Eagan Kirk: Outstanding senior in chemical engineering

Clubs and activities

I was most involved in the Martial Arts Club, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), and Salt Company campus ministry.  

Valuable hands-on learning in class

My most valuable in-class hands-on learning opportunity was Ch E 4300 (Process and Plant Design). Throughout this class, we brought together all the fundamentals we learned over the past four years to design a process plant to produce pyridine. 

Valuable out-of-the-classroom experience

My most valuable learning experiences outside of the classroom were my various co-ops and internships. They taught me how to navigate uncertainty as I took on larger projects with less guidance from my supervisors. They also helped me learn when “the juice is no longer worth the squeeze,” as a supervisor of mine at Frontline BioEnergy would say. Additionally, these internships were integral to my understanding of how chemical engineering applies across various industries and allowed me to return to school with a greater passion to learn. 

Most influential mentor

Stanislav Kutsel, one of my Salt Company connection group leaders, was a tremendous mentor to me. He was pivotal in my personal development and helped me grow in my faith. 

Best memory/greatest accomplishment

Many of my best memories at Iowa State have been with the Martial Arts Club. I’ve made many of my closest friends through the club as we’ve trained together, traveled to tournaments, and enjoyed post-practice dinners at Culver’s and El Jefe. Some of my most memorable trips include traveling to Boulder, Colorado, to compete at nationals my freshman year and to Boston, Massachusetts, for nationals my junior year. 

Plans after graduation

I am excited to begin work for Koch Fertilizer as a production engineer. 

A memorable moment of kindness

During my sophomore year, I was looking for an on-campus job where I could make a direct impact on younger Cyclones. Having been blessed with many opportunities at Iowa State, I wanted to pass that knowledge on to younger students. My advisor, Matt Brown, knew this and referred me to the Office of Admissions, encouraging me to apply as a campus and residence hall tour guide. Because of his thoughtfulness, I worked as a tour guide during my junior year, where I was able to share my knowledge and experiences with the next generation of Cyclones. 

Persevering through challenging times

There were definitely times when the long hours of studying and working on projects started to wear on me. However, having my classmates by my side helped me push through and led to some of the most valuable experiences of my Iowa State career. These long assignments strengthened friendships between me and my classmates, deepened my understanding for the content, and built my passion for engineering. 

Support from Engineering Career Services

I utilized Engineering Career Services resources countless times. The resume templates provided a strong foundation and took away much of the stress. The engineering career fairs were integral in helping me secure three of my four internships. Finally, registering my internships with Engineering Career Services helped facilitate growth-oriented conversations with my supervisors. 

Your major in your own words

Chemical engineers develop economically feasible processes to produce goods across every sector of the economy. We work in industries like food (such as dairy products and carbonated beverages), consumer goods (such as toothpaste and soap), commodity chemicals (such as fertilizer and hydrogen peroxide), and petroleum-based products (such as plastics and gasoline). A key requirement for all of these processes is safe and reliable operation. Chemical engineers help design and operate these facilities using principles such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, reactor design, and separation processes. 

Making my mark on the world

Part of the reason I began my journey at Iowa State as a chemical engineering student is because I love the science behind it. As I’ve continued to learn, both my interest and knowledge have grown significantly. Throughout my career, I hope to use these principles – along with my natural curiosity and passion for the world around us – to optimize processes and make meaningful advances in stewardship and sustainability. 

Engineering like a Cyclone Engineer

A Cyclone Engineer is someone who approaches real-world problems with curiosity, passion, and teamwork. While lecture-style classes are valuable, I believe Iowa State truly excels at developing engineers through hands-on labs, undergraduate research opportunities, and strong industry connections that keep students engaged and motivated. 

What I’d tell my younger self about Iowa State

Iowa State will be an incredible place for you to grow both personally and professionally. The academic and career opportunities are endless, so take full advantage of them – but don’t miss out on extracurriculars like sporting events, spending time with friends, and getting involved in clubs. Those experiences will shape you as a person and create lifelong memories. 

Most inspiring location on campus

Sweeney Hall is a place where I feel especially inspired. It represents a legacy of chemical engineering at Iowa State and fosters a strong sense of community, discipline, and curiosity. I have spent countless hours there studying with peers, completing lab work, developing models for my senior design course, and conducting research with the Dr. Eric Cochran (Mary Jane Skogen Hagenson and Randy L. Hagenson Professorship in Chemical and Biological Engineering) group. It has been central to both my academic and personal growth.