Peter

Activities

• Engineering 100 Leader – group that helps freshmen with campus resources and promotes camaraderie among College of Engineering students
• Structural Engineers Association – organization that presents lectures concerning current projects and methods by professional structural engineers
• American Society of Civil Engineers – group that presents lectures of professional civil engineers and social/service events around campus
• Illini Net Nuts – group that cheers on the Illini Tennis Team
• St. John's Catholic Chapel, traditional mass choir member
• Institute of Transportation Engineers, Treasurer – organization that hosts lectures by professional transportation engineers
• Engineering Council – group of students who participate in service activities in the Champaign-Urbana area and act as tour guides for prospective students
• Chi Epsilon Honors Society – National Civil Engineering Honors Society

One-on-One

Where is your favorite spot on campus to study?
Grainger Engineering Library

Where is your favorite spot on campus to hang out with your friends?
Under the trees on northeastern corner of the Main Quad

Where is your favorite spot on campus to relax?
The couch on 2nd floor of the Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory

What do you like most about your major?
The engineering professors work with me and the other students on a personal level. They walk us step-by-step through the process of obtaining the safest and most serviceable design of a structure while discussing the current standards and codes. When working in my structural design courses, we are given real life problems and scenarios to solve. The biggest scare for someone coming out of college and into the job market is not being prepared to handle situations where the design criteria or requirements change from structure to structure. I was able to meet many of my current friends within classes in my major because of the many opportunities for group work. Another plus is that our department is ranked first in the nation; many of the other colleges at the U of I similarly have top rankings in the United States. At the U of I, I know that my education is top-notch.

What are your favorite courses within your major?
CEE 300: Materials Engineering - Although writing the lab reports were challenging, working with actual steel/concrete specimens was the best way for me to understand important material properties. Professor Struble and Professor Philips taught us all of the theories we needed to know. CEE 360: Structural Engineering - Professor Dodds, head of the CEE department, made sure that we knew the basics of shear/moment/deflection diagrams by heart; the best part was applying our coursework to how real steel-frame structures are put together.

What are your favorite extracurricular activities related to your major?
Through undergraduate research in the Civil Engineering department, I have had the honor of working with two professors in Materials and Transportation. I'm currently focusing on the permeability of concrete materials using a device called the AutoClam. I also set up equipment for the Rapid Chloride Permeability Test for future CEE laboratory courses. Both professors were very welcoming and all of the graduate students have been the same. Research, for any specialty, gives you the opportunity to take a break from class work to explore something on your own.

What are your favorite extracurricular activities not related to your major?
I love playing tennis and watching the Illini Tennis teams play during the spring. Also, I was very involved with music in high school, so with my busy schedule, being able to sing for my local Catholic Chapel provided the perfect amount of time for me to remain involved with singing.

Describe your most memorable experience at Illinois.
The first time I rode a campus bus, some friends and I decided to take the "22 Illini" back to our dorm. The three of us were getting really worried after about 30 minutes because it was dark and we had no clue where we were.  We eventually ended up at the same bus stop where we started! It turned out that we needed to take a different "22 Illini." That night always brings up a laugh. Now, I'm a pro with the bus routes.

What is a little-known fact about Illinois?
The biggest misconception that students have about the university is that "it is too big, you’ll get lost" or that "the classroom sizes are
huge and students won't be able to know their professors and TA’s on a personal level." With regards to large class sizes, these are usually limited to lectures for General Education requirements and the basic electives that a lot of students need to take. However, even in my 300-capacity lecture hall, I was always able to raise my hand to ask a question. With my junior and senior level courses, my class sizes ranges from 20-40 students. The truth is that although our campus is large, it is able to offer everything to its students; we have multiple state-of-the-art recreation centers, a wonderful Student Union Building, and all the Registered Student Organizations that you can imagine. About anything that you were involved with in high school will be found on our campus. Additionally, the truth about our professors is that they fully invest their time for the sake of preparing every student for future classes and work experience. They are always available to me during their scheduled office hours or they are willing to schedule a meeting outside of those hours. As long as you are serious about your education, they will be serious in helping you and in getting to know you.

Why do you belong at Illinois?
I have found my own spot on campus. Within this mix of majors, extracurricular activities, and diversity, I have found where I belong. Since my first day here, all my professors and advisors have helped me develop my technical, communicative, and leadership skills. It is this type of effort, along with the endless opportunities offered by the University, that makes each Illinois student know they belong.  Because of this, I am confident that after I finish my education here, I will be prepared to take the real world head-on.