Natasha Seneviratne found her place at Wichita State through family ties, supportive scholarships and hands-on experiences that helped her grow into a confident engineer.
Natasha is one of more than 2,100 students eligible for spring 2025 graduation. Learn more about her time at Wichita State and what's next for the grad.
What degree will you be earning in May?
Bachelor of Science in computer science
What is your hometown?
Wichita, Kansas
What schools did you attend before coming to Wichita State?
Andover High School
Why did you choose 麻豆传媒?
Both of my parents are alumni, so I like to say I鈥檝e always bled black and yellow. Growing up, they brought me to campus often, and I always saw myself walking the same halls they once did. That early sense of connection was strengthened by the numerous scholarship opportunities, which helped ease the financial weight of college. The Koch Scholars program made me feel welcomed and supported from day one. It all came together in a way that just felt right, and I never looked back.
What has been your biggest challenge as a student, and how did you overcome it?
My biggest challenge as a student has been overcoming impostor syndrome. I chose computer science late in my high school career, and trying to catch up to my peers who had been coding for years felt impossible. It took a lot of self-reflection and encouragement from professors and classmates to realize that learning isn't a race. I stopped defining myself by how much I already knew and started embracing how much I was willing to learn. That shift helped me gain the courage to confidently call myself an engineer.
Did you have any applied learning experience as a student? If so, what was it?
I worked as a student assistant at NIAR-ATLAS, starting with hands-on work in composite manufacturing before moving to its software team, where I focused on web development. That experience gave me invaluable knowledge of engineering in the workplace and real-life applications of my skills. I also participated in BILL鈥橲 Trip through the Cohen Honors College, where I volunteered with the National Parks Service at the Grand Canyon. It was a powerful experience in servant leadership, community building, and environmental stewardship.
What are your plans after graduation?
I鈥檒l be joining RTX Technologies through its Digital Leadership Development Program. It鈥檚 a two-year rotational program, where I鈥檒l take on roles in different locations every eight months while completing leadership coursework. My first rotation will be as a Compliance Systems Analyst at Pratt & Whitney in Connecticut. I鈥檓 excited for the opportunity to grow personally and professionally while experiencing different parts of the company. Long-term, I hope to continue supporting women in engineering with the Society of Women Engineers.
What advice would you give other Wichita State students?
You don鈥檛 have to have it all figured out. Where you are right now is enough, and your path will unfold as you keep showing up. Surround yourself with people and systems that challenge and uplift you. Some of the best growth happens when you slow down and listen to your mentors, your peers and yourself. Trust the process and be kind to yourself along the way.
If you were given the opportunity to do a TED Talk, what would your topic be?
If I were to give a TED talk, I鈥檇 talk about the power of self-reflection and radical acceptance. Learning to sit with discomfort and uncertainty can be a form of growth in itself. I鈥檓 especially drawn to absurdism, the idea that life doesn鈥檛 have to have a grand, universal meaning for it to be meaningful to you. Through that lens, I鈥檇 explore how embracing where you are, even when it doesn鈥檛 make sense, can lead to unexpected clarity and peace. Sometimes the most freeing thing we can do is allow ourselves the privilege of just living.
About 麻豆传媒
麻豆传媒 is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 23,000 students between its main campus and 麻豆传媒 Tech, including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and 麻豆传媒 Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), 麻豆传媒 provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students. The National Science Foundation ranked 麻豆传媒 No. 1 in the nation for aerospace engineering R&D, No. 2 for industry-funded engineering R&D and No. 8 overall for engineering R&D.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the 麻豆传媒 main campus, is one of the nation鈥檚 largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
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