Posted on May 15, 2025 by Klesse College Staff
Grad '25 Sydney Weiss
Meet Sydney Weiss, a Spring 2025 graduate from the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design at UTSA. A Biomedical Engineering major, Sydney’s path to UTSA wasn’t a straight line—but once she arrived, she found a place where she could grow academically, personally, and as a leader. From discovering her passion for improving patient care to serving as president of the Society of Women Engineers, Sydney has made the most of her time on campus. In this Q&A, she reflects on her journey, the lessons she’s learned, and what’s next after graduation.
What made you decide to attend UTSA?
I was originally placed in the CAP program and wanted to tour UTSA to see if it was somewhere I'd like to attend. I ended up getting placed at a different school but still felt drawn to UTSA. After attending a UTSA Day I decided to leave the CAP program and attend UTSA. I loved it and have been here ever since.
When did you figure out what you wanted to study in college?
I was originally a Mechanical Engineering major, but I felt like I couldn't see myself enjoying it long term. When I was a sophomore, my grandmother passed away from diabetes and I realized there are so many parts of patient care that can be improved upon. Biomedical Engineering gives me the opportunity to innovate solutions that improve quality of life for patients and help physicians.
What did you enjoy most about your experience at UTSA?
Being a part of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is one of the things I've enjoyed the most at UTSA. I've met incredible women and had great experiences that really helped me grow into the leader I am today. I went from being a member in the crowd to the President helping to create that welcoming environment for other students. I've met life long friends through SWE that have really helped me through a lot and I couldn't be more grateful.
What have you learned, in your time at UTSA, that surprised you the most?
Learning to speak your mind. I feel like everyone has been told to speak their mind for what matters to them but it's much scarier when you actually have to do it. Especially with all the group projects you have to do in engineering, I learned that you need to speak your mind, and if people don't agree that's totally fine but at least you can move on knowing you've said you've made your position known and that you've communicated with your team. Do you have any goals or plans after graduation? I plan to go into the biomedical industry after graduation. I'm definitely interested in getting a PhD and maybe becoming a Professor, but I feel like going into industry first will help me get a more well-rounded experience.
What advice do you have for people considering the programs at UTSA?
UTSA offers a lot of different programs and it's been great seeing them add even more programs throughout my time here. The faculty are really nice and have always been open to helping out students, even if they just wanted to chat. I really highly recommend all students find an organization that makes them feel like they belong in addition to their everyday life. It gives you a really nice support system and helps you meet other people.
What is your life motto/slogan?
Everything happens for a reason. Even when something bad happens I know that something good will come out of it. It really helped me especially with the difficulty of engineering.
— Klesse College Staff
