Sydney Watwood

Sydney Watwood, a sophomore in chemical engineering from Nashville, Tennessee, is helping bring clean water to communities in need through Auburn’s Engineers Without Borders (EWB) chapter.

Why Auburn

“My family moved from Nashville to Cullman when I was in high school, which led me closer to Auburn. It was something I was already considering because my grandfather got his graduate degree from Auburn. Since arriving, I’ve loved every part of my experience here so far — not just through my academic journey but the campus and community as well.”

Why Engineering

“My grandfather was an electrical engineer, and he was my biggest inspiration. I looked up to him, and he would teach me concepts and ideas. When I started taking chemistry in middle and high school, I was drawn toward science, which guided me to chemical engineering.”

Engineers Without Borders

“I first connected with EWB at E-Day 2024 and was interested in the organization because I want to work with water systems. When election season came around, our advisor encouraged me to apply for secretary and treasurer, and I took it as an opportunity to make connections and grow my skills. Through this, I visited Guatemala and was immersed in hands-on learning as we collected data, worked on construction sites and made plans for future visits.”

Future Plans

“I am pursuing a specialization in environment and sustainability and a minor in business. I attended a national conference for EWB, where I met with industry professionals and gained a deeper insight into the field and real-world experiences. My goal is to focus my career on water studies, continuing what I’ve been able to learn through EWB.

To learn more about Watwood, check out her interview on the award-winning #GINNing Podcast.