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Nebraska Engineering students are smart, funny and goal-oriented. Click on the photos above to learn more about students in our programs and their advice on how to succeed at becoming a "Husker for Life." |
Josh Gardner
Major: Industrial Engineering
Expected Graduation: May 2010
Hometown: York, NE
Tell us about your experiences in study abroad with UNL: I studied abroad in the summer of 2008 with the Associate Dean of the College of Engineering, Dr. Stephanie Adams, and a graduate student to San Cristobal, Venezuela. We conducted research into team structures at an engineering university in Venezuela. I had the time of my life while I was down there. I made many friends that I am still in contact with now and someday hope to visit again! We went from the middle of Caracas to the top of a 15,000 foot mountain to the middle of a dense jungle during my stay. This trip has given me pictures, songs, friends, and great memories that will last me a lifetime. This will be a trip that I will talk about for the rest of my life as a reference to the amazing opportunities given to students in the College of Engineering, if you just look around.
What advice do you have for incoming engineering students?
Look around you; the opportunities at this UNL are endless. Ask questions and learn everything you can about the university, the city, and life. Some of the best knowledge comes from the most unexpected places! Also, there are three simple rules you need to remember to reduce study time for exams: Go to class, pay attention, do your homework. I promise, if do these three things you will save time studying and be able to do more fun things with friends.
What do you like most about Nebraska Engineering?
My favorite part about engineering at Nebraska is the intimate feeling I share with my classmates. I feel that I know all of my classmates and can start up a conversation with most any about anything. We all share so many classes together it's hard not to get close to them. We've shared many laughs, long hours studying, and of course great times in our time together.
Describe the faculty.
The faculty members in my department are great. The ones that I have worked with have all sacrificed hours to benefit me and my schooling. I have done research with a couple of professors, and delving into their projects and research interests has shown me what it's like to be extremely passionate about your work.
How would you define the phrase "Husker for Life"?
For me, being a Husker for Life is easy to imagine. I was born into Husker Nation and no matter where my travels take me in this world, I will always bear Scarlet and Cream everywhere I go! I am proud of my university and can truly say that I am a Husker for Life.
Describe a good lesson learned while at UNL:
Attitude. Over the years I have picked up on something from my experiences, and nothing has taught me lessons better than through my experiences at UNL. I have learned that attitude is everything. Most anything that is fun, exciting, embarrassing, frustrating, or exhilarating come from your attitude. I have learned that things I would have never thought of as fun are actually a blast with the right attitude. I never thought that spending Spring Break volunteering in Mississippi and Louisiana would be fun, but I've gone twice and am planning to go again! Going to class is actually enjoyable because I go to class knowing that I am going to learn something new, and that is always exciting to me. When I say that my week is going to be awful from exams, homework, other obligations, it usually is; but if I say that I will make the most of it, I will find a way to have a good time throughout the hectic activities surrounding me. I love the life lessons I've learned since setting out on my own, but the most beneficial and satisfying to me is always maintain a positive attitude.
Karri Huisman
Major: Computer Engineering
Expected Graduation: May 2011
Hometown: Omaha, NE
Tell us about your progress in computer science and engineering at UNL:
By credits, I am a senior computer engineering student; however, I still have two and a half years left of college. Many of my courses have been challenging, and I've had many late nights (sometimes never getting to sleep at all), but I know in the end, all of the hard work will be worthwhile. I work in the Computer Science and Engineering Student Resource Center where I am able to help students with any problems they may have related to their homework. Last summer, I had a software engineering internship at Cerner Corp., in Kansas City, Mo. In my free time, I participate in intramural sports, and last year I was honored as the UNL Female Intramural Athlete of the Year.
What advice do you have for incoming engineering students?
While a quick e-mail or 10 second conversation after class may get your grade sorted out or your question answered, you'll be much more successful in college if you take the time to go into your teachers' office hours and actually get to know them a little bit.
Why are engineers so cool?
Engineers are cool because we rule the world. Everyone believes that the world would collapse without us (which it would), so they are willing to pay us the highest salaries to play with the coolest toys. If someone ever asks what I'm working on, I can spout off a few basic ideas from class, and because they have no idea what I'm talking about, they assume I'm a genius.
Describe a good lesson learned while at UNL.
