“I hope to aid in the process of building high-quality machines that can better equip the hardworking farmers of this country to be able to do the jobs they do every day in a more efficient manner.”
Hometown: Mount Vernon, Iowa
Clubs and activities: Quarter Scale Tractor Team, the student chapter of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, and St. Thomas Aquinas Student Ministry. Through these activities, I was able to further develop my engineering skills, network with individuals in industry, make new friends, and grow in the areas of my life that were important to me.
Valuable hands-on learning opportunities: While working for Hagie Manufacturing as a test engineer, I created testing procedures, installed and set up instrumentation, executed tests, analyzed data, and presented data to a team of engineers for many different tests. Through this process, I was able to get a taste of what the day-to-day work life of an engineer might feel like, build upon the knowledge I had learned in my classes, and be part of a team producing something new.
Influential mentor: Sara Weyer, a peer mentor in the ABE learning community, did an excellent job of showing what it looked like to be an involved student who participated in clubs but still was able to balance their class load. She also ensured that the transition into college went as well as it could by showing me what good study habits looked like and assisted in forming a network of people I could turn to when I needed help.
Best memories: I don’t have just one specific memory that stands out during my time at Iowa State, but rather the many little experiences with the people I have gotten to meet and share my time with. These people are the ones that make college life what it is and allow you to partake in things that you would otherwise never get to experience on your own.
Plans after graduation: I have accepted a position as a test engineer at Vermeer Corporation in Pella, Iowa. I am excited to be able to work on their extremely diverse equipment line, ranging from hay and forage to pipeline drilling to heavy-duty landscaping equipment, as well as grow my skills through industry experience.
Leaving my mark: In my career as an engineer, I hope to aid in the process of building high-quality machines that can better equip the hardworking farmers of this country to be able to do the jobs they do every day in a more efficient manner.
Having grown up in an agricultural community, I have been able to see firsthand how important it is to these farmers to be able to rely on the equipment that they use for their livelihood.
Specifically, as a test engineer, I hope to decrease the downtime that farmers like the ones I grew up knowing have to experience, thus decreasing some of the levels of stress that come with busy times of the year.
Engineering like a Cyclone Engineer: Being an engineer at Iowa State, specifically in the ABE department, is unique in the sense that your opportunities and options are almost endless. There are a wide variety of clubs and student organizations to be able to find others who are both like-minded to yourself and those who challenge you to grow and think outside of your current mindset.
On top of this, research opportunities are plentiful and the engineering program here is highly recruited by all sectors of industry. With all these options to choose from, making your journey a unique experience is something that is achievable for all Iowa State engineers.