2018 – 2019

Scholar Profiles

Christopher Beck

Materials Science and Engineering

Christopher is from Germantown, Wisconsin.

Christopher is classified as a junior and is pursuing a double major in Material Engineering and Geology. During the 2017-18 school year he undertook materials research for Dr. Vitalij Pecharsky at the Ames Laboratory and during the 2018 summer was an intern at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center for two months. He indicates that he has very much enjoyed the Geology courses he has taken and is looking forward to the advanced Materials Engineering courses he will undertake beginning Fall semester 2018.

Tyler Cascalho Cox 

Aerospace Engineering

Tyler is from Rochester, Minnesota.

Tyler is a sophomore and is pursuing a degree in Aerospace Engineering. He was named to the Spring Semester 2018 Dean’s List.

Erin Donaldson

Chemical and Biological Engineering

Erin is from Plymouth, Minnesota.

Erin is a sophomore majoring in Chemical Engineering. She indicates that she has known she wanted to be an engineer for most of her life and chose Chemical Engineering as the result of enjoying the chemistry classes she took during high school. During the summer of 2018 she undertook an internship with Medtronic in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, working with batteries used to power medical devices. At Iowa State, she is a member of the Women’s Lacrosse Team, which was ranked 16th in the nation in 2017-18. During the Spring semester 2018 she joined Alpha Sigma Kappa, a social sorority for Women in Technical Studies.

Madison Drent

Materials Science and Engineering

Madison is from Lakeville, Minnesota.

Madison is a sophomore majoring in Materials Engineering and minoring in both Biomedical Engineering and Spanish. She wants to pursue a career in health care and her long-term goal is to develop artificial organs and prosthetics to help people in Spanish-speaking countries. During the summer 2018 she participated in the Iowa State University study abroad program in Valencia, Spain, completing her Spanish minor. She has been named to the Dean’s list both Fall 2017 and Spring 2018. She is also the Freshman Council Special Events chair.

Matthew Green

Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering

Matthew is from Riceville, Iowa.

Matthew is a sophomore majoring in Construction Engineering with a minor in General Business. In addition to academics he is involved in many Iowa State University organizations and clubs including: the National Home Builders Association (NAHB), Association of General Contractors (AGC), American Public Works Association (APWA), and Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA). He credits these clubs/ student organizations as having been very beneficial in helping him learn more about construction engineering and get hands-on experience. Following graduation he plans to move back to northern Iowa to pursue by career as a superintendent or project manager.

 

Victoria Hennessey

Mechanical Engineering

Victoria is from Homer Glen, Illinois.

Victoria is a sophomore majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Sales Engineering. In addition to academics, she is treasurer of her hall council, the United Houses of Helser, and a conversation leader in English Together, where she assists international students with speaking English. She is a member of WiSE (Women in Science and Engineering) and SWE (Society of Women Engineers). She is also a member of the suspension team for the Iowa State University SAE Formula car. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in product design and manufacturing and  may subsequently explore engineering in sales.

Megan Hill

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Megan is from Coralville, Iowa.

Megan is currently a sophomore majoring in Software Engineering. Although she lived close to Iowa City and the University of Iowa, she choose to attend Iowa State University because of its excellent College of Engineering and the opportunities available in the Software Engineering program. She enjoys working on web development and during the summer 2018 she had an internship at HyVee’s Technology Department working on the web and mobile application development team.

Kate Jaros

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Kate is from Saint Charles, Iowa.

Kate is classified as a junior and is pursuing a degree in biological systems engineering within the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department. In addition to her academic studies she is the Social Chair of Campbell House in Martin Hall.

Elisabeth Jasper

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Elisabeth is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Elizabeth is a sophomore majoring in Computer Engineering. During the summer 2018 she worked as a camp counselor on a US Navy Base in Yokosuka, Japan. She is an Electrical, Computer, and Software Engineers as Leaders (ECSEL) Scholar. She is Academic Chair of her residence hall council, the United Houses of Helser. She also volunteers 5 hours a month at ISU Reiman Gardens and is employed as an IT worker for the Computer Science Department. Following graduation she hopes to work in industry par time and spend the rest of her time as a computer science and technology teacher for elementary and high school aged children.

 

Brina Kraft

Aerospace Engineering

Brina is from Muscatine, Iowa.

Brina is a Sophomore majoring in Aerospace Engineering. Following graduation she hopes to be employed as an engineer in an aerospace company.

 

Thomas Lechtenberg

Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering

Thomas is from Ottawa, Illinois.

Thomas is a sophomore majoring in Industrial Engineering. He is a member of Iowa State University Chapter of the Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers (IISE), serving as its Sponsorship Chair.

 

Bethany Lippert

Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering

Bethany is from Steamboat Rock, Iowa.

Bethany is a sophomore majoring in Industrial Engineering. For the 2018-19 school year is one of 20 Iowa State University students selected to participate in the Vermeer International Leadership Program, a year-long, in-depth cohort leadership experience in which students learn how companies operate on an international scale. Following graduation she hopes to work in the human factors area of Industrial Engineering and eventually become and engineering manager.

