Scholar Profiles
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Aren AshlockElectrical and Computer EngineeringAren is from Waverly, Iowa. Starting in middle school and continuing through high school, Aren had a passion for computers. He learned how to write in programming languages and was a part of a FTC robotics team. He chose to attend Iowa State University since he was able to remain in-state while also attending a nationally ranked engineering program. He decided to study Computer Engineering because of his interest in artificial intelligence. In addition to his Computer Engineering major, he is pursuing a minor in Leadership Studies. In addition to his academic achievements, he has been very involved serving as his residence hall council president and as Co-director of Cyclone Cinema for the Student Union Board, while also having jobs with the Iowa State Solution Center during the school year and Conference Services during the summer. He has maintained a 3.95 GPA, which earned him the honor of being in the top 2% of engineering students the 2022 spring semester. He indicates his goal upon graduation is to join a big technology company, such as Google or Tesla, and work on a development team for Artificial Intelligent machines. |
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Lauren BlairCivil, Construction, and Environmental EngineeringLauren is from Saint Louis, Missouri. Lauren is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and minoring in Spanish. She chose to attend Iowa State University due to its prestigious engineering program and the opportunities offered here. She chose to study civil engineer because of her childhood curiosity with how things work. She always liked problem solving and working complicated problems out as if they were a puzzle that needed to be solved. She indicates that so far she has enjoyed learning about civil engineering at Iowa State and is looking forward to taking courses such as surveying and engineering statics. She is co-leading an honors seminar class for incoming first-year students through the honors college to help them transition to college and learn about the many opportunities ISU has to offer. She is also a member of the women’s club soccer team and is looking forward to participating in another season during fall 2022. She joined the SALT company, a student ministry in Ames, and enjoys connecting with friends and continuing to grow in her faith. |
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Megan BoydElectrical and Computer EngineeringMegan is from Maxwell, Iowa. Megan came to Iowa State since it was close to her home in Maxwell, Iowa, and has rigorous academic programs. She is majoring in Software Engineering. She was on the Dean List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. |
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Annica ChervenkaMechanical EngineeringAnnica is from Waukee, Iowa. Annica is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, as well as a music minor. She came to Iowa State because of the stellar mechanical engineering program and its reputation as having a fantastic career fair program. During her first year she was on the Dean List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. She was involved in several groups, including the ISU Football Marching Band, where she received several awards, and the ISU women’s basketball pep band. She was also a member of the SALT ministries. During the 2022-23 school year she will be in a leadership position in the marching band, and hopes to have an internship for the summer 2023. She plans to work in industry following graduation. |
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Katina ChristoffersonElectrical and Computer EngineeringKatina is from Yorkville, Illinois. Katina was adopted six years ago from an orphanage in China. She credits her new family for giving direction to the life that lies ahead of her. She is majoring in cyber security engineering. She chose to study at Iowa State University since an older brother is a student at ISU. She was on the Dean’s List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. Outside academics she is the External Vice President for the Science Exploration student organization. She plans to receive her Bachelors Degree in Cyber Security Engineering in 2025. |
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Zachary FooteElectrical and Computer EngineeringZachary is from Quincy, Illinois. Zachary chose Iowa State University because he wanted to to study at a high ranking engineering school in the Midwest that provided a good education at a low price, which he felt was exactly what Iowa State offers. He is majoring in computer engineering. He was on the Dean’s List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. He is currently in the Honors Program and participating in the Cyclone Club Wrestling Team and Chi Alpha Campus Ministries. He serves as Vice President of Lincoln House in Helser Hall. He is also doing undergraduate research on 5G under professor Hongwei Zhang. He plans to continue this research throughout his undergraduate career. |
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Aidan GoerdtMechanical EngineeringAidan is from Davenport, Iowa. Aidan came to Iowa State University for its highly renowned College of Engineering to pursue an undergraduate and master’s in mechanical engineering. He was on the Dean’s List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. In addition to academics he serves as the Vice President of Woodrow House in Eaton Hall. Following graduation he hopes to contribute to the world’s energy solutions and further the technology concerning nuclear fusion energy. |
