The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering proudly celebrates our spring and summer graduates. We are proud of all you’ve accomplished and excited to see what’s ahead. Wishing you the very best in your next chapter. Congratulations!
Presenting Our Graduates:
Ryan Andrick
Ryan is graduating with a BS in Environmental Engineering. He will be moving to Washington after graduation. Ryan will miss the adventurous area surrounding Michigan Tech. He is thankful for the community and specifically wanted to recognize Dr. Audra Morse for making a difference while Ryan was at Tech.
Catherine Awe
Catherine is graduating with a BS in Geospatial Engineering. After graduation, she will be moving to Illinois to start her full-time job in the surveying industry. Catherine says she will miss the people and the canal for all the fun activities. She is thankful to Michigan Tech for allowing her to grow as a person, meeting lots of wonderful people, and receiving a spectacular education. Asked if she would like to recognize someone who has made a difference, Catherin says, “I simply cannot pick just one, so no.”
Cailin Bishop
Cailin is graduating with an MS in Environmental Engineering. She will be moving to upstate NY to begin a position as an environmental scientist/engineer for AnchorQEA after graduation. Cailin says she is thankful to Michigan Tech for “Bringing a lot of really great people into my orbit and providing the space for me to learn from each of them.”
Carsyn Boggio
Carsyn is graduating with a BS in Environmental Engineering. After graduation, she will start working at Barr Engineering, Co. She will miss exploring Houghton and the Keweenaw with the friends she has made and is thankful for the experiences through classes and internships that have prepared her to start her professional career. Carson wants to thank her friends and family for all of their support!
Lyza Bradner
Lyza is graduating with a BS in Environmental Engineering. She will be working for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock after graduation.
Ryan Busskohl
Ryan is graduating with a BS in Civil Engineering. After graduation, he plans on going to graduate school at the Politecnico School in Milan, Italy. Ryan will miss all of his fraternity brothers and the meaningful connections he has made at Tech. He says, “I am thankful to MTU for giving me a place to grow and learn about myself in different ways. I am thankful it gave me a place to meet people and challenge myself.” Ryan would specifically like to recognize his Isaac Dunn and Braden Beauchamp, saying, “Isaac Dunn and Braden Beauchamp are my best friends and have helped me throughout my college experience in different ways. I would not be able to think about different perspectives or understand myself as I do now without them. Amazing boys, can’t thank them enough.”
Pietrino Censoplano
Pietrino is graduating with a BS in Civil Engineering. He will be doing “engineer things” after graduation. Pietrino says he will miss the Copper Country and is thankful for the friends made at Michigan Tech. He would like to recognize Kenneth Thiemann as someone who has made a difference during his time at Tech.
Kris Crawford
Kris is graduating with a BS in Environmental Engineering. After graduation, he will be traveling to Portugal in May and then begin a remediation-focused internship with Barr Engineering Co. in Minneapolis shortly after. He will then return to Michigan Tech in the fall for his master’s. Kris will miss Winter Carnival, the surrounding nature, his mentors, and most of all the amazing friends he has made over the past four years. He says, “I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the Environmental Engineering program at Michigan Tech, as well as the Enterprise Program and Engineers Without Borders Student Chapter. These experiences have helped develop me academically and professionally, while also preparing me with a mindset for lifelong learning.” Kris would specifically like to recognize Dr. David Watkins, saying, “He was instrumental in my work with Engineers Without Borders as well as shaping my path to pursue both a Master’s and the Humanitarian Engineering Minor.”
Vera Denison
Vera is graduating with a BS in Environmental Engineering. She will continue at Michigan Tech in the graduate program after graduation. Vera will miss the friends and community she has made at Tech and is thankful for the amazing opportunities she has had within her program and the professors who have passed on their passion in the field. Vera wanted to recognize Dr. Ishi Keenum, saying, “She has been an amazing faculty advisor and overall mentor, thank you for letting me fail and being there to pick me back up”.
Lauren Denzin
Lauren is graduating with a BS in Civil Engineering. After graduation, she will work in a Graduate Engineer position at TKDA.
Joe Dobat
Joe is graduating with a BS in Environmental Engineering. He will be working for OHM Advisors in Fenton, MI, after graduation. He says, “I will miss the beautiful scenery and breathing the purest, most vitalizing air on Earth. I’m thankful to Michigan Tech for introducing me to so many new people, experiences, and ideas. I have grown tremendously as an individual in my short time here.”
