Chemical engineering freshman earns Valero Engineering Summit award
Published: Apr 30, 2026 11:00 AM
By Olivia Ballard
Brenna McAlister, a freshman in chemical engineering, earned the Valero 2026 Freshman Engineering Summit and Scholarship award.
Brenna McAlister, a freshman in the Department of Chemical Engineering, has received the Valero 2026 Freshman Engineering Summit and Scholarship award. The award recognizes outstanding first-year students for their academic achievements, extracurricular involvement and proven determination.
The award encompasses a four-day experience at the Valero Headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, on May 12-15, networking opportunities, a refinery tour and a $1,500 education scholarship.
From Houston, McAlister was inspired to pursue chemical engineering by her father, also a chemical engineer. When she toured Auburn, she understood the Auburn Family meaning, falling in love with the college, campus and community.
“The numerous academic opportunities combined with the abounding kindness I was met with truly let me see myself being a part of the Auburn family,” McAlister said. “I couldn’t find a feeling like it anywhere else.”
McAlister has fully embraced her first year on campus as an active member of the Society of Women Engineers and the Guatemala water quality team within Engineers Without Borders.
After completing a research project on Valero in her first semester, she was inspired by the company’s mission, industry impact and future opportunities. She says she’s excited to gain hands-on engineering experience and apply what she’s learning in the classroom to real-world challenges.
“The experience will allow me to see the in-depth reality of what a chemical engineering career path will be like,” McAlister said. “I want to leave with a practical understanding of what my future career could look like.”
Maria Auad, associate dean for graduate studies and faculty development, said Brenna’s invitation to the Valero Freshman Engineering Summit reflects her academic drive and early promise as a chemical engineering student.
“It’s also a unique opportunity and one that connects high-achieving students with industry leaders and real-world insight at a formative stage in their education,” Auad said. “Experiences like this reinforce the kind of initiative and curiosity we value, and we’re proud to see her representing the program so early in her career.”
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