 

Victoria Martin

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Victoria is from Marengo, Illinois.

Victoria is pursuing a degree in Biosystems Engineering within the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department. In addition to academics she is the Recycling Chair for her residence, Young House in Maple Hall. Following graduation she hopes to pursue a career that allows her to shape the world into a better place and preserve the earth for future generations.

Luke McGrath

Mechanical Engineering

Luke is from Woodridge, Illinois.

Luke is a sophomore majoring in Mechanical Engineering. In addition to his academic studies he is the President of his residence, Firkins House in Helser Hall.

 

Joshua Middleton

Materials Science and Engineering

Joshua is from Plymouth, Minnesota.

Joshua is a sophomore majoring in Materials Engineering. He was influenced to study engineering by his father, who has a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering, an uncle who is a Mechanical Engineer and his grandfather who is a Civil Engineer. Growing up he heard stories about his grandfather being able to create engineer solutions to problems that had not previously been solved. Following graduation he hopes to follow the example set by his grandfather and work to create solutions to engineering problems.

 

Rebecka Ogle

Mechanical Engineering

Rebecca is from Gravity, Iowa.

Rebecka ia a sophomore majoring in Mechanical Engineering and is planning to minor in Agricultural Systems management. She is employed as an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Iowa State University Hashemi Laboratory for Bio Microfluidics and Optofluidic Systems where she assist with biomechanical research. She is also a member of MAVRIC, an interdisciplinary group of students working to design, create, and complete a Mars rover in the University Rover Challenge, where she is a member of the Mechanical Team. Following graduation she hopes to be employed in company such as John Deere building or testing (breaking) tractors or other machines.

 

Danielle Rodriguez

Chemical and Biological Engineering

Danielle is from Chicago, Illinois.

Danielle is a sophomore majoring in Chemical Engineering.

Nolan Rogers

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Nolan is from Woodbury, Minnesota.

Nolan is a sophomore majoring in Electrical Engineering. In addition to his academic studies he is Treasurer of his residence, Beyer House in Welch Hall.

Hannah Schaffer

Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering

Hannah is from West Des Moines, Iowa.

Hannah is classified as a Junior in Civil Engineering and has an environmental specialization. She is in the Honors program and Fall semester 2018 will co-lead the introduction seminar for incoming freshman, introducing them to the honors program and make sure they understand the requirements. She is also a member the Iowa State University student chapter of Engineers Without Borders serving on the Executive Committee and in Fall semester 2018 will lead the program for new members. She is very interested in hydrology and water treatment, and hopes to explore these areas more while at Iowa State. Following graduation she hopes to pursue a career that help build a society that is more sustainable.

Jaclyn Simons

Chemical and Biological Engineering

Jaclyn is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Jaclyn is a Sophomore in Chemical Engineering. In addition to academics she is the Intramural Chair for her residence, Turner House in Elm Hall. She is in the Honors program and works in the Office of Enrollment Services assisting with Orientation and New Student Programs. Following graduation she hopes to pursue a career in developing of pharmaceuticals and biomedical materials that help make peoples lives easier and less painful.

Alex Winter

Aerospace Engineering

Alex is from Dallas Center, Iowa.

Alex in a sophomore majoring in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Astronomy. In addition to academics he is a member of the Flying Cyclones and serves as its Fly-In Chair. He is the Academic Chair for his residence, Kimball House in Friley Hall. He has also been a member of the Boeing Electric Flight project which is exploring the viability of an all-electric commercial aircraft, where he is a member of the Aircraft Design Team. He plans to graduate in the spring of 2021 and has not yet decided on a career path, but wants to be involved in the innovation of technologies that help people throughout the world.

 

 Mia Wright

Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering

Mia is from Dunlap, Illinois.

Mia is a sophomore majoring in Civil Engineering with an environmental focus. She is the Recycling Chair for her residence, O’Bryan House in Friley Hall. After graduating from Iowa State, she hopes to move to the west coast and apply her education in ways to help support the environment and local communities.

 

Cole Yoder

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Cole is from Kalona, Iowa.

Cole is a Sophomore majoring in Agricultural Engineering.

 

Abigail Zimmerman

Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering

Abigail is from Coralville, Iowa.

Abigail is a sophomore majoring in Industrial Engineering. She on the Development Committee for Iowa State University Dance Marathon and a member of the Iowa State University Women’s Soccer Club. She was an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the IMSE department spring semester 2018 where she looked into the benefits of visual aids when trying to understand complex engineering and calculus related concepts. During the summer 2018 she worked as a Project Intern for Edge Commercial, a construction management firm in the Des Moines area, where she focused on improving company safety by identifying trends in non-compliance to safety standards. After graduation she plans on getting a Masters degree in Industrial Engineering, a MBA, or a graduate degree in another related field.