Donivyn Cruz ‘21, a biomedical engineering major, was attracted to the School of Engineering and Applied Science because “it’s a hub of innovation.” Cruz explains, “SEAS does an excellent job in providing students, like me, with sufficient resources--including industry and research expertise and state-of-the-art equipment--to succeed.”
As a student, Cruz has been involved in a variety of organizations within the school. Last summer, he participated in InnovateGW's Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP) to better determine how his research on aerosol flow dynamics can be commercialized. “I learned about the lean startup methodology, performed customer discovery, value proposition creation, and more during the program,” Cruz reflects. He adds, “The project is directly aligned with my passion for innovation and entrepreneurship.”
Following his participation in the New Venture Competition, Cruz became an entrepreneurial fellow with the GW Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, where he leads and volunteers at virtual events designed for students interested in innovation. Cruz is also the associate technical director of George Hacks, hosting virtual events for participants across the globe. “I have also created an initiative to better integrate entrepreneurship and business into George Hacks events so participants can gain a well-rounded experience,” he explains. Most recently, Cruz's technology venture--GW Airflow--was selected for Stage 1 of the VentureWell E-Team Program.
Cruz has also excelled academically during his time at SEAS. He received a Presidential Academic Scholarship and was recognized on the dean’s list. Additionally, Cruz has served as a teaching assistant for three different courses within the biomedical engineering program and as an academic tutor within the Department of Athletics. He is also the lead biomedical engineering representative within the SEAS Ambassadors organization, developing programs geared toward sophomore students within the department to assist them with academic and professional development. In 2019, he had the opportunity to study abroad at the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia. “While abroad I was able to immerse myself in a different culture and use the experiences and skills I learned to become a better innovator,” he reflects.
Next year, Cruz will attend graduate school at Boston University to pursue his master’s in biomedical engineering. He says, “SEAS has provided me the platform to develop my technical, interpersonal, critical thinking, and problem solving skills and entrepreneurial mindset, which will continuously be refined as I work to deliver innovative human-centric solutions as a biomedical engineer.”