Student Spotlight: Minh-Tuan Nguyen

Minh-Tuan Nguyen was a junior at Redondo Union High School when he first started taking dual enrollment classes at El Camino – he later became a full-time college student when he was just 16 years old. After graduating from ECC this past spring and transferring to CSU Long Beach to continue his studies in civil engineering, Nguyen is now pursuing his goal to shape large-scale civic progress by working in transportation. He sees many engineering opportunities in the Los Angeles area, from the upcoming 2028 Olympics to the construction of the California High-Speed Rail project, and he is determined to be fully prepared.

“I look forward to the endless opportunities to take on complex projects that drive change,” he said. “Additionally, I believe a civil engineering background will open doors to limitless possibilities for designing and implementing solutions to real-world challenges, such as the housing affordability crisis.”

At El Camino, Nguyen was a Student Services Ambassador, and a member of the Honors Transfer Program, Outdoor Recreation Club, MESA/ASEM and the EOPS/CalWORKs/Care programs. More recently, he completed a public works internship with the City of Palos Verdes Estates this past summer, as part of ECC’s Intern South Bay program. He said these experiences helped him learn and grow professionally and academically. 

“El Camino College offered a lot of opportunities to meet other engineering students who come from similar backgrounds as myself, while also growing my professional and leadership skills through extracurriculars,” he added. 

At El Camino, Nguyen received a scholarship from the Carol H. and Kevin W. Sharer Foundation, awarded to exceptional students who plan to transfer to a UC or CSU campus. Six ECC students received $16,000 scholarships this year. This award was especially meaningful to Nguyen because it removed the financial strain on his family, giving him the freedom to focus entirely on his education and academic interests.

“I am so grateful for this Sharer Scholarship specifically because, on top of undeniably exceptional financial aid, I have greatly benefited from the network of support and mentoring of the Sharer Foundation and Scholars that has allowed me to more easily transition to a four-year school and gain the confidence to pursue the civil engineering opportunities available at CSULB," he said.