Where are you from?
I was raised in Elgin, Iowa. My parents now live in Hawkeye, Iowa.
Why did you choose Kirkwood?
Kirkwood is arguably the best transfer school in Iowa for engineers. They have a strong relationship with Iowa State, which is my ultimate destination. My older brother followed this same course for Mechanical Engineering.
What is your major and how did you choose it?
I am currently majoring in engineering with the goal of Industrial Engineering at ISU. I decided to pursue IE because this branch of engineering emphasizes maximizing the efficiency of a process—something which has always piqued my fascination.
What has been your proudest moment at Kirkwood?
During finals week of my very first semester here, I was preparing for my Calculus 1 final exam. Since it was my very first finals week, I was very nervous, but the huge excitement came after that test. When the grade came in, I had a perfect score.
What are your plans after Kirkwood?
After Kirkwood, I will transfer to ISU in the fall of 2022 for Industrial Engineering. Kirkwood has been an excellent foundation for this transition.
What inspires or motivates you?
I have always had a passion for excellence and high standards for myself. Whenever I make a mistake, I strive not to be weakened from that but strengthened for next time. I want to do the very best with the tools and interests that God has blessed me with.
Tell us about who you are outside of Kirkwood – hobbies, family, other interests, etc.
Outside of Kirkwood, my main hobby is Bible Quizzing. This is a club I have participated in since sixth grade. Similar to Jeopardy, teams memorize chapters or even books of the New Testament at a time and compete together. For six years, I led the Iowa team to the national tournament, and we took third place in 2021, my last year. In 2019, I was awarded National Champion, while our team took fourth. Over eight years of quizzing, I have memorized 70% of the New Testament. Even though I am now graduated, I am involved as a quizmaster. This is the judge for the quizzes. It is helpful to be a former quizzer in this position because I understand the quizzers better.
What does being named an Outstanding Student mean to you?This nomination is a great blessing to me. I was not expecting anything like this, but even so, I am excited to represent Kirkwood with my abilities. I am very thankful to the outstanding faculty in the Math/Engineering Department because their guidance has been vital in my development.
Categories: Outstanding Students