Naomi Elliott
Naomi is graduating with a BS in Civil Engineering. After graduation, she will start working full-time at HNTB in the Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS) Group. Naomi says, “Something I will miss about Michigan Tech is the sense of community that you gain after four years here. You feel like no matter where you are, you know someone and always have help. It is so easy to make connections with professors, students, and locals. I would like to recognize the Engineering Fundamentals department, especially Darlene, for the person they have helped me become today. Darlene is someone I truly appreciate and look up to. She has taught me so much, has been a huge source of support, and has always been a great person to have in my corner. Working with the department for the past two years has not only been so much fun, but it has also taught me a great deal about the workplace environment outside of a consulting firm. I have had so many wonderful conversations with faculty and staff that have made me deeply appreciate MTU and the people who make it such a special place.”
Rebecca Feber
Rebecca is graduating with a BS in Environmental Engineering. She will be working for Arcadis in Milwaukee as an Environmental Engineer after graduation. Rebecca will miss the winters at Michigan Tech and is thankful for all the project experience Michigan Tech has given her, saying, “I feel very prepared to start full-time employment.” She says she would like to recognize Dr. David Watkins as someone who made a difference during her time at Tech.
Grace Garnett
Grace is graduating with a BS in Environmental Engineering. After graduation, she will be doing an internship at Schnabel Engineering as a Civil Engineer in the summer of 2026. In the fall, she will be doing her MS in civil engineering with a water resources focus. Grace will miss her friends and says, “I am thankful for the small community and culture. Because it is a smaller school, I get to see people I know more often, and it creates a lot of strong friendships. I truly believe I would not have been able to achieve these types of friendships at any other school.” She wanted to recognize Darnishia Morris as someone who made a difference during her time at Michigan Tech.
Cadence Griffith
Cadence is graduating with a BS in Civil Engineering. She plans to start working full-time at the Michigan Department of Transportation within their Engineering Development Program after graduation. Cadence will miss the friends she has made at Tech and the Cheer Team.
Keith Guthrie
Keith is graduating with a BS in Civil Engineering. After graduation, he will begin working at SME in Kalamazoo. Keith says he will miss the Michigan Tech community. He is thankful to Tech for pushing him past his limits and specifically wanted to recognize Rob Schneider as someone who made a difference during his time on campus.
Forrest Hadley
Forrest is graduating with a BS in Civil Engineering. He will be working for Nowak and Fraus Engineering, a civil engineering firm out of Pontiac, MI, after graduation. Forrest will miss skiing at Mt Bohemia. He says, “If it wasn’t for Michigan Tech, I would’ve never joined my Fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon, where I’ve met some of my closest friends.” He says he would like to recognize Griffin Jeffrey Bristow as someone who made a difference during his time at Tech.
Morgan Halley-Gluesing
Morgan is graduating with a BS in Environmental Engineering. After graduation, she will be attending graduate school. Morgan says she will miss her wonderful friends and all of the snow and is thankful for the connections she has made. She would like to recognize Dr. Jennifer Becker as someone who made a difference during her time at Tech.
Libia Hazra
Libia is graduating with her PhD in Environmental Engineering. She plans to pursue a career in environmental health and sustainability, focusing on public health, contaminant exposure, and community-centered environmental research where she can apply her skills to real-world challenges and policy-relevant work. Libia says, “I will deeply miss the sense of community at Michigan Tech—the supportive environment, the people, and the peaceful beauty of Houghton, especially the snowy winters that became such a special part of my journey. I am grateful to Michigan Tech for shaping me both professionally and personally. It provided me with opportunities to grow as a researcher, educator, and individual, while also giving my family a place to learn, adapt, and feel at home. I would like to sincerely recognize Dr. Audra Morse- the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering. She has been a constant source of support throughout my journey. From the very beginning, when I first reached out from India, she guided me toward opportunities that shaped my path at Michigan Tech. Her strength, kindness, and unwavering support—both academically and personally—have made a lasting impact on me. I will always remember her compassion and encouragement during both challenging and meaningful moments in my life. When I first arrived in Houghton, Michigan, it felt like stepping into a completely new world. Seeing snow for the first time was magical—my four-year-old daughter called it “Santa’s country,” a memory I will always cherish. Over time, what once felt unfamiliar became home. Michigan Tech has been more than an academic journey—it has been a life journey for me and my family. I have grown through challenges and achievements, learned resilience and adaptability, and found a strong sense of community. I am especially grateful for the opportunity to engage with local communities, including the Ojibwe community, whose respect for nature has deeply influenced my perspective. I leave Michigan Tech with lasting memories, meaningful experiences, and a deep sense of gratitude. This journey has shown me that with support, determination, and community, anything is possible.”
