Ike Jones: Outstanding senior in civil engineering

Clubs and activities

Throughout my undergraduate career, I have been a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) student chapter. It exposed me to others in my major and the multitude of industry opportunities for civil engineers. Through ASCE, I joined Concrete Canoe to build relationships with my peers in civil engineering and have fun building the canoe for competition. Recently, my decision to attend graduate school was heavily inspired by my involvement in undergraduate research, which allowed me to explore topics outside of the classroom. 

Valuable hands-on learning in class

While frustrating at the time, I have come to appreciate the value of civil design capstone, CE 4850 (Civil Engineering Design). It truly tests our abilities as engineering students and helps us pinpoint where we need to improve better than any exam could. 

Valuable out-of-the-classroom experience

Through a summer internship with Shive-Hattery, I solidified my passion for structural engineering. I gained a great deal of knowledge about the structural industry, which I have consistently applied to my coursework. Also, I learned from industry professionals about the many avenues I can pursue in the future. 

Most influential mentor

My most influential mentor at Iowa State is Dr. Hartanto Wibowo. As both a student and employee under Dr. Wibowo, he inspires me to be disciplined, engaged, and to think critically about the work I do in structural design. He is always ready to answer any of my questions, and he actively seeks out opportunities that can benefit my success as a student and my plans to attend graduate school. 

Best memory/greatest accomplishment

I’m most proud of my time as a platoon leader for CE 2740 (Engineering Statics). It was extremely gratifying to work through problems with students, and I deeply enjoyed growing as a mentor while supporting student success in the class. 

Plans after graduation

Following graduation, I plan to complete a summer internship with KPFF on their structural design team. In fall 2026, I will attend graduate school to pursue a masters in civil engineering with a structural emphasis. 

A memorable moment of kindness

My academic advisor, Nikki Eggert, has always been incredibly kind, patient, and supportive whenever I’ve stopped by her office. She made great strides to ensure I could take the classes I was interested in and didn’t hesitate to put in extra work to make it possible. 

Persevering through challenging times

Growing up in a small, rural community with limited availability to advanced math and science courses, I struggled to adjust in my first month at Iowa State. It was when I began reaching out and collaborating with others in these courses that I became more comfortable with the coursework and maintained my motivation to study hard and succeed in the engineering curriculum. 

Your major in your own words

Civil engineers plan and design our society’s infrastructure to protect public safety. As a civil engineering major, you learn to be a problem-solver across a wide range of disciplines like water resources, transportation, materials, geotechnical, construction, and structures. However, most importantly, you learn to be a great communicator and work in teams to tackle complex infrastructure challenges across the globe. 

Making my mark on the world

I strive to design buildings that are resilient, interesting, and improve the well-being of people across all walks of life. 

Engineering like a Cyclone Engineer

The most fascinating part of the Iowa State engineering community is how tight-knit it feels. Even with over 6,000 undergraduate students, I recognize familiar faces from past projects, classes, and labs. Iowa State crafts a curriculum that creates consistent opportunities to develop interpersonal and problem-solving skills with people inside and outside my major. 

What I’d tell my younger self about Iowa State

If I could speak to my younger self, I would say the connections and life habits you will gain in four years at Iowa State will be irreplaceable. You will meet so many amazing, hardworking people who will challenge you to become a better version of yourself. 

Most inspiring location on campus

I particularly enjoy the square around the Marston Water Tower. The water tower and Student Innovation Center next to one another perfectly showcase the evolution and advancement of structural engineering. Each time I pass by, I’m excited by the opportunity to be involved in the future of our built environment.