“Take every opportunity you can—internships, clubs, certifications, mentorships. Even the small experiences can open doors later,” shared Mary Naw, CAST STEM ‘22. As a CAST STEM student, Mary participated in the ACE Mentor Program, a club which she credits as an experience that played a major role in shaping her career, helped her secure multiple internships.
Mary shared that the guidance of these mentors, along with the foundation she built at CAST STEM and the early exposure to engineering has been “essential” to her success.
Since graduating from CAST STEM, Mary has since earned a degree in Civil Engineering from UTSA and has gained experience working with PM Engineering, a small start-up firm. While attending UTSA, Mary also had the opportunity to study abroad in Italy during the summer of 2025, as well as take on various summer internships every year.
Additionally, earning her degree while remaining debt-free has allowed Mary to begin building a life of independence and financial stability, an accomplishment that Mary is very proud of. From CAST STEM student, to now Engineer, Mary shared some valuable insight for current CAST students, “Enjoy the mistakes, the learning curves, and even the stress—those moments shape you more than you realize. Trust that everything will fall into place. Things have a way of working out, especially when you stay consistent and give yourself grace.”