Stepping onto a college campus for the first time can be intimidating, especially when home is a four-hour drive away. That first visit to the PennWest California campus in February was a defining moment for Alexis Steenburg. Despite the cold and the snow, she felt a spark of connection that would eventually fuel a dynamic academic career.

Alexis arrived at PennWest shaped by her small-town upbringing and fueled by an ambition that refused to be confined to a single path. While many students choose one lane, Alexis challenged herself to bridge two distinct worlds, pursuing a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice alongside an associate degree in Engineering Technology.

She recalls walking into her first engineering class in a large auditorium.

"It was a little scary because I didn’t know where I was supposed to sit," Alexis admitted. "I also was the only girl in my class. But everyone was immediately welcoming, and it really showed me from that first day, 'Oh, I really can do this.'"

That confidence became the foundation for her broader journey in justice and leadership. It gave her the momentum to take control of her future. Alexis didn't just attend classes; she thrived as a multifaceted leader. She applied the problem-solving skills from her technical studies to her work in student government] and Greek Life, traveling to national conferences and advocating for her peers.

"I feel like I would be lying if I said that those moments of doubt didn't creep in," she said about balancing a dual-degree workload. "But overall, I never thought, 'I'm not going to finish.' I just had to lock in a little more."

Alexis’s success highlights the importance of real-world relevance – building a diverse skill set that prepares graduates for anything. Now, as a commencement speaker representing her class, she is taking the next logical step in her advocacy journey. She isn't leaving the PennWest family just yet; she is seamlessly transitioning into the Master of Legal Studies program to deepen her expertise in the legal field.

Her advice to incoming students is simple: Lean on your support system. From faculty advisors to sorority sisters, the community at PennWest ensures that no matter how ambitious your path, you never have to walk it alone.