Meet the Class of 2018

Freshman2014

This week marks the arrival of Missouri S&T’s incoming Class of 2018. The majority of this first-year class calls Missouri home, although the 1,300-plus members also hail from 32 other states, the District of Columbia and five foreign countries. Nearly one-in-four of them will be first in their family to attend college.

Popquiz-3Not surprisingly, the Class of 2018 is no stranger to STEM fields. Roughly 36 percent were involved with Project Lead The Way and 21 percent were involved with FIRST Robotics in high school.

We asked a few members of the Class of 2018 what was on their mind as they entered college. Here’s what they had to say:

What are you most looking forward to as an incoming freshman?

“The college life – living in the dorms and meeting new people.” – John Scott, Bryant, Ark.
“Meeting new people and getting opportunities to do engineering projects.” – Michael Alexander, Blue Springs, Mo.
“Not being in high school. That makes me happy!” – Leslie Bixler, Grain Valley, Mo.

Why did you choose Missouri S&T?

“Because it’s a great engineering school. I grew up hearing about it.” – Jason Buckingham, Cedar Hill, Mo.
“It was the best choice financially and academically.” – Abdullah Khan, St. Louis
“I came to Missouri S&T because it had my major – ceramic engineering. I like the chemistry of it.” – Evan Musterman, Troy, Mo.
“It seemed like a really good school, and I was willing to go out of state for it. On top of it, it’s cheap.” – William Kyle, Irving, Texas

What student organizations are you planning to join and why?

“I’d like to join a design team and find something like rock climbing.” – Logan Moore, Collinsville, Ill.
“I plan to join NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers).” – Kyla James, St. Louis
“I want to join the Spelunking Club.” – Simin Wu, Springfield Mo.
“I’m going to join the Cycling Club. It’s been a hobby of mine since I moved to Rolla.” – James Logiudice, Rolla, Mo.

Which degree do you hope to pursue and why?

“Chemical engineering. I find it very interesting.” – Katie Dundon, Arnold, Mo.
“Mechanical engineering. I like building stuff and it’s one of the most diverse engineering degrees.” – Madeleine O’Neill, Manchester, Conn.
“Biological sciences. I want to get MD Ph.D. and do research.” – Jenna Oldman, St. Louis
“Nuclear engineering. I like calculus!” – Whitney Vermillion, Marshfield, Mo.

View the story “#MinerMoveIn 2014” on Storify

International Toastmaster

Missouri S&T Ph.D. student Sudharshan Anandan will compete in an international public speaking competition in English -- not his native language.

Missouri S&T Ph.D. student Sudharshan Anandan will compete in an international public speaking competition in English — not his native language. Photo by Sam O’Keefe.

Like many international students who plan to become teaching assistants, Sudharshan Anandan enrolled in Missouri S&T’s graduate teaching assistant workshop in 2012. Missouri law requires international students to successfully complete the GTA workshop before they can become teaching assistants. [Read more…]

Cell (phone) biologist

Daniel Miller, a recent biological sciences M.S. graduate, built a DIY microscope with less than $10 in materials and a smartphone.

Daniel Miller, a recent biological sciences M.S. graduate, built a DIY microscope with less than $10 in materials and a smartphone. Photo by Sam O’Keefe.

Armed with a smartphone and a few dollars’ worth of trinkets and hardware store supplies, Daniel Miller is helping Missouri S&T students gain a new perspective on the world of cellular biology. [Read more…]

Mr. Fixit

Thanks to Dan Fuhrmann, Missouri S&T students can make bicycle repairs right outside the library.

Thanks to Dan Fuhrmann, Missouri S&T students can make bicycle repairs right outside the library. Photo by Sam O’Keefe.

Cyclist Dan Fuhrmann, owner of Route 66 Bicycles in Rolla and a 1999 mechanical engineering graduate of Missouri S&T, wants to make S&T the model of a bicycle-friendly campus. To help make things easier for campus cyclists, Fuhrmann donated a Dero Fixit stand, an ADA-compliant bicycle-repair station. It was installed outside Curtis Laws Wilson Library last fall. [Read more…]

Where learning meets experience

Andrea Wolfe is putting her education to work this summer as part of Boeing’s Test & Evaluation Team. Photo courtesy of The Boeing Co.

Andrea Wolfe, a senior from Waterloo, Illinois, is spending the summer at Boeing. Photo courtesy of The Boeing Co.

Andrea Wolfe from Waterloo, Illinois, is putting her education to work this summer as part of Boeing’s Test & Evaluation Team. It’s the third opportunity she’s had to gain real-world work experience while she’s still a Missouri S&T student.

[Read more…]

People person

Cagatay Atmaca with children in Beijing China. Photo submitted.

Cagatay Atmaca with local children in Beijing, China. He visited the area as part of a geological field trip in 2012. Photos submitted.

A year before coming to Missouri S&T nearly three years ago, Cagatay “Ty” Atmaca was sent to learn English in America by the Turkish Petroleum Corp., the national oil company of the Republic of Turkey.

[Read more…]

Selfless actions, global impact

Melissa Elder is a senior in environmental engineering. Photo by Sam O'Keefe.

Melissa Elder is a senior in environmental engineering. Photo by Sam O’Keefe.

For Melissa Elder, Honduras is more than just another place on the map. It inspired her career path and her research focus. It’s also her mother’s homeland.

[Read more…]

A booming second career

Steve Hall recently earned his master's degree in explosives engineering. Photos by Sam O'Keefe.

Steve Hall recently earned his master’s degree in explosives engineering. Photos by Sam O’Keefe.

It was 1974 when Steve Hall first crossed the stage in Gale Bullman to receive his chemical engineering degree. This spring, exactly 40 years later, Hall made the trek again, this time to pick up his master’s degree in explosives engineering.

[Read more…]

Engineer-of-all-trades

Recent grad Jermy Jamison (left) was team leader for the Steel Bridge Design Team. Photos by Bob Phelan.

Recent grad Jermy Jamison (left) was team leader for the Missouri S&T Steel Bridge Design Team. Photos by Bob Phelan.

Jermy Jamison, a recently graduated mechanical engineer from Lone Jack, Mo., is a prime example of what an interdisciplinary education with some experiential learning thrown in can do for you.

[Read more…]

Packin’ the alpacas

Mariesa Crow spends her free time with her 17 alpacas at her home in Rolla. Photos by Sam O'Keefe.

Electrical engineering professor Mariesa Crow likes to unwind with her 17 alpacas. Photos by Sam O’Keefe.

Watch the video:

Mariesa Crow is about to take a long summer road trip with Elvis and James Bond.

[Read more…]

‘The Dead and Those About to Die’

John McManus recently released his 11th book. Photo by Sam O'Keefe.

Missouri S&T historian John McManus recently released his 11th book. Photo by Sam O’Keefe.

Watch the video interview:

Despite prolific historical documentation of D-Day, there are still unanswered questions 70 years later, especially surrounding Omaha Beach. John C. McManus, a military historian at Missouri S&T, attempts to answer them in his latest book, The Dead and Those About to Die — D-Day: The Big Red One at Omaha Beach, which was published by NAL Caliber in April.

[Read more…]