When the University of California was founded in 1868, faculty in the Mechanic Arts, Mines and Civil Engineering were among the first to be hired. From the water, transportation and energy systems that form the infrastructure of this state to the technological breakthroughs that power Silicon Valley, UC engineers have been core drivers of the state's economic growth.

More than 150 years later, engineering remains a core part of the university's curriculum and identity.  Nine UC campuses house highly ranked colleges or schools of engineering enrolling more than 45,000 students. Over the past five years, the University of California has awarded more than 53,000 degrees, making the system among the most prolific producers of engineers in the world.

In honor of National Engineers Week, we present here some snapshots of exemplary UC engineers, many of whom excelled despite formidable barriers and challenging backgrounds. The University of California enrolls a higher percentage of Pell Grant recipients than any other top research university in the country, and the system provides students a path to upward mobility. Multiple UC campuses regularly appear among the top 10 schools when the New York Times puts together its College Access Index.

The UC engineers you'll read about here show how access to a top-tier education can transform the future of an individual, and in turn, influence the course of our state and our world.