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Tasman GrinnellElectrical and Computer EngineeringTasman is from Rochester, Minnesota. Tasman is majoring in Cybersecurity Engineering. He chose to attend Iowa State University, based on the prestige and competence of the university’s engineering program and discovering that the university has one of the only programs for Cybersecurity in the country. ISU was also in relatively close proximity to his hometown in Rochester, Minnesota. He chose to study Cybersecurity Engineering after seeing the technical challenge companies face in fending off hacking attempts and the need to develop software to prevent this from happening. During his first year he was on the Dean’s List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. He joined the Iowa State Symphony and Chamber Orchestras because of his love of music and to increase his involvement in an area other than academics. He is also interested in joining the Groove Drumline. For Fall semester 2022, he has been accepted to become a First-Year Honors Program Leader and will also be working on Project Tempest, which is a project to develop and build from scratch a drone for racing. In addition to receiving his Bachelors degree he hopes to undertake a concurrent Master’s in Engineering here at Iowa State to be completed in an additional year. |
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Jose HernandezCivil, Construction, and Environmental EngineeringJose is from Venezuela. Jose is majoring in Construction Engineering. Growing up in Venezuela, which has very serious problems, showed him the value of a good education and his family had always wanted him to attend college. He chose to attend Iowa State University because it offers one of the finest engineering programs in the country. He appreciates all the opportunities that have been given to him and considers himself fortunate to be able to attend Iowa State to pursue his educational goals. He was on the Dean’s List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. |
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Allison HubbellIndustrial and Manufacturing Systems EngineeringAllison is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Allison is a junior in the Industrial Engineering program and pursuing a minor in Engineering Sales. She intends to participate in the concurrent Industrial Engineering Master’s Program at Iowa State. She chose to study Industrial Engineering because a goal of industrial engineers is to improve processes to help people and is passionate about pursuing an industrial engineering career path. She was on the Dean’s List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. She worked with two professors in the industrial engineering department on research spring semester 2022. She was the recipient of the 2022 Research Symposium under graduate student paper competition – People’s Choice Award for her investigation of the Economic Consequences of the August 2020 Midwest Derecho. In addition to academics, she is active in the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE), and the Kappa Delta sorority. During the summer 2022, she continued classes in a study abroad program in Valencia, Spain. |
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William KnightMechanical EngineeringWilliam is from Washington, Illinois. William is majoring in Mechanical Engineering. His main reason for attending Iowa State was the clear support showed by the university and its alumni towards the Mechanical Engineering program. He was on the Dean’s List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. Currently, he is planning on enrolling in the Concurrent Master’s of Business Administration Program at Iowa State University. It is his hope that this program will take him to an engineering career leading towards a position in Project Management. In addition to academics, William services as both the Outreach Coordinator and Publicity Chair for the Sales Engineering Club Student Organization. |
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Nicholas KokottSoftware EngineeringNicholas is from Waunakee, Wisconsin Nicholas chose to come to Iowa State University as he had heard about its renowned engineering programs and fantastic campus life. After taking his first tour at Iowa State, he immediately had the feeling of home and made the decision to further his studies at ISU. He decided to major in software engineering, since it seemed like a unique opportunity as he hadn’t heard of another university offering a similar program. He has loved computers and programming since he was a child, and software engineering seemed like a fantastic way to learn and develop his skills in the software field. He was on the Dean’s List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. He is involved in the computer science and software engineering club as well as the sales engineering club. These organizations attracted his attention when he attended Club Fest at the beginning of fall semester 2022, and he has enjoyed participating in them. After graduation, he aspires to work in industry for a few years, and may eventually get my master’s or PhD in a software related area. He is also interested in starting his own software related company in the future. |
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Jaclyn KowallMechanical EngineeringJaclyn is from Oswego, Illinois. Jaclyn chose to attend Iowa State University and major in Mechanical Engineering because of all the many research opportunities and because the design aspect of engineering has always interested her. She would specifically like to design prosthetics or other medical devices in the future. She plans to add biomedical engineering as a minor in the fall 2022 semester, since it will allow her to take more medical related classes. She was on the Dean’s List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. She would like to get involved in undergraduate research during the coming year. Currently , she is involved in the Engineering Ambassador and Mentor Program providing tours of the College of Engineering buildings to prospective students which allows her to share her passion for Iowa State with future students and their parents, and show them why ISU is a great school. |
