Sabine Ramirez

Sabine Ramirez’s journey to a career in mechanical engineering began with some indirect help from a household name—Oprah Winfrey.

After graduating from high school, Sabine initially enrolled at a four-year university with the support of the Oprah Winfrey Leaders Scholarship. However, the school wasn’t the right fit for her, and Sabine made the decision to return to Chicago and enroll at Wilbur Wright College. There, she discovered the college’s strong engineering program.

The sense of community and learning with other Latine engineers made Sabine feel at home at Wright. Dean of the Center of Excellence in Computer Science and Engineering Dr. Doris Espiritu and the advising team also helped develop a pathway so she could work toward her goal of earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and pursuing a career in the automotive industry, specifically focusing on automated and electric cars.

“This program really is making a difference for those who want to enter the STEM field but maybe they weren’t sure it was attainable,” Sabine said.

The Oprah Winfrey Leaders Scholarship Sabine received in 2021 has helped fund journey at Wright, and it will continue to support her with tuition, books, fees, emergency funds, and wraparound supports when she transfers. As she heads into her final semester at Wright, Sabine is focused on inspiring other minority students to pursue careers in engineering, believing that community colleges are a great starting point.

“You’ll be saving a ton of time and money, and it’s the same caliber of education you’d get at a top engineering school,” she said.