Natalia Valdez grew up as the only girl among three brothers.
When one brother broke the other’s toy, she fixed it. When the chains slipped on their bikes, she always came to the rescue.
Eventually, Natalia became the neighborhood mechanic. She even helped her brothers win their local bike race. They took the spotlight, but she was the silent problem solver, the glue that held everything together. She didn’t have the language for engineering yet, but she already understood how to make life better for her community.
“In those passing moments, I was not only fixing those objects, but I was also learning to think like an engineer.”
Natalia is now pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of North Texas. The ASME Melvin R. Green Scholarship and BPV VIII Standards Committee Scholarship made that possible.
About the ASME Melvin R. Green Scholarship
The ASME Melvin R. Green Scholarship awards up to $4,000 to mechanical engineering students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, financial need, and potential contribution to the profession. Over 28 scholarships have been awarded since 1997.
About the ASME BPV VIII Standards Committee Scholarship
The ASME BPV VIII Standards Committee Scholarship supports engineering students who will uphold ASME’s Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, the global standard for the design, construction, and certification of nuclear facility components that protect public safety. The scholarship became fully endowed in 2026.
