Caitlyn Herndon started her adventure at Iowa State University feeling right at home. Being a fifth-generation Cyclone, she says she was "born with cardinal and gold in her blood."

Herndon knew she wanted to study engineering because she was fascinated by the work that her dad and uncle (both mechanical engineers from Iowa State) were always doing. She began as an undeclared engineer, but soon found her niche in chemical engineering.

Fueled by her passion for her studies and the support of those she met, Herndon immersed herself in activities on campus. She became involved in Freshman Council, Women in Science and Engineering, and The Engineering Ambassador and Mentor Program. Herndon also became an active member of the College of Engineering's Career Fair planning team and was named chief administrative officer and historian of her sorority (Kappa Alpha Theta) and vice president of Phi Sigma Pi Honor Fraternity.

Herndon was also able to gain valuable knowledge through engineering work. Between a position as an undergraduate assistant at the Bio-Renewables Laboratory, a co-op with Cargill as a process engineer in the ethanol and corn oil department, and a summer position again with Cargill as a maintenance and reliability engineer, Herndon says she "was able to get a lot of experience in the lab that allowed her to grow and opened up opportunities."

Graduating in May has meant big things for Herndon. She is currently finishing her capstone labs in Oviedo, Spain but once she returns, Herndon will continue her adventure as a process engineer at Proctor and Gamble in Iowa City in August. "I'm excited to learn a new process," she says. "This new position will push me outside of my comfort zone and expose me to something totally new and different."

Herndon says her time at Iowa State University was instrumental in getting her where she is today. "I can't imagine what I would be doing today without Iowa State. Going forward, I hope to continue to have the courage I found at Iowa State to challenge the world around me."