Sabah Haji

Creating the Blueprint: Sabah Haji’s Journey into Engineering

Sabah Haji was born in Dagahaley, part of Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camp, and arrived in the United States with her family when she was four years old. Growing up in Utica, she navigated an educational system that was unfamiliar to her family. Her parents’ limited English made it difficult for them to help with schoolwork, but Sabah persevered, eventually becoming the first person in her family to graduate from college.

Sabah joined On Point for College in 2019 while participating in the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES P-TECH program, which allowed her to begin college coursework at Mohawk Valley Community College. She earned an associate degree in Human Services in 2021 and a Mechatronics Certificate in 2022 before continuing her education at SUNY Polytechnic Institute. At Mohawk Valley, she was active in student leadership and mentoring, and in 2022 received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.

As Sabah pursued engineering, On Point helped cover the cost of critical summer courses during her undergraduate studies. On Point’s Utica team also provided ongoing guidance and professional connections. Sabah credits that support, along with her network of mentors, with helping her navigate college and pursue opportunities in engineering.

Her academic achievements have been accompanied by professional experience in semiconductor manufacturing and energy technology. Sabah worked as a Metrology Process Technician at Wolfspeed, maintaining and calibrating precision measurement instruments used in semiconductor production. In 2023, she received a Zonta International Women in STEM Scholarship, one of just 30 awarded worldwide. She also served as president of SUNY Poly’s Women in Engineering Club and represented students on the university’s College Council.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from SUNY Poly in May 2026, Sabah continued her education at the university, where she is pursuing a master’s degree in Advanced Technology. She currently serves as a Lead Resident Advisor and volunteers in pre-collegiate outreach. During summer 2026, she completed a battery research and development internship with Arkema through the National Science Foundation’s Upstate New York Energy Engine program.

Sabah’s accomplishments have continued to attract recognition. In 2026, she received the a/e ProNet ACEC Engineering Scholarship and was named a Women in Defense National Scholar. She traveled to Huntsville, Alabama, to accept the latter award, where she had the opportunity to explore the aerospace and defense industries through visits to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Redstone Arsenal, and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. She is also a recipient of the Healing Forward Scholarship, established by On Point alumna Nan Han to support students from refugee and underrepresented backgrounds pursuing STEM and healthcare careers.

Throughout her education, Sabah has remained committed to encouraging other young women to explore opportunities in science and engineering. She has participated in Real Life Rosies, spoken at events introducing students to manufacturing careers, and volunteered in programs connecting younger students with women working in STEM fields. In a 2022 scholarship essay, she reflected on how her own experiences had shaped her desire to help others:

“I am proud to give others the same support I wished I had as a child.”