Jashwanth Komanabelli: Outstanding senior in software engineering

Clubs and activities

I was part of the Google Developer Student Club and served as vice president. I was also part of the Software Engineering Student Advisory Council, where I worked with faculty to improve the student experience and represent my peers’ feedback.

Valuable hands-on learning in class

The most valuable in-class experience was SE 339: Software Architecture with Professor Mouly Kumar. The class revolved around an open-source project, making it highly practical and industry relevant. It taught me how to think critically about software design and understand how architectural decisions impact real-world systems.

Valuable out-of-the-classroom experience

My internships and co-ops were the most valuable out-of-the-classroom learning experiences. I worked on machine learning infrastructure, solving problems at scale that required both technical depth and collaboration. At my recent internship with Apple, the fast-paced environment and focus on practical impact helped me grow as an engineer.

Most influential mentor

Two mentors truly shaped my journey at Iowa State: Patrick Demers (’23) and Benedict Neo (‘23). The amount of exposure and inspiration I gained from them was incredible. They showed me what it means to dream big in the software world and what an Iowa State engineer is truly capable of achieving. Their guidance and example motivated me to keep pushing boundaries and aim higher in everything I do.

Best memory/greatest accomplishment

One of my best memories at Iowa State was the night before a project demo for one of my classes. My team and I stayed up the whole night in Coover Lab and Carver Hall, fixing last-minute bugs and testing our code. We were exhausted but fully locked in, roaming around campus at midnight just to stay awake. It was one of those moments that reminded me why I love engineering: the energy, the teamwork, and the feeling when everything finally worked.

Plans after graduation

After graduation, I will join Apple as a software engineer.

A memorable moment of kindness

During a CprE class, my TA stayed with my team in the Coover Hall lab until midnight on the Friday before Thanksgiving to help us finish a project. She didn’t have to, but she cared enough to see us through. That moment showed me what genuine support looks like at Iowa State.

Persevering through challenging times

My sophomore year was the hardest time for me. I had just switched from computer science to software engineering, and the transition was tough, especially with a lot of other things happening in my life then. I questioned if I had made the right choice. But as time went on, I met some incredible mentors and professors in my junior year who gave me a new perspective on both my personal and professional life. Their support and the exposure I gained helped me find my direction again and reminded me why I chose this path.

Iowa State’s entrepreneurship resources

I participated in one of the pitch competitions at Iowa State, where my team placed second in the final round. The experience gave me a fresh perspective on entrepreneurship and helped me understand how important the business side of things is, not just the technical part. For someone from a technical background, it was refreshing to see how ideas are developed and presented beyond engineering.

Making my mark on the world

I want to leave a mark by contributing to how computing evolves over time. I’m not trying to change the world overnight, but to keep building things that make computing faster, more efficient, and more capable. Every small improvement compounds, and over years, that’s how real change happens. If I can play a part in accelerating that progress and shaping the future of how we build and use technology, that’s the kind of impact I want to have as an engineer.

Engineering like a Cyclone Engineer

The best part of being a Cyclone Engineer is getting the opportunities that come with a large university while still having a close-knit community within the major. It’s a place where everyone supports each other, and if you’re driven and willing to put in the work, there’s no limit to how much you can grow. The mix of collaboration, mentorship, and ambition makes Iowa State a place where motivated people truly succeed.

What I’d tell my younger self about Iowa State

I’d tell my younger self that choosing Iowa State was one of the best decisions I could’ve made. Coming here as an international student was not easy, but it pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t expect. I found mentors who guided me, professors who pushed me to think bigger, and opportunities that helped me find direction. This place taught me resilience, independence, and how to build a life and career from the ground up.