Students

Convocation ‘23: Het Verugamvala, BSc, Chemical Engineering Co-op

Donna McKinnon - 01 June 2023

Het Verugamvala loves the smell of gasoline. As a child growing up in the Middle East, the close proximity of oil and gas refineries tickled his imagination and sparked a curiosity about the industry, eventually leading him to study chemical engineering at the University of Alberta.  

Internships at NOVA Chemicals and Interface Fluidics further solidified his passion for the oil and gas sector, particularly as it relates to sustainability.

For the first time in two years, Het will be reunited with family members who will be travelling from Qatar to attend his convocation.

“As an international student, that's the greatest gift and I cannot wait!

Congratulations Het!

What led you to choose your current area of study, and why the U of A for your studies?

I grew up in the Middle East around massive refineries and was curious about what really happens within. The curiosity remained throughout and turned into my passion. Also, my love for the smell of gasoline contributed to me choosing chemical engineering.

I chose the University of Alberta because of the broad opportunities in the oil and gas market in Alberta. In addition, Canada is a sustainability leader in the oil and gas sector so I wanted to get involved and learn about meeting energy demand in a sustainable way.

What is one of your favourite memories from your time at the U of A?

My favourite memory was definitely my time at the residence during the first year. I got to meet a diverse bunch of people from different backgrounds and cultures. We participated in dodgeball and soccer tournaments. But the best time was when my friends and I had to pull all-nighters during finals season. There wasn’t much studying happening but we had a great time knowing we are all going to struggle in the exams.

Tell us about your favourite professor and/or class.

My favourite class has to be ENGG 406 - Leadership in Safety and Risk Management. Although I had the privilege to meet a lot of great professors, the 406 instructor Christopher Coles stood out for me. I liked his teaching style where he had a story for every concept covered in the course which made it interesting as well as easier to understand. Also, he put in an effort to create an environment that promotes collaboration that I leveraged to make friends of similar interests. Lastly, he was always ready to help, and one of the reasons why I landed my dream job as he provided me with some great interview tips.

Did you take on any leadership roles while you were a student?

I did not formally take on a leadership role, however, I was involved with volunteering and clubs, including marketing strategist for the University of Alberta International Students' Association and as a science technician for Space Exploration Alberta Robotics (SPEAR) club.

I often took on the responsibility of a leader during group projects, and when working in a group, I always try to create a comfortable environment for people to be themselves. This not only promotes engagement but at the same time, makes it easier to ask for help when needed. In addition, I tend to be an active listener by maintaining eye contact and nodding to express value to the opinions to support the team members and encourage engagement and transparency.  

Did you face any significant obstacles or challenges during your program?

My biggest challenge was time management. Obviously, the university phase is a stressful time and requires constant effort in order to succeed. However, everyone has bad days and so did I. Sometimes, I was mentally drained and really needed a break. However, the guilt during the break did stress me out. In order to respond, I started planning out my days and made sure I spent enough time doing what I love i.e. working out, playing sports and spending time with friends. Planning ahead really helps to assure yourself that you are on track and keeps you positive throughout.

What advice do you have for current and future students?

The greatest advice I ever received was that you can learn something from everyone so take some time to network around. Talk about your interests to your professors, and ask for tips and tricks on how to succeed. Go to career fairs even if you are not looking for jobs, meet with the people in your profession, and get to know about their experiences. This would help with deciding what path to take after graduation. And most importantly, have fun. No matter how stressful it gets, do your best and forget the rest. Enjoy every moment because it is not coming back and I would do this all over again despite knowing how challenging it was.

How do you plan on celebrating convocation?

I will be enjoying convocation by spending time with my family whom I have not seen in almost two years. As an international student, that's the greatest gift and I cannot wait!

What's next after graduation?

I have an offer from Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL) for an Engineer in Training (EIT) position at one of the conventional oil fields in British Columbia.