When I was in my freshman calculus class, I was too afraid to ask questions because I felt they were silly. I went into the first exam with the questions lingering in my head and did terribly. Afterward, I went to talk to the professor and discovered that my confusion was simply a difference in notation between this class and my high school classes, and if I had swallowed my pride earlier, I would've done a lot better on the exam. Basically, there are no silly questions if it means the difference between confusion and understanding.
Ashley Grace
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation: December 2008
Hometown: Omaha, NE
Tell us about your experiences as a woman in engineering:
From the start of my freshman year, I became heavily involved in the Society of Women Engineers chapter here at UNL, where I've held various positions from secretary to president. Being involved in this group has helped me to network with professional women engineers and to prepare myself for a professional career. I would definitely recommend this group to incoming female engineers; it helps knowing you're not the only female engineer out there.
What advice do you have for incoming engineering students?
Don't be afraid to get involved right away. It will make it easier to succeed in college and it will also make your time spent here much more enjoyable. And there's always time for intramural sports...don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Where are you going in life?
I'm not sure where I'm eventually going in life, but this January I will start full time working for John Deere as a Test engineer after spending the past two summers interning for them. I'm pretty excited for the opportunity and love the fact that I'll be getting paid to do something I enjoy.
Describe a good lesson learned while at UNL.
Don't wait to start studying for an exam until two days before it. Start studying at least a week in advance, even if it's just a little bit each day. You'll find you're much more prepared and confident going into the exam.
Jacob Lewis
Major: Mechanical Engineering with Pre-Law
Expected Graduation: May 2011
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
About Me:
I first came to college with the idea to enter either the Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering programs here at UNL, with the intent to go into the computer industry. After a year of EE curriculum, I decided that it wasn't for me and chose to pursue my dream of working in the aviation industry. Consequently, I decided to switch into the Mechanical Engineering program. Thus far, my overall experience has been really fun yet challenging. It took a little bit of time to find what I wanted to do, but I am glad I am where I am today. Even with a year on a different curriculum, I feel that I still will be able to 'catch-up' in the MechE curriculum (with hard work and a few summer courses) and graduate in four years.
What advice do you have for incoming engineering students?
Have a good time, but don't slack off... and try not to procrastinate. Carpe diem!
What do you like most about Nebraska Engineering?
The best part about engineering at Nebraska is that you get the close-knit community and small school feel in the college while still attending a major research university. I always recognize someone I know (usually by name) when I walk through the engineering complex.
Describe your classmates.
All the students I've met in my engineering classes are really great people. They're all friendly and, overall, pretty cool. It's always good to know you can ask just about anyone around you for help if you need it, especially in the more challenging courses.
Describe the faculty.
The faculty in engineering are awesome. All the professors in the college I've had are really knowledgeable and always nice. They all want to help you understand the topics covered in their course and succeed in school and beyond.
Why are engineers so cool?
Engineers are the coolest majors because they are smart, fun and get paid the most out of college.
How would you define the phrase "Husker for Life"?
When you become part of a great tradition, you can never turn back. Once a Husker, always a Husker.
Where are you going in life?
At this point, I have two possible destinations. I would either like to take my MechE degree and go into the aerospace industry and work toward the future of aviation and space flight, or continue in school and apply the critical thinking components of engineering to a career in law.
Describe an interesting learning experience in a student group.
The best experience I have had in college, so far, is the Engineering Study Abroad program in Spain. Not only was I able to see historic artifacts and amazing feats of engineering from the past, I made a whole group of new friends in engineering.
Jose Salas III
Major: Electronics Engineering
Expected Graduation: May 2009
Hometown: Fayetteville, NC
Tell us about your co-op/intern experiences while studying at UNL:
I worked for two summers in Research Triangle Park, N.C., as an intern for Nortel Networks. It was a very useful learning experience. I think the main lesson I learned was that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and after graduation I will never be poor again. Unless of course I make some bad financial decisions.
Describe the faculty.
The faculty members in the CEEN department are pretty interesting. One of my professors used to work at NASA and was at one time the smartest kid in Vietnam. Another professor plays bass guitar for a band. All of them are ridiculously smart too. Put it this way, if I wanted to buy an island and I needed a bunch of scientists (along with the farmers and doctors) for my new country to prosper, I'd take the CEEN faculty.
Why are engineers so cool?
I'm going to answer this question even though many people will disagree with the statement "engineers are cool." I think engineers are cool in their own way. I have met some of the most level-headed, progressive, open-minded people since I've started my college career. Maybe it's the massive amount of math and science that is required for this course of study, but engineers (in general) are just more logical than most. Sure, a majority of them don't fit the mold for what "cool" would mean to many people. But if you decide to not judge the book by the cover and get to know some of these students, you would be a better person for it.
