Christina Sturgeon

Having grown up in California, Christina Sturgeon says she chose to move to the Valley of the Sun because Arizona State University has a dedicated School of Sustainability. Four years later, she’s graduating as an Impact Award winner and is set to be the Undergraduate Convocation Speaker at the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering spring 2025 ceremony.

Sturgeon first fell in love with engineering at Society of Women Engineers outreach events that she attended at a young age.

“I’ve always loved math and science,” she says.

As a queer and Hispanic woman in STEM, Sturgeon says she’s proud to have been a positive role model for other women and girls aspiring to pursue engineering. As the president of the Society of Women Engineers at ASU, or SWE, she oversaw over 100 events this year, bringing students together for professional development, community outreach and K-12 outreach.

She initiated a technical development program for SWE at ASU, which connects members of the club to other technical clubs, such as Combat Ready Robotics, and hosts technical skill sessions led by women for women.

“As a woman in engineering who felt very intimidated going to technical workshops, this is an issue very dear to my heart, and I am so thankful I have been able to help other women in engineering feel supported,” she says.

She was also a founding member of Solar Devils, a club where students build a solar-powered electric car from scratch.

Sturgeon’s passion for hands-on innovation extended beyond campus clubs.

She cofounded Verdantt Fresh, a startup combating household food waste in the U.S. This idea stemmed from her work as a research and development mechanical engineer for over two years at ASU’s Luminosity Lab.

As the chief technology officer, Sturgeon designed and built a fully functioning conceptual prototype of the physical system that will track, store and prolong the lifespan of produce.

“So far, we have earned just over $40,000 in seed funding for our venture, have secured a provisional patent and have participated in multiple national competitions,” she says.

Sturgeon has completed three internships during her time at ASU and has landed a full-time job as a wind energy engineer at Invenergy, a clean energy company based in Chicago, Illinois.

“I am so excited to use my mechanical engineering expertise to make a positive impact on the world,” she says.

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ spring 2025 class here.