In Disney’s “Big Hero 6,” Hiro Hamada designs micro-sized robots to fight villainy alongside the lovable Baymax. In Marvel’s “Iron Man,” Tony Stark builds his iconic armored suit to protect the world from evil. 

For Estrella Bonilla, these aren’t just fictional characters with a knack for invention. They’re her inspiration, and one of the reasons she chose to study mechanical engineering at Cal State Fullerton. 

“After watching these movies and seeing the struggles and accomplishments of the characters, I want to jump out of my seat and get back to work,” said Bonilla. “I might not be able to create a real-world arc reactor like Tony Stark, but I can help create more efficient designs for society’s push toward renewable energy.” 

Much like her heroes, Bonilla aspires to use engineering technology to spark innovation. The Class of 2025 grad is pursuing a career in the renewable energy sector where she can work to solve a myriad of challenges, including making batteries more efficient and recyclable, and improving storage resources for energy. 

For her superior academic performance, personal accomplishments and community service, Bonilla was named a 2024 recipient of the California State University Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement. Bonilla was named the Edison International Scholar, which comes with a  $7,000 scholarship. The CSU scholarship is awarded annually to one student from each of the 23 campuses.

“This award means so much to me. After transferring from community college, I never dreamed that I would finish my first year at CSUF this strong, let alone receive a scholarship,” said Bonilla. “Since this will be my fifth year in college, I was worried about my financial support, but thanks to this award, I can focus solely on my studies. Whatever comes next, I’m excited and ready.”

Finding Inspiration in Invention

Growing up on a small ranch in Northern California, Bonilla said creativity and invention have always been a huge part of her life. 

“My dad never had the chance to attend college, but he is constantly learning, inventing and creating tools for our family to use on the ranch,” said Bonilla. “Both he and my mom are always pushing me to continue learning.” 

She graduated with honors from the College of the Sequoias, where she earned three associate degrees in engineering, physics and mathematics and participated in the prestigious NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars Program. 

Ready to take the next step in her educational journey, Bonilla moved more than 200 miles away from home alongside her younger sister, who also transferred to CSUF. 

“After learning about the great resources that CSUF has to offer, including the campus, the mechanical engineering program, the community and the support for transfer students, I was excited to become a Titan,” said Bonilla. 

Initially nervous about joining a large campus, Bonilla found a community through Project RAISE, a STEM transfer support program that provides students with advising, research, internship and professional development opportunities to increase persistence, retention and graduation rates among underrepresented students. 

In the College of Engineering and Computer Science, Bonilla expanded her technical skills and network by joining the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and working as a tutor in the mechanical engineering department. Seeking real-world engineering experience, she also joined the Titan Rover team, in which students collaborate to design and build a semi-autonomous robotic system that can survive and operate on a simulated Martian environment.

“I’ve learned so much through my own research and design on the temperature and moisture sensing for the Rover. I’ve also had the opportunity to learn from and work with current team members and alumni,” said Bonilla. 

She added that the support she’s received in the Department of Mechanical Engineering has proven instrumental in helping her grow her confidence and excel in her courses. 

“She achieved a perfect score for every single exam, which I had never seen before,” said Haowei Wang, professor of mechanical engineering, who taught Bonilla in a thermodynamics course. “Her perseverance and exceptional performance make her a role model for others.”