FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS

Christina Anderson
Industrial Design
Grand Island, Nebraska

Iowa State’s good reputation for engineering coupled with its Materials Engineering major drew Christina to Ames. She expects to become a well-rounded engineer through the E2020 program and is looking forward to learning about all aspects of engineering so she can help make the world a better place. Christina is also excited about the various research opportunities offered at Iowa State.

Christina is also pursuing a minor in apparel merchandising, design, and production. “I want to tie this in with my materials major to develop new materials for athletic apparel or equipment,” she explained. She is a member of the Iowa State track team and enjoys meeting people from all around the world.

Tyler Fox
Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering
Geneseo, Illinois

Tyler chose Iowa State, in part, because he liked its campus. In addition to being an E2020 Scholar, Tyler is a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and holds the positions of House Manager and Budget Chair. He is also involved in the Institute of Industrial Engineers.

When Tyler gets a few minutes to spare he likes to hang out with his fraternity brothers and play video games or football in the yard.

Ryan Gilsdorf
Industrial Design
Kansas City, Missouri

The E2020 Scholarship played a role in Ryan’s decision to come to Iowa State. He expects the program to “integrate more creativity into engineering.”

Ryan loves playing piano and playing sports. He participates in intramurals such as ping-pong, soccer, volleyball, and football. He is also a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. Ryan would like to be accepted into the Industrial Design program. “I want to work in product design at a company like Apple or Sony or Ideo,” he explained.

Tyler Jones
Mechanical Engineering
White Bear Lake, Minnesota

Lauren Nelson
Chemical Engineering
Austin, Minnesota

“I chose engineering at Iowa State because they have a great, well-developed engineering program that was also close to home,” said Lauren when asked why she chose Iowa State. As an E2020 Scholar she hopes to become a well-rounded engineer.

Lauren is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and participates in their car competition. She also belongs to the Society of Chemistry Undergraduate Majors and Women in Science and Engineering. After college, she would like to work as a chemical engineer in Europe for a few years. “I think that would be an amazing experience and I could see another country’s perspective on engineering,” explained Lauren.

Alexandra Olivares
Biological Systems Engineering
Dubuque, Iowa

“Iowa State’s Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering is fourth in the country, so that’s why I chose Iowa State,” explained Alexandra. As an E2020 Scholar she is looking forward to learning about innovations in engineering and especially about those in biosystems engineering.

Alexandra is a member of the Society of Women Engineers, Biological Sciences Club, Engineering Student Council, American Society of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, and Future Leaders in Engineering. She enjoys meeting people, working out and playing soccer. Upon graduation, Alexandra is considering pursuing a PhD in a specific area of biorenwables.

Caitlin O’Loughlin
Civil Engineering
Kelley, Iowa

“I chose engineering at Iowa State because I was interested in structures and because Iowa State has a great engineering program and is close to home,” explained Caitlin when asked why she chose Iowa State. She anticipates the E2020 Scholars Program will provide a support group that not only encourages her to reach her goals, but also to expose her to “some real-world experience” in engineering.

Caitlin enjoys meeting new people and getting involved in various activities. She is a member of the Civil Ladies, Honors, Medieval Fighting Club, and Women in Science and Engineering. She also likes to play soccer, read, draw, and do crafts, including origami. Caitlin hopes to also major in Design Studies and Chinese. She also plans to study overseas at least once as well as obtain internships for her sophomore and junior summers.

Michael Rosenthal
Construction Engineering
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Michael chose Iowa State because its engineering programs are nationally ranked. The facts that the campus is beautiful and it is close, but not too close, to home also played a role. As an E2020 Scholar, Michael expects to be challenged “to think outside the box to solve complex problems while coming together and working in a group to do so.” He is also majoring in Spanish and looks forward to becoming fluent during study abroad.

Michael is involved in activities with The Salt Company, Habitat for Humanity, Students for Life, and intramurals. “I like playing almost any kind of sport,” he noted. Upon graduation, Michael is considering working in another country to help give poverty-stricken families homes.

Mark Sanocki
Mechanical Engineering
Hudson, Wisconsin

Its reputation as having one of the nation’s top engineering programs drew Mark to Iowa State. He also “loved the campus and felt it was a great fit.” Mark has already found that the E2020 Scholars Program has helped him realize the overall goals for future engineers, and he looks forward to brainstorming ideas with his fellow scholars for ideas to begin creating change now.

