Page 17 - CEGE Spring 2023

Chandler Lallak
“I CHOSE TO ENTER CIVIL ENGINEERING BECAUSE THIS FIELD PROVIDES THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES TO APPLY PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS TO IMPROVE COMMUNITIES AND THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.”
than just academics while at UMN.
He enjoyed planning the ASCE Career Fair because it allowed him to connect students with companies that will shape their future careers. And heading the Concrete Canoe Team allows him
to provide others with hands-on experience in concrete design and production. Chandler displays the mindset of a leader, aiming for excellence and bringing others along with him.
Chandler’s long-term goal is to be a transportation design engineer.
“I chose to enter civil engineering because this field provides the best opportunities to apply problem-solving skills to improve communities and their quality of life.” Living in International Falls, Minnesota, he saw the importance of having Highway 53 as a connection to I-35 and as a gateway to improve
the quality of life for families there. Likewise, living in the Minneapolis – St. Paul metro area he saw how transit and transportation projects support prosperity in communities. “Through designs
that fit the needs of the community,
civil engineering enhances everyone’s quality of life. I selected the University of Minnesota because this university gives me the most chances to connect with the civil engineering industry, to work on the most impactful projects, and to find
a great career.”
Chandler Lallak, Vice President of the ASCE UMN Student Chapter 2022-2023
NAHUM YELIZAROV completed a Bachelor’s degree in 2021 and will graduate with a Master’s degree in the spring of 2023.
“My time in CEGE as an undergraduate and graduate has been full of
involvement with the department, student groups, and research. Coming in
as a transfer student, I didn’t know that many people in my grade. Joining student leadership of several student groups allowed me to meet and make friends with people in my grade and those who were Juniors and Seniors. It also gave me experience in project management and leadership, and technical knowledge like welding and fabrication. Getting involved in research with various professors let me explore my interests and opened a door to a Master’s degree. Taking higher level design and theory classes in structural engineering, as well as doing a thesis, allowed me to get a better technical understanding and taught me to how educate myself on topics I don’t know.”
“I chose to pursue civil engineering because of my statics professor at Normandale; I really liked his class. My internship with Mortenson, convinced me that I would enjoy working in structural engineering. My education focused on structural engineering because that is what I want to do for my career. I had no interest in doing a Master’s degree until I did research for Prof. Marasteanu.
“I assisted Prof. Marasteanu on several pavement engineering research projects as an undergrad. He asked me to stay on for a Master’s and work on one of
his pavement engineering research projects. So, I stayed. My thesis is looking at the effects of tree cover and snow cover on pavement surface temperature. This topic relates to both the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect and winter management of pavements.”
After graduation, Yelizarov will join the structural engineering general group at Ericksen Roed & Associates (ERA) where he anticipates working on existing and new structures including medical facilities, residential buildings, and schools.
University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering | DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND GEO- ENGINEERING 17