CEGE Spring & Summer Graduates

Trey Atkinson

MS Civil Engineering

Trey plans to begin a full-time position after graduation. He says he will iss his friend in the Keweenaw once he leaves Michigan Tech.

Squire Augustine

MS Civil

After graduation, Squire is on track to secure his Professional Engineer (PE) license at the start of January. He says, "I will continue working for Sunrise Engineering as a project engineer focused on water resources. I plan to enjoy my free evenings by spending time with my wife and playing bagpipes. As an online student, I did not spend time on campus. However, that did not stop me from feeling a part of the student body. I will miss collaborating with fellow students and professors on the various school projects. I am thankful that Michigan Tech was able to help me fulfill my dream of pursuing higher education while balancing full time work. I would like to recognize several people. Foremost is my wife, Savannah, who supported me throughout the last couple of years while I was working on my degree. I would also like to thank the civil engineering faculty, specifically Dr. Barkdoll, Dr. Watkins, and Dr. Zhang, for their instruction and support. Michigan Tech was an excellent choice for me, allowing me to pursue higher education while juggling a full-time job and life responsibilities."

Rachel Blaine

BS Construction Management

Rachel will begin work for a construction company as a superintendent after graduation. She says she will miss her friends and would like to recognize Kerri Sleeman as a faculty member that made a difference while she was at Tech.

Solomon Boerschinger

BS Civil Engineering

Solomon will begin work as a Transportation Engineer at MDOT, Superior Region after graduation. He will miss the activities susch as MTU Hockey, snowboarding, broomball, and MTU Basketball. Solomon is thankful to Michigan Tech for the real-life examples and experiences for hands on learning. He wanted to recognize Dr. Kris Mattila and Zack Freding for making a difference during his time at Tech.

Sean Byrne

BS Environmental Engineering

After graduation, Sean wants to travel around the country to see more of the wildlands of the United States, saying " I have seen much of the U.S., but there so many cool environments I have not explored yet. I will miss living in the place where many of my best friends and memories were made. Whether it was playing broomball, exploring the Keweenaw, going to hockey, or hanging out with my friends in the dorms, Michigan Tech was a place with a culture and history that was unique to anywhere else. I want to thank Michigan Tech for providing me with an education that was challenging, but extremely meaningful. The personal and professional skills I have learned during my education at Michigan Tech will guide me for the rest of my life." Sean would like to recognize Professor Alexandra Morrison, saying "I took a few philosophy classes with Dr. Morrison, and each class always drastically changed my perspective on the world. While I am an engineering major, the philosophy I learned at Tech was one of the most transformative aspects of my education. "

Christian Dahnke

BS Construction Management

Christian will be moving to Dallas, Texas for his first full-time position after gradution. There he will be a project coordinator, working on building glass coverings and curtain walss for skyscrapers, saying "I will get to be a part of building those gigantic glass monoliths I always looked at with wonder when I was a child." Christian says he will miss his Fraternity, the camaraderie, and all of the late night adventures. He is thankful to Michigan Tech for being a chapter in his life where he truly found himself, and shaped who he became. Christian wanted to recognize Kerri Sleeman, Professor Sheila Milligan, and Professor Junhong Min who had a profound and very positive impact on his college career. He says, "I only regret that I couldn't stay here a little bit longer, despite being here longer than most."

Sara Fitzgibbon

MS Integrated Geospatial Technology

After graduation, Sara plans to find a job in the industry, hopefully working in a GIS role at an engineering company. She says she will miss the beautiful area to explore. Sara is thankful to Michigan Tech for providing her with opportunities to present her work at multiple conferences. She specifically would like to recognize her advisor, Dr. Jae Sung Kim for making her education at Tech impactful and being able to expand her knowlege in GIS and remote sensing.

Angelle Gilbert

MS Civil Engineering

Angelle will begin work at a design firm to design buildings after graduation. She says she will miss the area and being 20 minutes from Lake Superior and is thankful to Tech for the lifelong friends she has made.

Violet Hung

PhD Civil Engineering

Violet says, "I will miss the friendly community and all the supportive staff who helped me grow both academically and personally during my time at Michigan Tech. I am thankful for the supportive faculty and staff, the research opportunities, and the environment that helped me grow. Thank you to Dr. Audra Morse, Dr. Qinli Dai, Dr. Pasi Lautala, Dr. Laura Brown, Dr. Colin Brooks, Kiko, Angela, Shelle, and Amanda for their support and guidance. I would also like to thank Dr. Deb and Karen from the Graduate School, and Mariana and Jamie from the IPS Office for their help and encouragement during my time at Michigan Tech. I truly appreciate the opportunities, support, and sense of community that helped me grow during my time at Michigan Tech.""