Mark is Director of Philanthropy and Events for the Inter Residence Hall Association. He is also involved in E-Week and is on the VEISHEA special event committee. He enjoys sports and spending time with friends. Upon graduation, Mark plans to continue his education with an eye toward someday owning his own engineering firm.

Samantha Saurbrei
Chemical Engineer
Urbandale, Iowa

Jasmine Stovall
Civil Engineering
Omaha, Nebraska

Jasmine chose engineering at Iowa State not only because it is an outstanding program, but also because she knew that the opportunities with an engineering degree are endless. “I knew I wanted to be an engineer because I am a problem solver. My main interest is to work with other young minds to invent, innovate, and develop new ideas that will help create a sustainable world,” she explained. As an E2020 Scholar Jasmine expects to work with her fellow scholars on tasks that help prepare them for real-life problems. “I think the E2020 program will connect what I’m learning in regular classes to the real world,” she stated.

Jasmine is enjoying the diversity of Iowa State and meeting new people. She also loves to travel, read, play the drums, listen to music, and dance. She is a member of the Society of Women Engineers, Black Student Alliance, and the Hip Hop Club. Upon graduation, Jasmine plans to go to graduate school.

TRANSFER STUDENTS

Taylor Anderson
Software Engineering
Storm Lake, Iowa
Transferred from Iowa Central Community College

Taylor chose Iowa State because of the College of Engineering’s reputation as well as the way the rest of the university fit what he was looking for. When asked what his expectations for the E2020 Scholars Program were, he answered, “I expect the program to help me develop an innovative way of thinking.” After graduation, Taylor may pursue a graduate degree.

Andrew Beougher
Electrical Engineering
Slater, Iowa
Transferred from Des Moines Area Community College

Rebecca Briesmoore
Civil Engineering
Davenport, Iowa

Transferred from University of Iowa
“I chose engineering at Iowa State because it’s a great school for engineering. The students here all seemed wonderful,” explained Rebecca. She expects that being an E2020 Scholar will help her with a smooth transition to Iowa State. She also looks forward to learning about the four pillars of the program.

After graduation, Rebecca hopes to work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Rock Island and perhaps work on engineering projects around the world. She would also like to get a master’s degree and become a professional engineer.

Paul Dobbie
Mechanical Engineering
Prairie City, Iowa
Transferred from Des Moines Area Community College

When asked why he chose Iowa State engineering, Paul replied, “It is a nationally ranked program with a lot of opportunities beyond the classroom.” He sees the E2020 Scholars Program as a “great way to meet other engineers and learn about important challenges the world is facing.”

Jake Freebolin
Mechanical Engineering
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Transferred from Kirkwood Community College

Jake chose engineering at ISU because of its outstanding reputation for “being one of the greatest schools for engineering.” As an E2020 Scholar he expects to learn time management and study skills that will help him tackle the rigor of engineering. He is also looking forward to meeting new people in his same field.

Jake has worked for Rockwell Collins as a reliability co-op and will work as an industrial manufacturing co-op during the summer of 2011. “My plan after college is to land a job as a mechanical engineer somewhere within Rockwell.”

Edwin C. Geerdes
Mechanical Engineering
Everly, Iowa
Transferred from Iowa Lakes Community College

Andrew Judkins
Aerospace Engineering
Melbourne, Iowa
Transferred from Marshalltown Community College

Andrew chose Iowa State because of its good reputation for engineering and it was close to home. When asked what his expectations for the E2020 Scholars Program were, he answered, “I expect to learn more about the problems this world faces and how I can help solve these problems with engineering.”

Joseph Kopacz

Mechanical Engineering
Davenport, Iowa
Transferred from Scott Community College

Joe began looking at Iowa State while he was still attending Scott Community College. “I had several positive experiences during visits organized through Mary Darrow and the Engineering Admissions Partnership Program,” he noted. These, coupled with Iowa State’s reputation in engineering led Joe to campus. His interests lie in nuclear and renewable power generation and infrastructure. Joe looks forward to thinking about engineering disciplines in a broad and holistic manner with his E2020 counterparts.

In his free time Joe enjoys music, reading science fiction and fantasy, and traveling.

