The Capitanachi family started their roots at UT-Pan American in 2008 with the oldest sibling, Jesus. The middle sibling, Dulce, followed her brother’s footsteps in 2013. The youngest sibling, Danna, began her journey in 2018. All siblings will have graduated with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering, with Danna ending their legacy by walking the stage on May 11.
The Capitanachi parents are native to Veracruz, Mexico. They moved to Reynosa, Tamaulipas to work as chemical engineers for a fuel company. Danna said the original plan for the three siblings was to attend prominent Mexican universities and become engineers in their home country.
However, Danna emphasized that being a professional in Mexico is not the safest. The siblings knew they had to immigrate to have better opportunities in the engineering field.
Jesus decided to pursue mechanical engineering at UTPA when Danna was 8 years old. Dulce then also chose to attend college in the United States, which solidified the path to follow her siblings.
“I originally wanted to study medicine,” Danna said. “So, when I was thinking how much effort it will take to go to [the United States] and speak a new language, it was too much for me. But seeing my brother and sister succeed motivated me.”
She said she also decided to pursue mechanical engineering as it seemed like her siblings enjoyed the challenge. She said she knew it was not an easy decision as engineering “will take the whole of you.”
“So, my first class at UTRGV, intro to engineering, my professor mentioned that we engineers can help humans in bulk by making bridges … doctors can only save per person,” she said.
Danna said that statement stuck with her for the rest of her journey; It was her reassurance that she could sustain her goal of helping others just in a different way. Especially in such a broad field as mechanical engineering, in which all siblings shared a passion for machinery and the physics of it, she said.
Dulce said she is grateful for all the opportunities UTRGV and CECS offered her to develop personally and professionally; from student organizations, to research and hands-on experiences in the field.
“I would love to personally thank Dr. Lozano for always caring, encouraging us to create a strong work ethic, and giving every student that shows interest, the opportunity to be part of the nanomaterials lab, where you develop not only professionally but also create lasting friendships that make even the long days of studying and working, much easier to go through,” Dulce said.
Jesus Capitanachi emphasized his trailblazing motivation to pursue mechanical engineering at UTPA were his parents. He added that he is grateful for his experience at the SAE RGV Baja club, which gave him the tools to learn outside of class and in a teamwork environment from an early start in his career.
Danna said her parents are an inspiration to the siblings. Having the same passion kept them motivated to continue the legacy of Capitanachi engineers
Danna also said their father passed away before she started her Vaquero journey but was a firm believer in their dream of a family of engineers.
The siblings said they are grateful for the opportunities and motivation the College of Engineering and Computer Science at UTRGV provided them.
Danna joined the UTRGV Transportation Center for Railway Safety, in which she works on trains and with the advice of her mentor, Dr. Constantine Tarawneh. She said she is inspired to expand her education, enjoy her journey and help others do the same.
“I joined organizations to be a mentor for the freshmen, transfer students, or first-generation students who never had anyone to talk about engineering with,” Danna said. “That’s one of my main inspirations, to talk to them about my journey and inspire them. I try to look at my mentees as if they are my younger sister or brother who I can share my experiences with like my older siblings did to me.”
Danna said that her mission in the engineering research center and her mentorship endeavors is to inspire the next generation of female engineers by emphasizing that “you have to be the change you want to see.”
“I am doing all of this to inspire the girls that are behind me,” she said. “That is my main motivation, but now I happen to be pregnant and I can also think about the future legacy of my kids.”
She said she would not force them to be engineers but it would be a dream if they continue the Capanachi legacy.
“My mom is really proud and I am pretty sure my dad will be too to say that all their kids are engineers and they have degrees from such a good university,” Danna said.
Today, Jesus works in machinery at Cummins Incorporations. Dulce works with materials at Dows Incorporations. Danna aspires to continue her work in the transportation field.
Danna said the Capanachi’s aspire to keep inspiring future generations of UTRGV engineering graduates.