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Cassandra LarsenIndustrial and Manufacturing Systems EngineeringCassandra is from Muscatine, Iowa. Cassandra is an Iowa native and grew up Muscatine. She is majoring in industrial engineering. She was on the Dean’s List both fall 2022 and spring 2022. Upon receiving her undergraduate degree she plans to go to graduate school to earn her masters degree in either industrial engineering or data science. Upon receiving her M.S. degree she hopes to work in operations research and analytics. |
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Christopher MartinMaterials Science and EngineeringChristopher is from West Des Moines, Iowa. Christopher is majoring in Materials Science and Engineering. Following graduation with his B.S. degree he plans to pursue a master’s degree, and possibly a Ph.D. degree. He was on the Dean’s List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. |
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Katherine MeyerMechanical EngineeringKatherine is from Germantown Hills, Illinois. Madison is majoring in mechanical engineering, with a minor in energy systems. She has known for a long time that she wanted to pursue an |
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Madison MoharChemical and Biological EngineeringMadison is from Racine, Wisconsin. Madison is majoring in chemical engineering. Summer and fall semesters 2022 she is participating in a co-op with Syngenta in Omaha, Nebraska, where she will be working in the health and safety department. She was on the Dean’s List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. |
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Kaitlyn QuinnChemical and Biological EngineeringKaitlyn is from Davenport, Iowa. Kaitlyn graduated from Assumption High School in Davenport where her love of chemistry led to her decision to attend Iowa State University for its engineering program. She chose to major in chemical engineering because of the extensive possibilities for employment after graduation. She was on the Dean’s List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. Fall semester 2022 she will be a Peer Mentor for a class of first-year chemical engineering students. She considers earning this position as one of her biggest accomplishments and looks forward to helping these first-year students and giving them advice about what she has learned so far at Iowa State. Other clubs and organizations that she participates in at Iowa State include the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). |
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Zachary RapozaElectrical and Computer EngineeringZachary is from Omaha, Nebraska. Zachary is majoring in Computer Engineering, due to a love of robotics developed while he was a member of his high school robotics team. He chose computer engineering over mechanical and electrical engineering because he believed it provided the best combination between the hands-on building and the programming sides of robotics. He is participating in the Honors program and has started doing research for credit on development of 3D printable prosthetic hands. He was on the Dean’s List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. Since he enjoys tennis, he joined the Iowa State recreational tennis club and archery club, but indicates he rarely has time to participate in these activities. After graduation, he hopes to attend graduate school to get either an MBA or a master’s degree in engineering. |
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Pranav RegunathAerospace EngineeringPranav is from Naperville, Illinois. Pranav is majoring in Aerospace Engineering. He was on the Dean’s List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. |
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Tyler RichardsonAerospace EngineeringTyler is from Omaha, Nebraska. Tyler is majoring in Aerospace Engineering. He was on the Dean’s List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. He aspires to work in satellite technology following his graduation with a B.S. degree. |
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Eli RipperdaElectrical and Computer EngineeringEli is from Coatsburg, Illinois. Eli is majoring in Computer Engineering. He chose to attend Iowa State University as it was the best-value engineering school to which he applied. He chose to study computer engineering since most of the world relies on computers for so many everyday tasks as well as tasks such as large, complex calculations and self-driving vehicles. He believes computer technology will continue to enhance our lives in the future. Following graduation he hopes to contribute to this evolution by taking part in engineering the next generation of computers. He was on the Dean’s List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. During the summer 2022 he is working as a Product Engineering intern at John Deere’s Intelligent Solutions Group. During the 2022 – 2023 school year he will be a Resident Assistant in Friley Hall assisting incoming freshmen as they navigate their first year in college. He is also Treasurer of the Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship student organization. |