Kurt Lundeen

Mechanical Engineering
Davenport, Iowa
Transferred from Scott Community College

Kurt chose Iowa State’s engineering program because, as he explained, “It has a great reputation and offers degrees in a variety of engineering disciplines. I hope to further develop my macro-scale problem-solving skills so that I may one day contribute to the solution of a significant world problem.”

Kurt’s interests include robotics, space exploration, and energy generation.

“Iowa State’s Team LunaCY ready to repeat last year’s top results at NASA competition”

Elizabeth Mally
Civil Engineering
Marion, Iowa
Transferred from Kirkwood Community College

“When I visited the college for the first time it felt like home. The atmosphere and people were very welcoming,” explained Elizabeth when asked why she chose Iowa State engineering. She is looking forward to meeting new people and getting involved in many different activities. To that end, as an E2020 Scholar she plans to network with other scholars. She also sees her fellow scholars as an available resource to answer questions that may arise.

By the time she graduates, Elizabeth hopes to have landed a full time position in a stable engineering firm.

Margaret Mishler
Industrial Engineering
Solon, Iowa
Transferred from Kirkwood Community College

“I attended Iowa State for another degree and loved the school. When I chose to return to school for engineering, Iowa State’s outstanding engineering reputation made it an easy decision to return,” explained Margaret. As an E2020 Scholar she is looking forward to meeting other scholars as well as learning how the four pillars of the program fit into her choice of engineering majors.

Brittney Pavel
Aerospace Engineering
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Transferred from Iowa Central Community College

“I enjoy a challenge, and Iowa State is close to home,” stated Brittney when asked why she chose Iowa State engineering. As an E2020 Scholar, she looks forward to the support the group will provide. Brittney also looks forward to meeting new people.

Sara Scheiding

Industrial Engineering
Iowa Falls, Iowa
Transferred from Ellsworth Community College

“Where else do you go in Iowa for engineering?” Sara posed this rhetorical question when asked why she chose Iowa State engineering. After working closely with engineers at Learjet in Kansas City, Sara knew engineering was what she wanted to do. A visit to campus and a discussion with her advisor-to-be, Devna Popejoy-Sheriff, gave Sara the information she needed to know Iowa State was where she wanted to be.

Sara works with RISE and trains for 5K walk-a-thons in her spare time.

Jeremy G. Sprecher

Biological Systems Engineering
Boone, Iowa
Transferred from Des Moines Area Community College

Jeremy chose Iowa State because it has a “great reputation in engineering and agriculture.” When asked about his expectations for the E2020 Scholars Program he stated, “I expect
the program to help boost my confidence in my own ideas because the principles of the E2020 program blend well with my engineering field.” Jeremy is looking forward to applying problem-solving skills and testing new technology.

After completing his degree, Jeremy plans to develop an economically and environmentally sustainable solution for the nitrate leaching problems of tile-drained farmland.

Benjamin Swenson
Construction Engineering
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Transferred from Kirkwood Community College

Once Ben knew he wanted to be an engineer, he was persuaded by family and friends to look into Iowa State’s engineering program. He discovered that the Construction Engineering program here is number one in the nation, and determined Iowa State was where he wanted to be. As an E2020 Scholar he is looking forward to gaining leadership skills and developing his self-confidence. He is also looking forward to meeting many new people.

In the future Ben would like to be involved in residential construction. “Further down the line, I think I would really enjoy buying old rundown houses, renovating them, and then selling them for profit.”

Past Scholars

Carrie Demmon
Elementary Education
DeWitt, Iowa
E2020 Scholar 2010-2011 in Chemical Engineering

Carrie recognizes that engineering provides great job opportunities and chose Iowa State because it has “one of the best (if not the best) engineering programs around the Mid-West.” She believes the E2020 Scholars Program will help prepare engineering students for success in college and beyond. She looks forward to internship opportunities and studying abroad.

As a student and as a member of Women in Science and Engineering and the Freshman Honors Program, Carrie enjoys meeting new people. She also likes to swim, watch movies, and listen to music. Upon obtaining her degree, Carrie hopes to work for a pharmaceutical company. “It’s a big dream, but I believe it’s better to have a dream than to have no idea,” stated Carrie.

Hannah McCuddin
Psychology
Solon, Iowa
Transferred from Kirkwood Community College
E2020 Scholar 2010-2011 in Aerospace Engineering