Where are you going in life?
If you think about life as a playground, then I'm just getting up the rope ladder to that one higher part of the playground set. I think now is the point where I decide if I want to go on the twisty slide, the fireman's pole, or the bridge that shakes when you walk on it.
Sydney Schaaf
Major: Mechanical Engineering and Flute Performance
Expected Graduation: Hopefully May of 2012
Hometown: Derby, KS
Tell how you balance your interest in music along with studies in engineering at UNL:
The biggest challenge is to stay motivated, if you can keep your eye on the prize and are able to convince yourself that a double major is the best option for you, then you're set. Warning: several of your teachers, your academic advisers, and your peers will try to discourage you and dissuade you from attempting a double major. In the end it is YOUR decision, not theirs.
Schedule-wise, music and engineering work out really well because most of the engineering classes are in the morning and most of the music classes are in the afternoon and evening. It also helps that I like to stay really busy (if you're one of those people that only likes to have class three days a week from 9:30 a.m. to noon, then I probably wouldn't recommend a double major?). I probably average a few more credit hours per semester than most students, but most of the time it's nice to always have something I can be doing. I was lucky enough to test out of a few first-year music classes, so my freshman year was really engineering intense with Chemistry, Physics, and the Calculus sequence. This semester is the first time that I've felt as if music was not on the back burner, and I'm really enjoying that. I'm just really excited that I've been able to take my two passions and turn them into my career. Someday I hope to lead a superhero-esque lifestyle of engineer by day and musician by night (no mask though).
What advice do you have for incoming engineering students?
Most of the incoming engineering students were the best/smartest/valedictorian/science-student-of-the-year/etcetera at their high school. Rather than becoming discouraged by the fact that there is someone smarter than you, think of it as an opportunity to learn. Become that person's friend (Don't use and abuse them, but use your resources). Speaking of resources, find the resources on campus, and quick! The Math Resource Center will save your life during your Calc I and II projects, and the Chemistry Resource Center will help you finish your lab reports on time. And you know that stupid writing class they make all the college kids take (I don't know about you, but I became an engineer so I wouldn't have to take English ever again!) The Writing Assistance Center has people that will edit and provide suggestions for your paper. The best part? It's all free for you!
Describe your classmates.
My classmates are amazing! It's so exhilarating to be surrounded by a group of students with similar interests; students who alphabetize their DVDs (and maybe keep a record of them in an Excel spreadsheet? No? Just me?), make their sandwiches with the bread facing the same direction, and who know several digits of pi (3.1415926. How far can you go?). But seriously, my classmates have a really good grasp on the balance between academic preparation for classes and time to relax and unwind. Most of the people in my classes are really sociable (whoever said engineers couldn't communicate has never been to UNL) so it's nice to know that I'll always have someone to eat lunch with!
Nate Lowry
Major: Computer Engineering
Expected Graduation: May 2010
Hometown: Cairo, NE
What do you like most about Nebraska Engineering?
The people are extremely hard working, but really know how to have fun.
Why are engineers so cool?
Engineers can do anything. They are not scared by challenges and are very quick to surprise others with their non-engineering skills.
What advice do you have for incoming engineering students?
Take the craziest class you can find on the schedule at least once a semester. It gives you a true education and you deserve an easy and fun class every now and then.
What's a funny memory from your engineering classes?
The smell of burning plastic in the EE lab.
Describe a good lesson learned while at UNL.
Do everything you want to do now. (Start a band, do research, skydive, roadtrip... )
Wes Cammack
Major: Agricultural Engineering
Expected Graduation: May 2010
Hometown: DeWitt, NE
What advice do you have for incoming engineering students?
Stay on top of your studies. Engineering is an area one can't get behind in and catch up quickly. Concepts build upon one another as you progress through your major.
What do you like most about Nebraska Engineering?
Nebraska Engineering provides a lot of flexibility for students to decide what area fits them best. The college here is among the nation's best and is constantly working on the cutting edge of technology and real-world applications.
Where are you going in life?
I hope to work for a major machine design and manufacturing company, though in the long run I look to return home to my family's agricultural operation. Regardless of where I end up, I know I will constantly be using the tools and knowledge I acquired as a student-athlete here at Nebraska.
