This is a guest blog entry written by Sophie Antevy and edited by Sejal Sharma. If you want to read more stories, visit viterbiadmission.usc.edu.
Hi everyone! I’m Sophie Antevy, a third year Environmental Engineering major at USC Viterbi.
If you told 10-year-old me, who was and still is totally obsessed with coral reefs and sea animals, that one day I’d be designing systems to protect marine ecosystems and save the ocean, I probably would have said, “That’s the dream.” I’ve always loved the tranquility that comes from snorkeling and scuba diving, the feeling of weightlessness, the vibrant life just beneath the surface. Growing up in Florida, surrounded by the blue ocean, I developed an urgency to protect it as I learned more about pollution, coral bleaching, and climate change.
That passion brought me to USC, where I’ve been able to turn that love into action. As an Environmental Engineering major, I’ve worked on everything from wastewater treatment to climate resilience strategies, all with one goal in mind: preserving our planet for future generations.
I’ve also had the chance to channel that mission into entrepreneurship. I co-founded FungiFix, a startup that uses mushrooms to clean toxic soil and repurpose the fungi into sustainable building materials. Last year, my team and I won $20,000 through the Das Innovate LA Competition. With that momentum, we entered the Maseeh Entrepreneurship Prize Competition (MEPC) and took second place out of 84 teams. Both were surreal experiences that reminded me how powerful engineering can be when paired with innovation. The opportunities USC provides, especially to young founders, are unmatched; the connections I’ve made here have set me up for life.
Beyond the classroom, I’m the President of Chi Epsilon, the national civil and environmental engineering honor society. Leading a group of passionate, driven students who are equally obsessed with math and science has given me a true sense of purpose. And while I’m deeply committed to my academic 
and professional goals, I’ve also made space for the other half of college life: fun.
I’m a proud member of Delta Gamma, and being part of that sisterhood has brought so much joy and balance to my experience. DG has given me my home away from home and has brought me life-long friendships. I love that I can present a startup pitch in the morning and then be partying with my girls at a date party just a few hours later. That kind of duality, being both ambitious and carefree, is what makes my USC experience so fulfilling.
Environmental Engineering is how I channel my passion. But the community I’ve found at USC, especially through DG and Viterbi, is what makes me feel like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.
