2022-23 President's Scholars

Karina Kress

Iana Williams President’s Scholars

Major: Civil Engineering – General Option

College of Engineering

University Programs: Founder and President of Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association. Member of Chi Epsilon, Maximizing Engineering Potential, Structural Engineers Association of Cal Poly Pomona, and American Society of Civil Engineers. 

Karina Kress credits club involvement for making lasting friendships in a field that combines collaborative design with applications for the built environment. After taking architecture as a high school elective, Karina found that civil engineering opportunities allowed her to use her math aptitude in creative ways. She has participated in a transit key design competition with the honor society Chi Epsilon, used Revit to design a structurally stable obstacle course in Engineering X and joined the Timber-Strong Design Build team to construct a children’s playhouse. These experiences also motivated Karina to establish the student chapter of Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association with the mentorship of Professor Jinsung Cho. After graduation and working in the industry, she hopes to start her own non-profit organization to help build housing for low-income areas and countries where basic needs aren’t met. “My ultimate goals has always been to help the less fortunate, and I am excited that every step in my education is leading me closer to impacting lives on a bigger scale,” she says.