By For many students, access to education isn’t just about grades or ambition—it’s about overcoming real-world obstacles. For Sean Laguna, a proud HISD alum and mechanical engineering student at the University of Houston, that challenge was transportation.
Growing up outside the city, Laguna often wondered how he would make it to college. But in 2023, his path changed when he received a Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo scholarship.
“I’m able to get to my classes a lot easier. I can now live on campus, and I’m able to focus on school and what’s important,” Laguna shared to ABC13.
Now a sophomore, Laguna is not only excelling in his studies but also serving as the academic chair of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, where he supports fellow students in STEM fields. His love for engineering runs deep—rooted in childhood experiences working on cars with his father.
“My mom has a 2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara… keeping it alive was definitely hard,” Laguna recalled. “My dad would enlist my help every now and then to do modifications. It was really fun to see all the valves and just what’s under the hood.”
With his sights set on the future, Laguna hopes to innovate in additive manufacturing and, ultimately, break into the world of motorsport engineering—specifically Formula 1. Thanks to the support he received, this HISD alum is now on track to make that dream a reality.
As an HISD graduate, Laguna proves that with the right support, students from all backgrounds can break barriers, pursue their passions, and drive toward success—both in the classroom and beyond.
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