Brad Balogh
Major: Biological Systems Engineering
Expected Graduation: December 2010
Hometown: Monroe, MI
What do you like most about Nebraska Engineering?
Nebraska
Engineering provides an avenue for students to set themselves apart
from other engineers across the country by gaining both leadership and
research experience.
Describe your classmates and the faculty.
My classmates at Nebraska are
friendly, outgoing, and social. Definitely not your typical
engineering stereotype.
The faculty in Biological Systems
Engineering are the most personal that I have ever had. They know
everyone by name, are always there to answer questions, and extremely
knowledgeable about the field today. I couldn't have asked for a
better adviser.
Why are engineers so cool?
Engineers are cool because they
know not only how to use new technology, but also how it works and
ways to improve it.
How would you define the phrase "Husker for Life"?
A "Husker
for Life" is well educated, has countless resources throughout the
world, and will always bleed Husker Red!
Leila Knowles
Major: Architectural Engineering
Expected Graduation: Master of Architectural Engineering, May 2010
Hometown: Lincoln, NE
Tell us about your involvement in Emerging Green Builders:
I took some time off from school and lived in California in a house powered completely by solar energy. When I got back to Nebraska, I had a newfound passion for green building. With the help of a very talented architecture student at UNL, Nebraska Emerging Green Builders was born. We immediately got to work advocating the use of green building as well as educating students and young professionals. Over the past couple years, it has allowed me to be involved in many exciting projects. It has also led to learning opportunities and jobs.
One of my favorite aspects of Emerging Green Builders is that it incorporates so many different disciplines. A "green" or "sustainable" project requires a great deal of coordination by everyone involved: architects, contractors, facilities management, interior designers and all types of engineers. The members of Emerging Green Builders are students and young professionals in many different fields. It is a well balanced group. Sustainable building is a really exciting field right now. I feel lucky to be a part of it.
What advice do you have for incoming engineering students?
My advice is to not be in any hurry to get done with school. Take time off, study abroad or work while in school. It will make you a lot more balanced and you will learn more about what you want to do with your education. The more you know about what you want to do, the easier it is to do it.
Describe your classmates.
It is not common to find a group of students so involved in what they are learning. Everyone supplements their education with internships, conferences, research and student organizations. It is the genuine interest in engineering that makes Nebraska Engineering graduates extremely valuable and desirable to employers.
Where are you going in life?
Wherever I'm going, I know it will have something to do with sustainability. I have had the opportunity to be on the project owner side, the design side and am currently on the construction side. I would love to be involved in project management, research or education. Right now, I love everything I'm doing but can't wait to see where it leads.
Cassandra Johansen
Major: Chemical Engineering
Expected Graduation: May 2011
Hometown: Lincoln, NE
Tell us about your extracurricular activities while you are studying engineering at UNL:
My extracurricular activities include my two jobs. On average I work
about 25 hours a week. On weekends I am a front end manager at Bed
Bath and Beyond and during the week I teach dance classes at Studio 2.
Other than that I don't have a lot of free time, so the rest of it
is spent studying.
What advice do you have for incoming engineering students?
If at all possible take part in at least one of the study abroad
programs. Studying abroad is an amazing experience that lets you see
the world at a great price. Just a few days in another country
completely changes you. Plus, you get credit toward your degree.
Also, engineering is a global market so it is important to understand
other cultures and it will set you apart when applying for jobs and
internships.
What do you like most about Nebraska Engineering?
The best part of Nebraska Engineering is the wide range of
opportunities available. You have the ability to do research with
your professors, to travel the world with the study abroad programs,
and to join tons of clubs and organizations. With all these
opportunities it is hard to not get involved and make the most of your
college experience.
Describe a good lesson learned while at UNL.
The hardest things in life are the ones that are the most worth it.
Engineering classes are difficult and at times you will hate them, but
once you ace the test that you spent your entire weekend studying for,
it is completely worth it.
Shannon Killion
Major: Biological Systems Engineering
Expected Graduation: May 2009
Hometown: Kearney, NE
What advice do you have for incoming engineering students?
Get to know the upperclassmen and professors right away. They all have a wealth of knowledge and advice to share with you if you ask.
What do you like most about Nebraska Engineering?
I like the sense of community that exists between the faculty and students in the college. It is a great feeling to walk down the hall and have professors and other students greet you by name and show geniune concern for your well being as a person and a student.
Describe your classmates.
My classmates have become my family away from home. They are some of the most intelligent and fun people I have ever been around. We are constantly helping each other out, and always having fun.
