From engineer to entrepreneur: Michael Ojo, ECE’07, MBA’08, began his graduate studies in computer science thinking that an engineering degree coupled with a computer science degree would be fitting.

Dustin Penn, MinE’02, has a passion for Pit Vipers, and his favorite one can deliver a strike that’s 65 feet deep and 16 inches in diameter.

Jon Reinagel, Phys’07, didn’t make a great impression on his future wife, Carla (Cotita) Reinagel, Engl’07, during their first meeting. As an RA serving a Hawaiian-themed meal to new students moving into the Quadrangle residence halls, he was dressed in a hula skirt with a coconut bra over his shirt. “I thought he was really […]

Hardest lesson to learn: For Robert Rutherford, EMgt’06, the lesson started on April 21, 2010, when he woke up and was told of the mayday call from the Deepwater Horizon hours earlier.

Early vision: Jeremy Schnurbusch, EE’05, knew early on what he wanted to do when he grew up. “My dad owns St. Louis Avionics. It was ingrained in me since I was a little kid — I always wanted to work in aviation.”

The level of testosterone is high on a construction site. Women are scarce, but Sondra (Terry) Rotty, ArchE’04, MS EMgt’08, feels right at home. Tarlton Corp.’s senior project engineer would rather work out of a construction trailer any day than in an office.

Tyrone Smith, Hist’07, says he feels kind of like Jack Bauer.

When he was a fourth grader in Jefferson City, Mo., Chad Winkler, CerE’08, was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism. The assumption was that he would have difficulty fitting in to “normal” society. That might be why Winkler says he’s always been bothered by assumptions.

Sumin Zhu, PhD CerE’08, knows about heat. As a senior research engineer and principal scientist in the enabling technologies department at Vesuvius in Pittsburgh, Pa., his team works on high-temperature ceramics that can operate under the most extreme conditions, including the continuous casting of steel.

Congratulations to all the 30 under 30 nominees!