College of Engineering News • Iowa State University

Calvin Maples: Outstanding senior in environmental engineering

Calvin Maples
Calvin Maples

“Engineering like a Cyclone Engineer means thinking about the big picture of the systems you’re working on and being able to think outside the box to solve issues and create new ideas. I really want to use my environmental engineering degree to help people have access to clean water, and to protect people and the environment from health-related threats.”

Hometown: Choteau, Montana

Clubs and activities: Biosystems Engineering Club, Cyclone Rocketry, and the Water Professionals Society. I was also an Environmental Engineering Learning Community peer mentor, and an undergraduate research assistant in the Kaoru Ikuma’s lab.

Valuable hands-on learning experience: The two most valuable hands-on learning opportunities were my internship and research during summers. Interning as a water engineer in the summer of 2022 let me see how class translates into the field, and how different engineering disciplines work together to complete a project. Working in research helped me grasp how broad the field really is, and taught  me how to think through complex issues and be precise in my work.

Most influential mentor: Associate professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering Kaoru Ikuma taught me so much through classes and working in research. She gave me the opportunity to explore projects I was interested in and always took the time to make sure I understood the “what” and “why“of my work in research and in classes.

Plans for after graduation: I will be working for MSA Professional Services as a graduate engineer in the Water Service Line.

Making my mark on the world: I really want to use my environmental engineering degree to help people have access to clean water, and to protect people and the environment from health-related threats.

Engineering like a Cyclone Engineer: It means thinking about the big picture of the systems you’re working on and being able to think outside the box to solve issues and create new ideas.

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