When Khalil Ruiz ‘25 arrived at St. Ambrose University, he came in with one goal in mind: to become a mechanical engineer. Today, he’s graduating with not one, but two engineering degrees, and a résumé full of academic achievements, athletic accolades, and professional experience.
His academic path began with a singular focus on mechanical engineering. But after conversations with his family, Ruiz decided to take on a second major, an ambitious decision he made not just to challenge himself, but to expand his future career options.
“After a little bit of talking with my parents, I think we both realized that it would be beneficial to get an industrial engineering degree too,” Ruiz said. “It makes me a good candidate for many different jobs out there.”
Pursuing a dual degree at a school like St. Ambrose, where small class sizes and strong faculty relationships are the norm, made the workload more manageable. Ruiz said the program’s structure allowed him to create personal connections, which in turn helped him succeed.
“I know pretty much all of the engineering professors, and I can build that relationship with them,” Ruiz said. “When you have that, you’re not afraid to ask questions. Talking with a bunch of other students going to other schools, they don’t have that.”
Two professors in particular, Andrew Lutz, PhD and Mohamed El Zein, PhD, played key roles in Ruiz’s education. Under Lutz’s guidance, Ruiz worked on a senior design project that involved creating a form drag analyzer for the university’s wind tunnel, a tool that future students will use to measure how different shapes affect aerodynamic drag in fluid dynamics labs.
In El Zein’s modeling and simulation class, Ruiz had the opportunity to combine engineering and creativity.
“Our final project was pretty much up to us, which was really cool,” Ruiz said. “I got to create a model of a stock car in SolidWorks and then run different aerodynamic studies on it.”
The classroom wasn’t the only place Ruiz applied his skills. During his senior year, he worked as a quality engineer at John Deere’s Harvester Works facility, focusing on the company’s largest combine model.
“I learned a lot about root cause analysis, communicating with operators and other engineers, and helping design fixtures for parts,” Ruiz said. “What I’m doing right now is a pretty good balance of both degrees.”
His time at Deere was his first real experience in an engineering environment, and it helped sharpen both his technical and interpersonal skills. He said the fast-paced setting helped him think quickly, troubleshoot problems, and collaborate with teams across the manufacturing floor.
“I’m learning how to help find defects and make the manufacturing line more efficient. I’m also designing for the line to try and improve the process,” Ruiz said.
Alongside his academic and professional pursuits, Ruiz competed for five years as a member of the St. Ambrose swim team. Swimming was what first connected him to the university, and it remained a cornerstone of his college experience.
“When I came on campus, it was that family feeling created on the team. Even with about 60 people, it still feels like a family,” Ruiz said.
The tight-knit culture of the swim team made an already busy college life more fulfilling. One standout memory came during a meet in December 2024, when Ruiz raced in the 400 individual medley. Ruiz cherished that rush of adrenaline and the overwhelming support, especially the moment he emerged from the water to see his teammates celebrating his finish.
“I was losing by a body length for most of the race, and I was able to make all that up and win in the last 50,” Ruiz said. “That was my first ever individual event win in college. The entire pool was so loud you could hear it while swimming, which is rare.”
Managing two degrees, a job, and collegiate athletics required exceptional time management, a skill Ruiz began developing back in high school.
“I’ve got lots of to-do lists, and I made sure to take those mental breaks,” Ruiz said. “Swimming, watching sports with my roommates, playing pickleball when it’s nice out, those things have helped a lot.”
Even with planning and support, there were times when the workload was daunting. Ruiz said he had to be intentional about staying mentally fresh and avoiding burnout.
“It’s very easy to get burnt out, but my faith has helped a lot. Just being able to put it all in God’s hands and trust that all the wildness of my life is going to pay off, that helps to motivate me,” Ruiz said.
Beyond his coursework and team commitments, Ruiz also stayed active in Campus Ministry. He served as a small group leader at Antioch retreats and helped organize events like the swim team’s community car wash fundraiser.
As graduation approaches, Ruiz is actively applying for design engineering roles across the Midwest and would eventually like to earn a master’s degree with support from an employer.
“Whatever job I’m able to get after I graduate, I know I’ll be able to draw on all of my experiences,” Ruiz said.
He also wants future students to know that balancing multiple roles is possible, if they learn to speak up and ask for help.
“You definitely need to prioritize your own mental well-being and be able to say, ‘I need help’ or ‘I need a break,’” Ruiz said. “Being able to self-advocate is one of the most important things I could recommend.”
After years of balancing coursework, swim meets, internships, and leadership roles, Ruiz says what stands out most is the community that supported him through it all.
“It’s been a really wild experience, but I’m truly grateful for choosing Ambrose and being able to meet the amazing people out here,” Ruiz said. “It’s been a blast.”
Ready to build your future? Explore mechanical and industrial engineering programs at St. Ambrose University.
