Meet The Via Scholars
The Via Scholarships are made possible through the generosity of the late Mrs. Marion Bradley Via of Roanoke, Virginia, and her family. In 1987, Mrs. Via contributed $5 million each to the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Civil and Environmental Engineering. Virginia Tech’s Board of Visitors subsequently named the ECE department in honor of Mrs. Via’s deceased father, Harry Lynde Bradley, and the CEE department in honor of her late husband, Charles E. Via, Jr. Mrs. Via died in 1993.
Both departments use a portion of the endowment to award scholarships to qualifying students. These scholarships are among the most competitive in the country. Since the Via endowment was created in 1987, the department has received more than $20 million in support.
We are proud to acknowledge that this is the 34th year of the Via endowment and the Via Report. We want to take this opportunity to recognize the current Via scholars as well as alumni that have come through the program for the last 33 years and continue to fulfill the mission set by the Via family.
Paul DeBole
Hometown: Cranford, New Jersey
Career Goals: My work so far has inspired me to attend graduate school at Virginia Tech for EWR and conduct research at a university or government agency after graduation. Climate change will transform water resources policy, and I would like to study how government agencies can equitably combat sea level rise, flooding, and aquifer depletion.
Andrew Joseph
Hometown: McLean, Virginia
Career Goals: After graduating this May, I will be staying for a masters in Transportation Engineering. After that, I want to work in public transit. I love solving the puzzle of moving people as safely and efficiently as possible and I have never gotten tired of playing with trains.
Anna Walter
Hometown: Waxhaw, North Carolina
Career Goals: My ultimate career goal is to work as a Professional Civil Engineer, dedicated to building and restoring infrastructure worldwide. I am passionate about being involved in structural research, design, and field implementation. My aim is to collaborate with international teams to develop environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and safer structures.
Rick Wohlrab
Hometown: Freehold, New Jersey
Career Goals: After graduation, I plan to enter the industry as a structural engineer and work towards obtaining my Professional Engineer license. I’m interested in unique and complex structures, and I want to work on challenging and rewarding projects.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Elizabeth Beyer
Hometown: Durham, North Carolina
Location of Undergraduate Studies: North Carolina State University
Career Goals: After earning my master’s degree, I plan to work in a water resources engineering role and obtain my P.E. license. I aim to solve large-scale water systems issues around the globe..
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Emme Bina
Hometown: Wichita, Kansas
Location of Undergraduate Studies: University of Kansas
Career Goals: After graduate school, I plan to work for a non-profit organization aimed at helping communities facing water insecurity.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Megan Blumenauer
Hometown: Middletown, Maryland
Location of Undergraduate Studies: University of Maryland, College Park
Career Goals: After earning my master’s degree, I want to work in the public sector with a career focus on environmental justice, bridging the gap between engineering science and policy.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND MATERIALS
Heather Brouwer
Hometown: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Location of Undergraduate Studies: University of Michigan
Career Goals: My goal is to pursue a career in forensic stuctural engineering. I particularly wish to focus on the restoration and preservation of historic buildings. I also plan to earn my professional engineering license.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND MATERIALS
Mason Brown
Location of Undergraduate Studies: The United States Air Force Academy
Career Goals: After graduation I will serve as a Civil Engineer in the Air Force. After finishing my career in the Air Force I would like to teach and later work in green engineering in development of new technologies or city planning to create more sustainable communities..
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Joanna Capone
Hometown: Cranford, New Jersey
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Virginia Tech
Career Goals: After completing my master’s degree, I hope to proceed to a doctorate program or work at a national lab where I can continue my research on the socio-economic and land use drivers of water demand in the Western United States. Eventually, I would love to conduct research as a professor, inspiring the next generation of researchers just like my professors at Virginia Tech have inspired me!
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Phillip Crispell
Hometown: Ellicott City, Maryland
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Virginia Tech
Career Goals: After completion of my graduate studies, I plan to begin working at a geotechnical design or design-build firm focusing on the design of deep foundations and solutions to geological hazards. During the start of my career, I plan to work towards obtaining my P.E. license and gain valuable experience that will further my career.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Madeline Deck
Hometown: Blacksburg, Virginia
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Virginia Tech
Career Goals: I strive to help empower the public with the knowledge required to improve their drinking water quality either through consulting or new policy creation and implementation.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Riley Doyle
Hometown: Olney, Maryland
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Bucknell University
Career Goals: After earning my degree, I hope to earn my PE license by working at a consulting company or government on projects evolving around wastewater management.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND MATERIALS
Justice Forster
Hometown: Salem, Virginia
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Virginia Tech
Career Goals: Following graduation, I would like to serve as a structural design engineer and eventually earn my PE. Long term, I would like to start and manage my own construction firm that focuses on infrastructure development in communities that lack the resources to meet their needs. With this basis, I would also like to optimize the process in which the community can become involved in this development.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Caitlyn Harris
Hometown: Midlothian, Texas
Location of Undergraduate Studies: University of Texas at Austin
Career Goals: The University of Texas at Austin Career Goals: Upon completing my degree, I hope to pursue a career as a wastewater treatment process engineer or a design consultant with a focus in resource recovery and reclamation..