Laura Langemeier
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation: December 2010
Hometown: West Point, NE
What advice do you have for incoming engineering students?
Talk to your neighbors and get involved. Everyone else will give you the advice you need about academics, keep up with your class work, talk to your professors, etc.; and this is all very important. My advice is to get to know the people around you. The people in your major tend to have generally the same interests. These people will be in all of your classes, be in all of your major-specific extracurriculars, and will be hitting major milestones at the same time such as getting your first real job. These people will be one of your greatest resource all through college and even after, not to mention a whole lot of fun along the way.
Describe your classmates.
Honestly, I think my classmates are cool, and the reason is because they gave up trying to be cool a long time ago. There isn't a single person majoring in engineering because it's "the cool thing to do." People are there because it is something they are genuinely interested in and want to do. Not only are engineers OK with their own "nerdiness," they appreciate it in the people around them. The people are real, they're genuine, and they're generally interested in helping those around them.
Where are you going in life?
I really don't know where I am going in life. I have some general ideas: I want to graduate, I want to get a good job, and I want to travel. Luckily for me, with a degree in engineering I can do pretty much anything I want. I have already completed one co-op in manufacturing engineering, and plan on completing one to two more internships before I graduate. From this I can decide what I want to do, and even then this country is graduating far fewer engineers than it needs in the workforce, so I will have my choice of where I want to work, and for whom I want to work. Everyone needs problem solvers, and as an engineer, that is what I will do. I have the opportunity to decide to work on the next new gadget everyone has to have, or designing infrastructure for a third world country. Getting a degree in engineering presents endless possibilities.
Describe an interesting learning experience in a student group.
As a member of Engineering without Borders, I am traveling to Madagascar this summer to help design a project to improve the lives of the indigenous people. People over there are dying from poor water quality, and I get to help change this. Through this project I have the chance to touch lives in a way that normally only doctors or other medical experts ever get. If I can change the world like this as an undergraduate engineering student at Nebraska, the possibilities during my lifetime are endless.
Grant Janousek
Major: Agricultural Engineering, Machine Design emphasis
Expected Graduation: December 2008
Hometown: Leigh, NE
Describe your progress in Agricultural Engineering.
Agricultural Engineering is an excellent program at UNL. The faculty and staff are very caring about the education you receive. You will not be left behind in this department. Ag Engineering gives you the opportunity to do hands-on engineering. Courses like Machine Design, Hydraulics and Instrumentation and Controls make the curriculum exciting. I actually look forward to going to classes like these!
There are so many opportunities with Ag Engineering. When students graduate, they go to companies like John Deere, CAT, Case New Holland, Lindsay Mfg., and the list is endless. I have had a great time not only in the classes, but with work and extracurricular activities. I work at the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory performing tractor test verification work as a student test technician. I have learned how to perform drawbar and PTO tests along with using instrumentation that collects the data. I have also been very active on the Quarter Scale Tractor Team. This extracurricular activity gives students an opportunity to use the information they've learned in the classroom and apply it to building a tractor. Each year a new tractor is designed and built by students for an international competition. Members learn how to fabricate parts, weld and test the tractors. This experience is priceless and employers look for experience like the Quarter Scale Tractor Team and working at the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory when interviewing for internship/full-time positions.
Where are you going in life?
I will graduate in December 2008 and I will then pursue an M.S. in Agricultural Engineering at UNL. I am very interested in diesel engine technology and will focus on the performance and testing of diesel engines. During the summer of 2009, I will return to John Deere Power Systems in Waterloo, Iowa for my third internship. I hope to end up at John Deere after I receive my master's degree.
Interesting learning experience:
Last year the Quarter Scale Tractor Team decided to build a 4-engine, 4-wheel drive tractor to be competitive. I was a co-captain along with Mark Tieszen and Will Corman. More than 20 students helped design and build this tractor, which was a large task. The tractor had to be 900 pounds without the operator. The engines alone were about 400 pounds. This was an engineering challenge to design a tractor that used materials efficiently. The tractor was completed and placed sixth among 30 universities in the competition in Peoria, Ill.
Advice for incoming engineering students:
The curriculum is challenging but if you work hard it is well worth your time. The initial classes when you are a freshman or sophomore are general classes that you need in order to understand the upper level classes. Once you're through these classes, it will all come together and you will be on your way to a promising career in engineering with your degree from UNL.
