and Leadership at Rice University in Texas.

André Pérez Velásquez

A Mechatronics Engineering graduate from the Morelia campus, who was distinguished for receiving the CENEVAL Award, he has worked as Embedded Software Developer at Continental AG. André defines this scholarship as his greatest achievement so far and is preparing to study for a Master’s degree in Computer Science at the University of Southern California.

“Getting this scholarship is an excellent opportunity to improve bilateral relations, help my country in the near future, and do my school proud.”

Andrés Eduardo Camarillo Reynoso

An Industrial Engineering graduate from the León campus, his interest in data science and operations research grew while studying for his undergraduate degree. He has worked as a data science consultant, and will study for a Master in Business Analytics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

“MIT is what I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid. This institution will be the ideal place to develop my knowledge in optimization and machine learning in order to use it to improve industrial processes in my country,” he said.

David Alejandro Villareal Bracamonte

In addition to having a law degree from Tecnológico de Monterrey’s Monterrey campus, David was part of the Borregos Monterrey soccer team. He has experience in corporate, transactional, and real estate law.

David will study for a Master’s degree in law at New York University (NYU).

Diego Álvarez Saba

A graduate in International Business with a Bachelor’s degree in Financial Management, and studies at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and King’s College London, he has been a senior consultant at Oliver Wyman. Diego was awarded a scholarship to study at the graduate level.

Diego Salazar Guerra

A lawyer and graduate with honors of excellence from the Monterrey campus and studies at Yale University, Diego aspires to strengthen the rule of law in Mexico and improve the supply of public goods.

This fall, he will study for a dual MBA at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. He said that he hopes to fulfill his dream of contributing to closing the gap between the design and execution of public policy in Mexico.

Edgar Bruno Díaz Castro

A recipient of the Tec’s Líderes del Mañana (Leaders of Tomorrow) scholarship, Edgar graduated with a degree in Law and Political Science from the Puebla campus and the CENEVAL Award distinction.

In 2013, he was winner of the National Youth Award in the category of Contribution to Political Culture and Democracy and is about to pursue his graduate studies in Social Policy Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania with the aim of contributing to the country’s development.

“Getting this scholarship is an opportunity to help my country and do my school proud.” – André Pérez

Enrique Díaz de León Hicks

After studying Business and Information Technology Engineering, graduating with an honorable mention of excellence from the Monterrey campus and studies at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany, he will study for a Master’s degree in Data Science at Harvard University, specializing in Artificial Intelligence.

“I feel proud, and I feel a commitment to continue to promote and bear the Tec name internationally. I’m aware of the duty I have to Mexico and the world in general to work for the benefit of society,” he said.

Enrique Flores Medina

A Mechatronics Engineering graduate, with an honorable mention of excellence and a diploma in Transformative Social Leadership at the Guadalajara campus, he was a research apprentice at the University of California, Berkeley, where he contributed to the development of a visual cursor controller for quadriplegics.

The Tec graduate from the Guadalajara campus will study for a Master’s in Engineering in Advanced Manufacturing and Design at MIT.

Erick Rosas López

A graduate with honors in Economics from the Mexico City campus, he has studied climate change mitigation and provided technical advice to SEMARNAT (Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources) on various environmental policies. Erick will pursue a Ph.D. in Economics at the University of California, San Diego.

Irma Gabriela Colunga Ramírez

A Civil Engineering graduate from the Monterrey campus, she has worked in Dubai as a bridge structural engineer for Systra IBT and has worked on the HS2 project (high speed rail line) in the United Kingdom. Irma will pursue a Master’s degree in Structural Engineering at Stanford University, California.

“Being part of the community of Tec graduates means for me a constant commitment to change and innovation. It’s a desire to continue to prepare ourselves and look for new ways to improve our society through our profession,” she said.

José David Barrón Suárez

A Mechanical Engineering and Administration graduate, with a specialization in Aeronautics, he joined GE Aerospace in 2021 and has contributed to the development of hybrid technology for electrified aircraft propulsion through the Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EPFD) project in conjunction with NASA.

José David will begin a Master’s degree in Engineering Management and Leadership at Rice University in August 2024.

Laura Patricia Lozano Taba

Laura Patricia is a graduate in Organizational Psychology from Tecnológico de Monterrey, with a Master’s degree in Education from Universidad Tecmilenio and the best grades of her class.

She represented the Tec in San Francisco, California, in the Hult Prize competition and will continue her studies with a Master’s degree in Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University in New York.

“Besides all the knowledge I will gain and the people I will interact with, what excites me the most is being able to represent my country.” – Regina Labardini

María Maldonado Antillón

A lawyer specializing in environmental law and climate change at Nuestro Futuro, A.C., she currently represents Mexico at the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University and will be pursuing her graduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

Mauricio Ortiz Rousset

A graduate in Communications and Digital Media from the Querétaro campus, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Art and Culture for his participation in artistic activities during his career. Mauricio will pursue a Master’s degree in Literary and Cultural Studies at Carnegie Mellon University.

Rafael Tinajero Ayala González Arce

A Biomedical Engineering graduate from Tecnológico de Monterrey, he has led the creation and validation of digital systems that optimize administrative tasks in the health area. Rafael will study Data Science at Rice University and will seek to expand his impact internationally.

Ramón Felipe Gómez Negrete

A graduate from law school with honors, he has dedicated himself to private law practice, focusing his practice on the areas of civil, commercial, and constitutional litigation.

Ramon will study a Master of Laws (LLM) at Georgetown University, specializing in international litigation and arbitration.

“MIT is what I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid. It will be the ideal place to improve industrial processes in my country.” – Andrés Camarillo

Regina Labardini Muench

A graduate in Economics and Finance, with a specialization in Government and Public Transformation from the Tec’s Santa Fe campus, she was recognized with the Integral Alumni Award, along with two Gold Borregos.

Regina, who will begin her Master’s studies this fall at the University of Florida, said:

“Besides all the knowledge I will gain and the people I will interact with, what excites me the most is being able to represent my country.”

Wendy Anel Vázquez Gómez

Holding a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the UNAM, she has been a professor at the Tec’s State of Mexico campus for more than 10 years. She has given workshops in Latin America, the United States, and Canada. The professor was selected for a postdoctoral fellowship.

“On previous occasions, I’ve drafted letters of recommendation for my students who have applied to graduate programs in the United States, but I never thought of doing it myself,” she said.

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