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Elise Hummel
Hometown: Wallingford, Connecticut
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Lafayette College
Career Goals: After earning my master’s degree, I will be working on Starbase’s launch infrastructure as a Launch Engineer at SpaceX. I plan on obtaining my professional engineering license and being actively involved in professional organizations.
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Olivia Janney
Hometown: Wenatchee, Washington
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Franciscan University of Steubenville/Catholic University of America
Career Goals: I plan on obtaining my P.E. license and working for a geotechnical design firm, providing technical support for innovative geostructural engineering projects. I aspire to be a leader in my field and a mentor for young engineers.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Amelia Ketelhohn
Hometown: Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Marquette University
Career Goals: After completing my master’s degree, I hope to obtain my PE licensure and work in the industry or government agency. I am interested in water, ranging from the accessibility of safe drinking water to discovering and mitigating contaminants in wastewater. community can become involved in this development.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND MATERIALS
Henry McKlin
Hometown: Decatur, Georgia
Location of Undergraduate Studies: The University of Alabama
Career Goals: After earning a master’s degree, I plan to pursue a career as a structural engineer with a strong emphasis on sustainable design. I hope to design and preserve structures for future generations while lowering the carbon footprint of the civil industry.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Jonathan Moore
Hometown: Fairfax, Virginia
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Virginia Tech
Career Goals: After earning my Master’s I want to continue learning about the physics of coastal environments and sediment mechanics so that I can be a resource to coastal communities. To accomplish that goal, I plan to earn a Ph.D.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Morgan Oehler
Hometown: Elkridge, Maryland
Location of Undergraduate Studies: University of Maine
Career Goals: I plan to work in the industry or at a government agency on stream restoration design and watershed management projects.
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
David Provost
Hometown: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Location of Undergraduate Studies: University of Pittsburgh
Career Goals: For now, graduate with my Master’s degree, work on transportation infrastructure projects as a geotechnical engineer, and become a Professional Engineer.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Megan Schantz
Hometown: Charlottesville, Virginia
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Virginia Tech
Career Goals: After completing my masters, I would like to work for a consulting firm performing groundwater monitoring, contamination investigations, and remediation.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Katherine Scott
Hometown: Wall, New Jersey
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Rutgers University
Career Goals: I hope to find a career applying research in water reuse to solve large-scale problems such as groundwater depletion.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Chantaly Villalona
Hometown: Newark, New Jersey
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Wellesley College
Career Goals: I am pursuing a graduate degree in order to gain entry to and work in the drinking water industry. Once in the drinking water industry, I aspire to aid in strengthening national water security and public understanding of our water systems.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND MATERIALS
Iliana Walters
Hometown: Fredericksburg, Virginia
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Lehigh University
Career Goals: My goal after completion of my master’s degree is to work in industry in protective design or forensic engineering while working towards obtaining my P.E. license.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND MATERIALS
Ann Albright
Hometown: Louisville, Colorado
Location of Undergraduate Studies: University of Washington
Career Goals: Innovating novel structural engineering designs and methodologies is critical for improving our infrastructure- both for sustainability and longevity. I hope to continue with research in the reinforced concrete field, retrofitting existing structures to improve performance under earthquake loads; simultaneously pursuing a teaching career to interact with the newest generation of civil engineers.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Megan Beever
Hometown: Stratham, New Hampshire
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Virginia Tech
Career Goals: I hope to continue my research in academia or the federal government after graduating.
Nick Brilli
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND MATERIALS
Thomas Carnes
Hometown: Lake Milton, Ohio
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Youngstown State University
Career Goals: After graduating, I hope to continue in academia as a professor. As a professor, I would like to positively impact the civil engineering community by furthering the understanding of structural engineering through research and teaching future generations of civil engineers.