Hayden Huckins
Hayden is graduating with his MS in Civil Engineering. After graduation, he is moving to Fort Collins, Colorado, to begin work with FHU, a transportation design firm, in their Water Resources Department. Hayden will miss living in Houghton, the weather, and his friends. He says he is thankful to Tech for having a great selection of student organizations. Hayden wanted to recognize Sam Mayer, saying, “Best snailer in the biz.”
Lia Iacoangeli
Lia is graduating with a BS in Civil Engineering. She will begin work full-time at Nucor Vulcraft-Nebraska as a Sales Engineer after graduation. Lia says, “I will miss getting back to the dorm or my house, dumping the bag on the table, and comparing my swag finds with my roommates. “Oh, you got the wooden cutting board and pizza cutter? I only got the stress ball shaped like a dozer.” It is the adult version of Halloween that happens not once but twice a year during the career fairs. I am thankful for the fact that a “normal” bad day anywhere else feels like a vacation compared to a Tuesday in February at Tech. Walking uphill both ways in a literal blizzard to fail an exam I have been studying for really builds a type of mental strength that makes “real world” stress feel manageable. The staff in Career Services really came through; they taught me a bunch of personal skills that I’ve actually been able to use in my orgs and involvement on campus. Plus, they’ve basically turned me into a walking resource for my friends, meaning whenever someone has a career question, I actually have the tools to help them out.”
Titus Lind
Titus is graduating with a BS in Geospatial Engineering. After graduation, he will start working at Gourdie-Fraser, Inc. (GFA) and eventually take the PS exam. Titus will miss the extracurricular activities at Tech and is thankful for the hands-on opportunities with real surveying equipment.
Caelan Mead-O’Brien
Caelan is graduating with a BS in Environmental Engineering. He is looking forward to coming back to Michigan Tech in the fall to pursue an accelerated MS degree in Civil Engineering, with a focus on water resources engineering. Caelan says, “I’m very grateful for the incredible faculty at Michigan Tech, particularly within the CEGE department. All of my professors have been very down-to-earth and interesting individuals who all have unique backgrounds and are deeply involved in their fields. A big shoutout to Julie Ross, without whom I could not have planned my degree out in order to graduate in 4 years with a bachelor’s degree, 2 minors, and 15 credits towards an accelerated Master’s degree.”
Ryan Miller
Ryan is graduating with a BS in Construction Management. After graduation, he will be working full-time and pursuing an online Tech MBA. Ryan will miss the MTU community and is thankful for being given problems to figure out, saying, “It has really helped with critical thinking and problem-solving bigger issues that I will encounter in the real world. So glad I chose Tech. After attending, I wouldn’t choose anywhere else.” He wanted to recognize Jen Miller as someone who has made a difference during his time at Tech.
Lydia Minzey
Lydia is graduating with a BS in Environmental Engineering. She will continue at MTU to pursue an accelerated MS in environmental engineering after graduation. Lydia will miss her peers. She is grateful to have had such a wonderful and collaborative group to go through her undergrad with. Lydia is thankful to Tech for the ability to get to know her professors and for having instructors who actually cared about her success.
Ethan Phillipson
Ethan is graduating with a BS in Civil Engineering. After graduation, he will begin working for the WisDOT Southeast Region Office as a Traffic Safety Engineer. Ethan will miss the Smash Club, saying, “which was a surprise to join in the first place and evolved into an eSports membership I could have never expected. It’s a community that I only hope I contributed meaningfully to during my year of tenure as treasurer, as well as all four years of my membership.” He is thankful to Tech for the support both financially and academically, saying, “MTU made my college journey as affordable and manageable as possible, letting me focus on developing the skills needed to succeed in my future career. Several professors, namely Zack Fredin and Kris Mattila, clearly have a lot of passion and care for the field, and it bled through in the courses I took with them. They were engaging, facilitating discussion as opposed to just lecturing to/at us, and approachable, all while still making their instruction as thorough as possible, giving me both new appreciation for the subjects and increased passion for the field I would be going into. eSports was something I never expected to even be involved in, but it has evolved to be one of the most important things about my college journey, giving me something I enjoy doing and evolving it into something I can represent Tech on a large scale for. I intend to continue competing in SSBU events so long as I can find the time, so I want to keep that competitive spirit alive.”
Luke Prosser
Luke is graduating with an MS in Civil Engineering. He will be working for an engineering firm in West Tennessee after graduation. Luke is thankful to Tech for the knowledge he gained through the program and would like to specifically recognize Dr. Andrew Swartz, Dr. Dan Dowden, and Dr. Stephen Morse.
