I believe in education, which gives me the knowledge to work wisely and trains my mind and hands to work skillfully.

Sydney Watwood, a sophomore in chemical engineering, traces her passion for water systems back to sixth grade, when she read “A Long Walk to Water.” The book opened her eyes to the global water crisis and set her on a path that now spans continents. Inspired by her grandfather, an Auburn-educated electrical engineer, Watwood chose chemical engineering to solve real-world problems — like the ones she encountered firsthand this past May in Guatemala.

As an Engineers Without Borders (EWB) team member and secretary/treasurer, she and teammates tested water quality, laid PVC and began designing a new water distribution system in Parramos Grande.

“In class, you learn equations and math, but sometimes it doesn’t fully click until you see it firsthand,” she said. “Being able to see where we were putting pipes in and then getting to design where water would flow through the community — that made everything click.”

Watwood continues EWB’s work on campus by writing technical reports and leading fundraising.

“We all come in with different strengths,” she said. “That’s the beauty of it — you’re learning from everyone else, not just the work. Engineering Without Borders is not just about engineering. It’s about people and making a difference where it matters.”