Irene Ibyishaka

MS Civil Engineering

After graduation, Irene plans to start working full-time in civil engineering, continue building her technical skills and progress toward becoming a licensed engineer. She says, "I’ll definitely miss the people, the snow, and the northern lights. Michigan Tech has a unique atmosphere that makes those experiences really special. I’m really grateful for the professors and the welcoming Houghton community. They’ve made my time at Michigan Tech meaningful. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mariana Nakashima from IPS for always taking the time to discuss challenges with me and offering thoughtful, practical advice. I am also deeply grateful to Melissa Michaelson from Career Services for her continuous guidance and for consistently helping me review and improve my resume. Their support has truly made a meaningful difference in my professional growth. I’m grateful for the opportunities and experiences I’ve had at Michigan Tech. It’s been a place that challenged me, supported me, and helped me grow both personally and professionally. "

Carmenia Kamah

MS Civil Engineering

Carmenia will begin work and gain more experience in her field after graduation. She says she will miss living as one big family at Michigan Tech. Carmenia is thankful for love, family and knowledge and would like to recognize Zack Fredin, saying "Zack Fredin, he is my favorite professor. I just want to thank him for everything."

Johnny Kocis

BS Civil Engineering

After graduation, Johnny will pursue work as a Construction Estimator. He says he will miss the outdoors of the Upper Peninsula. Johnny would is thankful to Michigan Tech for the excellent staff and faculty with the CEGE Department, specifically Kris Mattila and Julie Ross.

Jacob Nabozny

BS Civil Engineering

Jacob will work and travel as much as he can after graduation. He says he will miss Winter Carnival and the unbelievable amounts of snow that we get here in Houghton. Jacob will miss all the friends he has met and experiences that wouldn't have been available unless he was here. Jacob adds, "The Huskies Pep Band has been a huge part of my time while I've been here and without them I would not be the person I am today."

Lukas Pfau

BS Civil Engineering

After graduation, Lukas will begin work as a Structural Engineer in Traverse City, MI while simutaneously serving in the Michigan Army National Guard. He says he will miss "The active and outdoorsy sport of the student body." Lukas is thankful to Tech for the mentorship and guidance received from professors, faculty, and classmates. He says, "While now retired" he would like to recognize "Mrs. Colleen Klausner was the backbone of the MTU Army ROTC program for many years and has positively impacted the lives of many students during her time at Michigan Tech."

Pascal Pouokam

MS Civil Engineering

After graduation, Pascal plans to pursue a career in structural engineering, focusing on either federal agency roles, such as with the US Air Force Civil Engineering Corps or in the private sector EPC firms that specialize in structural design and analysis. He says, "I will miss the rigorous coursework, hands-on projects, and the supportive, collaborative community of faculty and classmates that helped me grow as a graduate structural engineer and apply theory to real-world problems. I am grateful for the opportunity to deepen my expertise in structural engineering, gain hands-on experience with modern tools like AutoCAD, Revit, RISA 2D/3D, RAM Elements, MathCAD, and MATLAB, and benefit from guidance that has prepared me for professional licensure and advanced engineering roles. I would like to express my gratitude to my advisor, Dr. Raymond Swartz, and all my professors for their mentorship, support, and for fostering both my technical skills and professional growth."

Irelynn St. Louis

BS Environmental Engineering

Irelynn plans to take a two month breat to travel and spend time with family after graduation. Following that, she will begin her career in consulting as an Environmental Engineer with CDM Smith's water services group in Detroit. Irelynn will miss the tight-knit community at Michigan Tech. She says, "I’m thankful for the hands-on learning experience in the environmental engineering program and the professors who made learning engaging and meaningful."

Craig Tacey

MS Civil Engineering

After graduation, Craig will continute working with his current company as a structural engineer in Illinois. He will miss the engaging and informative courses at Michigan Tech, saying "Nearly everything I learned while working towards my degree is applicable to my engineering career. I am thankful for all the knowledge I gained from Michigan Tech, primarily regarding how to use and apply structural codes." Craig wanted to recognize Dr. Tess Ahlborn for making a difference for him while at Tech, saying "I had a Zoom call with her while evaluating several different universities for my graduate degree, and my conversations with her are largely the reason why I selected Michigan Tech. She was also my professor for a couple of my classes and providing quality content while fostering a welcoming environment. I will sincerely miss taking classes at Michigan Tech, and I am grateful for the experiences I had!"

Luke Tennes

BS Construction Management

After graduation, Luke will work in a full-time position for a contrator in southern Michigan. He will miss the people, the area, and the Michigan Tech community. Luke says he is thankful to Tech for preparing students for the real world and teaching stuents how to think.

Preston Toutant

BS Construction Management

Preston will begin work as a traveling Project Engineer after graduation. He says he will miss the KBC and is thankful for the people at Michigan Tech. He would like to recognize his family for making a difference while he was at Tech.

Kathy Tran

MS Integrated Geospatial Technology

After graduation, Kathy will apply for a promotion at DOT and buy a house! Seh says she will miss the funn banter with her cohort and other students. Kathy says she is thankful for MTU's faculty and staff, specifically Dr. Jae Sung Kim. Kathy says, "Despite being a remote M.S. student, MTU’s faculty, staff, and students were engaging and made me feel like the distance was insignificant. I’m proud and glad to be a Husky!"

Kate Vizanko

BS Civil Engineering

Kate will beging work with WisDOT after graduation. She says she iwll miss the Women's Club Hockey Team and is thankful to Michigan Tech for teaching her ho to learn.

Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial engineering