Meet Our Undergraduates
Tucker Adams
Civil Engineering, 2024
Tucker Adams (BCE 2024) was the student speaker for his class at the 2024 winter graduation celebration in CEGE. His speech was impressive, as are many things about him.
Brian Balquist
Environmental Engineering, 2024
Balquist often says, “I love wastewater!” His interest started when he visited a wastewater treatment plant in high school. He determined that is what he wanted to study. As an environmental engineering major, Balquist heard about wastewater surveillance used to detect Covid-19 levels. “It was cool that there was a brand-new breakthrough in the field that I am studying right now. Then I thought, ‘they are only really using this in one narrow lane. This has got to be more widely applicable.’ So, I started researching.
Read about Brian Balquist and his environmental business idea
Anthony (AJ) Tabura
Civil Engineering, Transportation 2023
Over his time in CEGE, AJ received multiple scholarships, including a Sommerfeld Scholarship and the Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik and Associates Scholarship. He was especially proud to receive the John J. Connors Scholarship, which supports CEGE undergraduate students who are actively engaged in the college community or community outreach activities. And AJ is certainly engaged.
Chandler Lallak
Civil Engineering, Transportation 2023
The main responsibility of the ASCE Vice President is coordinating the ASCE UMN Career Fair. It is completely student-led, and Chandler Lallak was the engine that made it happen in the fall of 2022. His duties included everything from inviting employers to participate in the Career Fair to ordering lunch. Things went very smoothly, a testament to Chandler’s organizational skills.
Ellie Longar and Madison Haydn-Myer
Geoengineering 2023
The U is a big place, but two students discovered a small community within their college. Ellie Longar and Madison Haydn-Myer are both juniors in geoengineering and plan to graduate spring 2023. CEGE had a chance to talk with them about finding their niches and their friends in geoengineering. The two had some classes together sophomore year, but had not gotten to know one another until they both interned at American Engineering Testing (AET), where they worked together testing soil or concrete at various construction sites. What really cemented their friendship, however, was a joint experience at field camp.
Martha Burket
Environmental Engineering 2022
It was working in Bill Arnold’s lab that helped Martha Burket determine that she really wanted to do something to help the environment. Martha Burket, an environmental enginering major with a GIS minor and an honors student, plans to graduate this May. “I’ve always liked to see how the things I’m learning apply in real life. At a uni-versity, the main place you see that is in research.”
Justin Babcock
Civil Engineering 2022
Justin Babcock, a civil engineering major with a construction management minor, will be graduating in May 2022. Justin Babcock likes to be involved in a lot of activities. He knew he needed more than just classroom experiences to make the most of his college experience. So his first year on campus, he did what few first year students do, he got involved with American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Steel Bridge Team. “Being involved with ASCE has been one of my favorite things in CEGE.”
Renee Sailor
Civil Engineering, 2021
Renee Sailor has an analytical mind and an interest in science. Engineering has been a way for her to apply those natural attributes. Sailor was introduced to various types of engineering while attending a camp sponsored by the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). She began to explore how she could fit into those fields. Her interest in civil engineering was piqued when she began to realize the unseen but significant impact of infrastructure on our everyday lives.
Juan Lopez
Civil Engineering 2021
Juan Lopez transferred from a community college. Before coming to the U, Lopez completed an Urban Scholars internship, working with Fleet Services in a municipal public works department. Another part of the program was learning public speaking. “I realized it is a skill to become accustomed to speaking with people.”
Celina Tragesser
Civil Engineering, 2020
Celina Tragesser completed her degree online in the midst of the pandemic and began working full-time in August—also online. She was grateful to have had some previous experience working with the company in person as an intern. Here she shares her gratitude for the program and the scholarships she received.
Keane Nowlan
Civil Engineering 2020
Keane Nowlan developed an interest in structural engineering while working in his father's cabinet shop. Keane was involved in many activities on campus and travelled to Tanzania to work on a water project.
Kat Hetico
Geoengineering 2019
In addition to completing a rigorous major in geoengineering, Kat Hetico was a Division 1 athlete competing on the UMN Women’s Crew Team.