Cal State Fullerton student Haley Barrios Gomez started exploring mechanical engineering when she was 16 years old. Her experience living with congenital limb loss inspired her to design a custom prosthetic device for her arm.
Today, she aspires to develop accessible 3D prosthetics for others like her.
For her academic excellence and career aspirations in the field, Gomez was among 10 Cal State Fullerton students selected for the inaugural cohort of Next-Gen Innovators — a new mentorship program run by Apple that is designed to inspire and prepare sophomore and junior students for careers in hardware engineering. The program offers one-on-one mentorship with Apple engineers who offer personalized support, access to collaborative learning experiences and exposure to a wide variety of technical careers.
Over the next eight months, students from the College of Engineering and Computer Science will engage in a series of virtual sessions with Apple to build career insights and expand their professional network. They will be paired with a mentor from Apple’s hardware engineering team and receive personalized guidance tailored to their goals. The program will also feature technical and personal development workshops.
“My Apple mentor encouraged me to explore all areas of mechanical engineering, so that I can be a well-rounded engineer and carry that expertise into my own company someday,” said Gomez, a transfer student from Irvine Valley College. “As a first-generation student, I thrive when I am able to talk to mentors and develop that human connection. Hearing their perspectives is truly valuable.”
Cal State Fullerton is one of 23 colleges and universities from across the country selected for the Apple initiative. At a Dec. 11 kickoff event, student participants, university leadership and Apple representatives came together to celebrate the program and what it means for the future of the industry.
“We’re talking about one of the best branded and best producing technology companies on the planet — not just the nation, the planet — and they have chosen us. They have chosen you,” said CSUF President Ronald Rochon. “I remain excited because of each of you, what you can do and what you will do.”
Sang June Oh, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, spoke to the transformative nature of the program and its ability to open doors for students.
“Many of our students are the first in their families to attend college, and programs like this, grounded in strong mentorship, have the power to open doors and create life-changing opportunities,” said Oh. “We are deeply grateful to the Apple hardware engineering team for their commitment to sharing their expertise and inspiring the next generation to excel across a wide range of technical careers.”