A boring summer and a quirky YouTube channel about robotics set Julian Sahagun, ’25, on the path to earning a bachelor of science degree in Computer Science from the College of Engineering and Sciences at Purdue University Northwest (PNW). Sahagun is also set to earn minors in Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics and Statistics.
Drawn to computer science in high school, there was no question Sahagun would choose to major in the field at PNW. However, his original interest in robotics and a desire to learn more about circuitry and digital electronics steered him towards a minor in Electrical Engineering, and his love of math led to two additional minors.
While at PNW, Sahagun was a member of the Robotics Club before serving as president of the Computer Science Club. As president, he oversaw a game development project called Gatekeeper. The project provided students an opportunity to learn applied skills, collaborate with others at different learning levels and gain experience in a hands-on team-based setting. He twice participated in IEEEXtreme, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) annual, 24-hour global programming competition and was a part of the PNW chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
As a first-generation college student, the Schererville, Indiana, native realized the importance of peer mentorship. As a peer mentor in STARS Computing Corps, he helped underrepresented first- and second-year students with coursework and project guidance. Through his involvement in STARS, he was able to attend the CMD-IT/ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference (Tapia) in San Diego.
After graduation, Sahagun plans to take a short break to finish a number of personal and club-led projects, which will help him gain additional experience in the field. While he is open to a variety of employment opportunities, he hopes to find a more hands-on role within the area of computer science.
Why did you choose your major?
“The summer before high school I was bored and found a YouTuber who made robots – they didn’t do anything but were really entertaining. On that same channel I found some introduction to programming videos and thought they were interesting. When I signed up for classes my freshman year of high school, I figured I’d give computer science a try. I created this small game for my final project and was really proud of it. That project is what hooked me. I took all the computer science classes offered at my high school and just knew that I wanted to keep going in college.”
What did you like most about PNW?
“The atmosphere. The students here are hardworking, very friendly and open to participating in things outside of their coursework. This helped motivate me to want to work harder.”
What did you like most about the Computer Science program at PNW?
“The amount of electives that were available to choose from. I had a lot of freedom in choosing courses outside of the main program. I was able to experiment and try different things – that’s how I found my three minors!”
How do you think your involvement in campus organizations and activities helped define your success at PNW?
“It definitely helped me with managing my time, working and communicating with people. I feel a lot more prepared for the real world than I was when I initially started college.”
Did you have a pivotal experience while attending PNW?
“It was becoming the president of the Computer Science Club. I was a regular member when I was encouraged to take on the role. I struggled initially because I didn’t have leadership experience and it pushed me out of my comfort zone. As time went on and I found my own style of leadership, I became more comfortable in the role. I was well-prepared academically for college but the leadership experience is where I really grew the most.”
What words of advice would you share with prospective students looking to attend PNW?
“Join clubs and work on projects outside of class. You’ll meet a lot of students from all grade levels that you’ll be able to collaborate with – that’s really important.”
Was there anyone at PNW who inspired or encouraged you along the way?
Department Chair, Computer Science and Professor of Computer Science
“She was always helpful and gave me good advice whenever I was feeling lost. She was also very involved in the program.”