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Lucas RizzoIndustrial and Manufacturing Systems EngineeringLucas is from Plainfield, Illinois. Lucas is majoring in Industrial Engineering. He was on the Dean’s List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. |
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Abigail SchaeferMaterials Science and EngineeringAbigail is from Hastings, Nebraska. Abigail is majoring in Materials Engineering and Spanish. She chose to major in Materials Engineering because of the diversity of knowledge it involves and because she enjoys solving problems using math and science. She was on the Dean’s List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. In addition to academics, she is also involved on campus in different student organizations including the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), the Engineering Ambassador and Mentoring Program, the University Honors Program, Concert Band, undergraduate research, and the St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Student Community. She also made a virtual presentation at an honors research symposium. |
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Jackson SchendelAerospace EngineeringJackson is from Spencer, Iowa. Jackson is majoring in Aerospace Engineering. He chose this major because his father was an aviation mechanic in the United States Marine Corps and would take he and his brother to air shows when they were young. As a result he fell in love with air planes. He was on the Dean’s List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. His older brother Joseph is also studying Aerospace Engineering at Iowa State. Following graduation he hopes to work in the aerospace industry designing and building planes. |
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Kyle SpringbornElectrical and Computer EngineeringKyle is from Hampshire, Illinois. Kyle is majoring in software engineering. He chose to attend Iowa State University since it has excellent engineering programs with outstanding professors and staff, as well as a beautiful campus. He chose software engineering as his major, since he started coding his junior year in high school and has never stopped enjoying it. He was on the Dean’s List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. In addition to academics, he is a member of the Solar Car Team and has used his coding skills to create a program that takes data from test runs to produce graphs in order to improve the efficiency of the car. He has also worked with two other students to create a game in Unity. After graduation he plans to find a full-time job, hopefully in development of computer user interfaces. He plans to spend the summer 2022 at his home in Hampshire, Illinois, playing tennis and helping his former high school coach run a tennis camp teaching younger players. He also plans to play live TAPS at military funerals as he finds satisfaction in making sure veterans are given a proper funeral. In this regard, while in high school he received the Semper Fidelis award designed to recognize. distinguished high school band members for musical achievements and leadership and the American Legion award for peer mentorship. |
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Sydney TurnerAerospace EngineeringSydney is from Minnetrista, Minnesota. Sydney is majoring in Aerospace Engineering. She was on the Dean’s List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. After obtaining her undergraduate degree, she hopes to be involved in the design and development of rockets or supersonic aircraft. In addition to academics, she is a member of student organizations including the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and the Engineering Student Council. Fall semester 2022 she will be conducting undergraduate research and plans to become further involved in the Cyclone Rocketry team. |
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Mariella VitelliChemical and Biological EngineeringMariella is from Lakeville, Minnesota. Mariella is majoring in Chemical Engineering with a minor in biomedical engineering. She was on the Dean’s List spring 2022. She is a active member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers student organization, serving as the Secretary of Communications. Following graduation she hopes to work in the medical field. |
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Joseph ZehrAgricultural and Biosystems EngineeringJoseph is from Boone, Iowa. Joseph entered Iowa State University intending to major in finance. However, after touring the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department he decided that engineering would be the best fit for him. He is majoring in the Agricultural Engineering Power and Machinery option. He was on the Dean’e List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. He indicates he enjoys his classes and working with his professors and peers. |
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Adam ZeitlinCivil, Construction, and Environmental EngineeringAdam is from Carmel, Indiana. Adam is majoring in Civil Engineering and chose to attend Iowa State University for its amazing campus, highly ranked engineering programs, and the opportunities that it offers to its students. After completing his freshman year, he realized that choosing Iowa State University was one of the best decisions he had made. During his first year he accomplished a number of achievements including being on the Dean’s List both fall 2021 and spring 2022. He also received an Outstanding Student Leader Award through the Inter-Residence Hall Association, and is serving as the Vice President of his residence hall council. During the summer 2022, he is interning with Hanson Professional Services and hopes to apply what he learns in the classroom to the outside world. |
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