Wenjie Xu

Driven by a desire to find unique ways to solve problems, Wenjie Xu has always been interested in computer science. After leaving Gilbert Classical Academy, he chose to pursue software engineering at Arizona State University to be well-prepared for the job market. He also liked the program’s flexibility, which enabled him to graduate a year sooner than planned.

This spring, Xu earns his bachelor’s degree in software engineering from the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU. He has been named an Outstanding Graduate for his mixture of dedicated scholarship and efforts to foster a sense of community for Fulton Schools students.

During his time in the Fulton Schools, Xu hit the books hard. The honors student received the President’s Award Scholarship, the Barrett Summer Development Program Scholarship and made the dean’s list. He was a member of the IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu, the honor society of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, or IEEE.

He worked equally hard at creating a supportive and welcoming environment for his fellow students. He served as a Polytechnic campus tour guide and as a mentor in Barrett, The Honors College at ASU. He was a supplemental instruction, or SI, leader and grader for his SER 222 Design and Analysis of Data Structures and Algorithms class.

The foodie also found a way to combine his interest in grilling with his software engineering skills. He designed an internet-enabled controller for his pellet smoker. The system enabled him to monitor his cooking process and make remote adjustments through his phone.

Xu says he enjoyed the small school feel of the software engineering program on the Polytechnic campus and adds that he received strong support from faculty, including Ruben Acuña, a Fulton Schools assistant teaching professor of computer science and engineering.

“Professor Ruben Acuña was particularly instrumental in helping me grow as a student,” Xu says. “He helped me land many student jobs related to software engineering.”

Acuña says Xu has a bright future ahead.

“Wenjie did an excellent job on his honor’s thesis. He selected a difficult prediction problem in machine learning and applied his own ideas to create a more accurate solution,” Acuña says. “I’m sure he will have a successful career in software engineering!”

After graduation, Xu plans to relocate to the Midwest and take a full-time software engineering role.

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ spring 2025 class here.