Major(s): Aerospace Engineering

Hometown: Columbus Junction, Iowa

Activities and Involvements:
Cyclone Rocketry
ClubFest Recruitment
Ames High School STEM Day
Des Moines Schools STEM Day
Engineer’s Week
Columbus Community Schools STEM Day

Internships, Co-ops, and Research:
Field Engineer – Iowa Trenchless, Summer 2021
Manufacturing Engineer – Collins Aerospace, Spring/Summer 2022

Why Engineering: I decided to major in engineering because I wanted to learn more about how things worked. As a kid, Legos and Knex roller coasters were always in my hands, eventually transferring over to woodworking and metalworking in high school. Though as alluded, I wanted to know what went into design and why a tool or part was built this way. What is the justification? What proves this will work?

Favorite ISU Memory: My favorite ISU memory was during my sophomore year during dead week when they hosted the engineer’s midnight breakfast. Initially, I found it very odd to see the chef cooking, literally throwing pancakes like frisbees across the atrium. After seeing friends and classmates enjoying themselves, I found myself holding my hand up, begging for a pancake to be thrown at me. It was a great time before heading into finals.

Something Unique About Me: I really enjoy learning new things and am always seeking out new experiences to learn – academically and in life as a whole. When driving down the road, I constantly think about how things are made and how they are designed. For example, after driving back from the gym one afternoon – I started to wonder how big the tanks that hold gasoline underneath gas stations are. As soon as I got home, I spent an hour (too much time) learning about how storage systems are approached from an engineering standpoint.

Words of Wisdom: My biggest piece of advice is – enjoy the moments. Going to school for four years (or more for some) will go by quickly. However, it can feel daunting and so far away from graduation. Thus, I can justify that the moments feel long! After those long moments, such as finishing up finals week or working on a project for three days straight. Take time to reflect and think about how that moment fits in with your career goals. This will ensure engineering stays exciting but, most importantly, will keep you firm in engineering school. 😉