Michael Britten: Outstanding senior in construction engineering

Clubs and activities

Associated General Contractors (AGC) Student Chapter, Race to Build, Intramural sports (football, volleyball, softball, broomball, pool)

Valuable hands-on learning in class

My ConE classes focus greatly on group projects because it is the most realistic way to prepare for your career. It’s not always easy but everyone has to learn to work with different types of people if you want to be successful.

Valuable out-of-the-classroom experience

Service trips through AGC. I was fortunate enough to travel all over the country to do volunteering. Not only is it very rewarding to do community service building homes for people, but it’s also a free trip to somewhere fun with a great group of people, and the friends and memories made on these trips were just as valuable as the mission we were accomplishing.

Most influential mentor

My older brother Thomas went to Iowa State and he is someone I look up to greatly. He paved a path to success for me to follow not only in school but in life.

Best memory/greatest accomplishment

I consider winning Race to Build my senior year my greatest accomplishment, as I was able to step up and lead a team of 15 people who had never done it before. As for memories, just a lot of hanging out with friends in Ames, on trips, at tailgates, and football games.

Describe your major to someone who is unfamiliar with it

Construction Engineering is all about taking a drawing or concept and turning it into actual building or structure in the real world.

Plans after graduation

I have a position with Ryan Companies on their Project Management Team.

Making my mark on the world

I’m a simple man, I like being to drive by a nice looking or impressive building and think, “I helped build that.”

Engineering like a Cyclone Engineer

There’s just something about Iowa State Engineering that stands out. It’s a combination of hard workers, sharp thinkers, and genuinely good people.