Coates, who received a degree in mechanical engineering Saturday, volunteered as a campus tour guide.

She also worked as a student assistant at Tech’s Center for Engineering Education and Diversity. Coates created outreach programs to increase awareness about the center and helped redesign its webpage. She also created outreach projects and events for elementary, middle and high school students to increase interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“My highest moment at Tech has been being able to help people,” she said. “Using what I know, what I’ve learned, what I’ve done, to really help people get to where I am and even surpass where I’ve been.”

Back in high school, Coates participated in the Summer Engineering Institute (SEI), in which high school students take on major engineering projects. While at Tech, she joined the National Society of Black Engineers and the Society of Women Engineers.

As an engineer, Coates wants to use her passion and innovative technologies to fix what seems impossible.

“I think in order to really serve people, to really create solutions that are unique and lasting, you need to have everybody at the table,” she said.   

Learn more about Coates here.