Jared Vieyra ’25 Named Outstanding Islander Graduate for the College of Engineering and Computer Science

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – There’s something magical about the movies — their power to ignite imagination and inspire, especially in young viewers. For Jared Vieyra ’25, that cinematic influence sparked the path to a future in engineering. 

“When I was a child, I watched numerous movies and shows that featured robots,” Vieyra said. “I particularly took an interest in prosthetics from the movie ‘I, Robot.’ Seeing Will Smith with a prosthetic arm was so intriguing that I decided that creating prosthetics was meant for me.” 

The Corpus Christi native also knew Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was meant for him after visiting the university numerous times during high school, and now, Vieyra has been named the Spring 2025 Outstanding Islander Graduate for the College of Engineering and Computer Science. He will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering on Saturday, May 17, during the university’s largest commencement ceremony in history.  

Vieyra, who graduated from Moody High School, was inspired to attend TAMU-CC thanks to his high school engineering teacher and lead robotics coach, Randall Stuart ’03. 

“As high school graduation approached, I became more fearful in the thought of not being able to go to college,” Vieyra said. “However, Mr. Stuart provided me with a link to TAMU-CC’s financial resources, and I was able to become an Islander through the Islander Guarantee program. I will be the first in my family to attend and graduate from college.” 

Straight from the get-go, Vieyra dove into life as an Islander engineering major. In his first year, he worked on a drone delivery project that analyzed the battery requirements for transporting water to a fire. He was also selected to participate in the TRIO McNair Scholars Program, where he conducted research on SMART greenhouses, systems that integrate technology into plant care.   

“Jared reached out to me to become his McNair Scholar mentor on a project that he self-initiated,” said Dr. Ruby Mehrubeoglu, TAMU-CC Professor of Electrical Engineering. “His project is related to the development of a smart soil monitoring system that utilizes sensors to receive information about the soil and the environment, and to prompt the user if plants need watering or other intervention.” 

One of the key skills Vieyra developed at the Island University was leadership. In his Manufacturing Processes class, he was named team leader for the group’s end-of-semester project, which involved creating an Automata, a self-propelled computing device.      

“I pushed my team members to meet our deadlines for both the planning and designing phases of the project,” Vieyra said. “This project provided me with valuable practice required to manage a project and motivate my team members to give their all.” 

Perhaps Vieyra’s most ambitious project at the Island University focused on enhancing safety and communication for firefighters. For his Capstone Project, he and his team designed a firefighter mask equipped with an in-mask thermal imaging device to help navigate through smoke-filled environments. The mask also featured specialized headphones to improve communication among crew members during high-stress situations. 

“Throughout his Capstone Project, Jared exhibited outstanding leadership as the lead of a six-member team,” said Dr. Hongwei Hsiao, TAMU-CC Professor and Rogelio “Roger” Benavides Memorial Chair. “He proactively initiated the project idea, organized the team, identified relevant literature (including my own publications), and reached out for my mentorship. His dedication and initiative reflect the qualities of a graduate-level student.” 

That enthusiasm for learning would lead to a number of scholarships for Vieyra, including the Presidential Scholarship, the Education is Our Freedom Scholarship, the American Bank Endowed Scholarship in Mechanical Engineering, and the Diane M. Speed Endowed Scholarship in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. 

From advancing prosthetic technology to revolutionizing firefighter equipment and reimagining how technology can support plant life, Vieyra says he’s proud of the student he’s become. He will soon begin graduate studies at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, continuing his journey toward a dream career in prosthetics. 

“A year before high school graduation, I was at a robotics competition where I had run away from officials as I was too scared to speak,” he said. “I’m proud to say my speaking skills have grown over the years, as I feel confident to speak to anyone. My leadership skills have also grown. When I look at myself in the mirror, I don’t see that same high school kid. I now see a man who has come a long way with the help of friends, family, faculty, and staff who have supported me throughout my journey. I now see myself as an Outstanding Islander Graduate.”