Ondrea Ream
Ondrea is graduating with a BS in Environmental Engineering. After graduation, she will begin working for Wade Trim in their Water Resources division. She says she will miss Mont Ripley and Tech Trails. Ondrea is thankful to Michigan Tech for giving her lifelong friendships both inside the classroom and out.
Rachel Redman
Rachel is graduating with a Graduate Certificate in Structural Engineering: Bridge Analysis and Design. She will be working full-time at AECOM as a Project Manager after graduation. Rachel will greatly miss the support from the CEGE department, saying, “They have been amazing to work with, and I will greatly miss interacting with them! I am very thankful for the staff. They really do put in the extra mile for all the students who go to Michigan Tech.” She wanted to recognize her family who helped her during her time at MTU, saying, “They helped support me the whole time I was attending!”
Sean Sailer
Sean is graduating with a BS in Civil Engineering. After graduation, he will begin work as a Staff Engineer at Becher-Hoppe.
Jacob Schmidt
Jacob is graduating with a BS in Environmental Engineering. He will attend graduate school at Tech with Dr. Ishi Keenum as his advisor after graduation. Jacob is thankful to Michigan Tech for the “opportunities to get involved in research and grow his resume right away as a first-year student.” adding, “The career fairs and CEGE specific receptions before career fair made it possible to get an internship and build professional connections early. I’d like to give a huge shout out and “thank you!” to Dr. Ishi Keenum for all of her support, mentorship, and getting me involved in research over the past three years! I couldn’t have done it without you!”
Katherine Schneider
Katherine is graduating with a BS in Environmental Engineering. After graduation, she plans to move to Albany, NY, to work for Arcadis as a Water Engineer. Katherine will miss the snow and is thankful to Tech for allowing her to meet so many wonderful people.
Brendan Tanner
Brendan is graduating with a BS in Civil Engineering. After graduation, he will work for Benesch as a Construction Engineer in Southeast Michigan on a variety of MDOT, municipal, and railroad projects throughout Michigan and the greater Midwest. Brenday says, “I will greatly miss the camaraderie between the students and faculty that showed through in every classroom and club environment, which truly made every experience warm and inviting. I am thankful that Michigan Tech provides an inclusive and challenging environment that allows students to pursue their passions and rise to the level of adversity. I would like to recognize Dr. Mattila for helping me become the engineer I am today. Through Dr. Mattila’s unique teaching style and genuine care for his students, I was able to mature and grow not only as an engineer but as a human being. Dr. Mattila taught me the virtues of respect, confidence, and most important of all, humility. I cannot thank Dr. Mattila enough for what he has done for me and thousands of other students throughout his tenure at Michigan Tech. The CEGE department at Michigan Tech is truly a remarkable program that treats each and every student like a part of a family. My Tech experience wouldn’t have been half as memorable if it weren’t for the wonderful staff that makes this department so special, including Kiko and Rob Fritz in lab management, Julie and her miracle-working in academic advising, all the way up to the kind and thoughtful nature of our Interim Chair, Dr. Swartz. I’d be remorseful if I didn’t extend my fullest thanks and appreciation to all of the professors who make up the core of this department and transform students into the remarkable engineers that Michigan Tech is known for.”
Grant Watson
Grant is graduating with a BS in Geospatial Engineering. He will begin working at Spalding DeDecker as a Field Technician in the survey department after graduation. Grant will miss going to Michigan Tech hockey games.
Peyton Wright
Peyton is graduating with a BS in Civil Engineering. After graduation, she will begin a full-time job at Whiting-Turner Contracting Company. Peyton will miss the city of Houghton and the ski hill right across from campus. She is thankful to Michigan Tech for the friends she made and wanted to recognize Julie Ross as the best “advisor of all time.”
Meng Wu
Meng is graduating with a PhD in Civil Engineering. He will continue to study after graduation. Meng says, “I will miss the supportive research environment and the close collaboration with faculty and lab members. The quiet atmosphere in Houghton also made it easier to focus on research and writing. I am very thankful for the opportunity to conduct meaningful research, develop independent thinking, and receive strong mentorship throughout my graduate studies. I would like to recognize Dr. Zhanping You for his guidance, support, and encouragement throughout my academic journey. His mentorship has been invaluable to my growth and development. I am also deeply grateful to my lab members and colleagues for their collaboration, help, and friendship, as well as to the faculty and the Graduate School for their support during my time at Michigan Tech. My experience at Michigan Tech has been both challenging and rewarding. It has prepared me well for my future career, and I am grateful for the knowledge, skills, and friendships I gained here.”
