Fellowship opportunity for CWRU undergraduates fuels curiosity
Undergraduate’s Veale Snyder Fellowship experience is building a foundation for what’s next
Eva-Jessy Guech, a second-year computer science major, was raised to be an articulate communicator and always envisioned becoming a lawyer.
But as the Rockville, Maryland, native experimented with the drawing tools on her dad’s home computer, her interests began to shift. And her curiosity to explore new avenues only grew as Guech took violin lessons and ventured into robotics and coding classes.
After landing at Case Western Reserve in the fall of 2024, she jumped at the chance to apply to the Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship for a Tinkham Veale–Barbara R. Snyder Entrepreneurial Fellowship. It’s designed for rising sophomores and juniors in any major and immerses students in entrepreneurial learning and innovation through a blend of for-credit courses and real-world experiences. Forward Thinking magazine recently spoke with Guech about the impact of the fellowship, which just ended in the spring.
What led you to apply for the Veale-Snyder fellowship?
The fellowship offered something beyond what you can learn from books or a classroom. I wanted mentorship and camaraderie with like-minded peers who are passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation. The opportunity to learn from people who have actually built companies and products—being able to ask them questions and hear their stories firsthand—is priceless.
How have experiences like attending CES—one of the world’s largest technology shows—shaped your perspective on the tech industry?
It was inspiring to see people from all over the world, each with a shared drive to meet real needs. I learned that building great technology requires emotional intelligence and systems thinking—understanding both the short- and long-term impacts.
How has the fellowship influenced your goals?
I thought my path was pretty linear: internship, job, climb the ladder, retire. The fellowship opened my eyes to the many different paths you can take and the importance of being comfortable with unpredictability.
What advice would you give to future fellows?
The mentorship, exposure and confidence I’ve gained have transformed my journey—all thanks to this fellowship. I’d tell students to bet on themselves, stay curious and don’t be afraid to reach out. Sometimes the best opportunities come from just introducing yourself.