Lei Yin
Lei is graduating with a PhD in Civil Engineering. After graduation, he will continue working as a postdoctoral researcher in pavement engineering, focusing on the development and implementation of sustainable, waste-tire-derived materials for road construction to improve pavement durability and support environmentally sustainable infrastructure. Lei says, “I will miss the beautiful fall at Michigan Tech, when the campus is filled with vibrant colors. I am grateful to Michigan Tech for providing strong support for my research, including access to well-equipped laboratories where I could explore material performance. I also appreciate the resources available for various software and the free printing services provided by the university. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to my advisor, Dr. Zhanping You, for his guidance, support, and encouragement throughout my graduate studies. I am also grateful to the research group members, the faculty in the CEGE department, and the Graduate School for their continuous support and collaboration. My time at Michigan Tech has been a valuable and rewarding experience. I am proud to be part of the Husky community and look forward to applying what I have learned to make a positive impact in the field of civil engineering.”
Garrick Yokom
Garrick is graduating with a BS in Geospatial Engineering. He will work towards getting his P.S. after graduation. Garrick will miss the weather and the Houghton area in general. He is thankful to Michigan Tech for the number of activities available, saying, “Michigan Tech was a positive experience in my life.”
Graduates Not Pictured Above:
| Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering | Dan Raper | Clara Rector | Graduate Certificate in Water Resource Modeling |
| Tyler Aeschliman | Jimmy Ruedisueli | Hannah Stothard | Brandon Norkol |
| Will Bagley | Jocelyn Sallee | Camille Talarczyk | |
| Drew Barrie | Anna Schueller | Connor Tokie | Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering |
| Jocey Baughman | Gabe Sheahen | Marin Traynor | Bonaventure Abdallah |
| Dane Bekkala | Max Shiverski | Scott Waara | Clare Baker |
| Halen Carello | Connor Tokie | John Decator | |
| Drew Christianson | Landon Vojtech | Bachelor’s Degree in Geospatial Engineering | Paul Janckila |
| Tate Clerc | Joe Wampuszyc | Alex Bellefeuille | Brian Kemboi |
| Clayton Dierberger | Jarrett Weigold | Dominic Blondeau | Nicholas Pound |
| Brady Dobry | Wyatt Weyrowske | Gabby Carey | Adiah Powell |
| Adeline Doyle | Nolan Zehr | Drew Christianson | Abdul Bassit Umar Sanda |
| Nick Eaton | Matthew Zimmerman | William Haapala | |
| Kyle Falicki | Logan May | Master’s Degree in Integrated Geospatial Technology | |
| Maddy Ferner | Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management | Nick Ross | James Townsend |
| Evan Fischer | Hannah Baker | Benjamin Swenson | Jesse Yuchasz |
| Austin Ford | Logan Pinkerton | ||
| Anaston Gaerlan | Ethan Post | Graduate Certificate in Resilient Water Infrastructure | Master of Engineering in Geospatial Engineering |
| Tom Gutierrez | Conner Schrank | Brandon Norkol | Samuel Shumaker |
| Nathan Hamrick | Lorelei Weber | ||
| Elizabeth Harke | Baker LaFave | Graduate Certificate in Structural Engineering: Advanced Analysis | PhD in Atmospheric Sciences |
| Griffin Harness | Clare Baker | Geeta Nain | |
| Chase Jones | Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Engineering | John Decator | |
| Rowan Kuhn | Katelyn Anderson | Islambek Mussayev | PhD in Civil Engineering |
| Zeke Landis | Casey Baldwin | Kyle Zerbel | Kwadwo Boateng |
| Owen Maki | Grace Bistodeau | Mohsen Naghdi | |
| Nathan Metevia | Maddy Estes | Graduate Certificate in Structural Engineering: Bridge Analysis & Design | Padmanabh Shirdhar Desai |
| Grant Moore | Sidney Finstrom | Clare Baker | Saeed Sohrabi |
| Hayden Moore | Addison Jeltema | ||
| Ryan Murphy | Lilly Karl | Graduate Certificate in Structural Engineering: Building Design | PhD in Environmental Engineering |
| Ella Pike | Leah Komarzec | Clare Baker | Mary Benjamin |
| Carter Pothoff | Keelin Massey | John Decator | Susie Toivonen |
| Natalie Prophet | Abbi McClain | Samuel Henríquez Torres | Ara Hakim |
| Oscar Prout | Marissa Messing |