Nick Brilli
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND MATERIALS
Zachary Coleman
Hometown: Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Lafayette College
Career Goals: After obtaining my Ph.D. from Virginia Tech, I aim to work in the engineering industry for a company specializing in the forensic analysis and repair of civil infrastructure. After this time, I may pursue a career in academia to help educate the next generation of young engineers.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Amanda Darling
Hometown: Aurora, Illinois
Location of Undergraduate Studies: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Career Goals: After earning my degree, I hope to pursue research opportunities applying technologies for sustainable development of water infrastructure, including systems for wastewater treatment and water supply.
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Fred Falcone
Hometown: Pembroke, Massachusetts
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Wentworth Institute of Technology
Career Goals: After completing my Ph.D. I want to continue work in research. My plan is to either continue in academia and work as a professor, or to work for a research facility.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Megan Harris
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Location of Undergraduate Studies: The University of Texas at Austin
Career Goals: I aim to harness my modeling expertise to shape government policies, working on international projects that drive sustainable change in infrastructure and environmental practices.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Steven Hoagland
Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky
Location of Undergraduate Studies: University of Kentucky
Career Goals: I would like to perform research and help educate young engineers as a university faculty member.
CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
Joseph James
Hometown: Columbia, South Carolina
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Clemson University
Career Goals: I want to excel in teaching students, conducting research related to creating societal change, collaborating with other faculty members, receiving grants, and creating a pathway for future black engineers to feel welcome and know that they can achieve any level of greatness.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Krystin Frances Kadonsky
Hometown: Clearwater, Florida
Location of Undergraduate Studies: University of South Florida
Career Goals: My main goal in my career is to help others, and Virginia Tech has provided me the opportunity to focus my expertise on pathogens in drinking water and wastewater. Throughout my career after Virginia Tech, I would like to provide mentorship to younger aspiring engineers, and help solve public health crises for communities in need. I would also like to write my own version of “Kitchen Confidential” one day, perhaps after I’m retired.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Alexandra Longest
Hometown: Oakland, Maryland
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Bucknell University
Career Goals: After earning my doctorate, I would like to work at a national laboratory to continue to pursue research into issues concerning public health and the air.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Kathryn Lopez
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Florida State University
Career Goals: I plan to become a professor to continue conducting research on aquatic contaminants and shape the learning experiences of young engineers. I also aim to become involved in environmental policy.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Christian Lytle
Hometown: Liberty Township, Ohio
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Case Western Reserve University
Career Goals: I plan on conducting research in academia or the private sector after completing my doctorate degree. My end goal is to teach and mentor the next generation of environmental engineers.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Clayton Markham
Hometown: Syracuse, New York
Location of Undergraduate Studies: University at Buffalo
Career Goals: I would like to be a professor of environmental engineering, concomitantly performing cutting-edge research and educating the next generation of environmental engineers to protect both planet and people.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Frank Mazzola
Hometown: Sterling, Virginia
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Virginia Tech
Career Goals: I hope to continue researching problems in drinking water systems and developing solutions to help communities receive safe water. I aspire to teach the next generation of environmental engineering students.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Lilian McIntosh
Hometown: Abilene, Texas
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Abilene Christian University
Career Goals: Upon completing my degree, I plan to pursue consulting as a wastewater treatment process engineer. My goal is to help communities on the municipal scale to have access to sustainable wastewater treatment. Later in my career journey, I hope to become a professor in an effort to lead future generations of rising engineers.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Tolulope Odimayomi
Hometown: Westfield, Indiana
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Purdue University
Career Goals: I plan to pursue a career in academia centered around conducting community focused research on water quality and sustainability in the built environment to protect public health. I hope to address modern environmental concerns and equip the next generation of engineering professionals to do the same.
CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING AND MATERIALS
Kase Poling
Hometown: Beckley, West Virginia
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Virginia Tech
Career Goals: Become governor of West Virginia
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Mia Riddley
Hometown: Byram, Mississippi
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Iowa State University
Career Goals: I want to pursue research opportunities within academia or government agencies that address environmental sustainability, ecosystem health, and environmental justice.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Fernando Roman
Hometown: Monteray, California
Location of Undergraduate Studies: University of California, Merced
Career Goals: After graduating from Virginia Tech, I would like to work as a drinking water/wastewater treatment plant designer, operator, and lab technician. I also hope to publish a collection of poems along the way.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Benjamin Roston
Hometown: Newport News, Virginia
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Virginia Tech
Career Goals: I hope to explore opportunities in flood hazard management to improve the safety, welfare, and wellbeing of communities impacted by hazardous floodplains and coastal zones. I look forward to exploring new perspectives on the relationships between water and society throughout the master’s program and my future career.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND MATERIALS
Alan Smith
Hometown: Buena Vista, Virginia
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Virginia Tech
Career Goals: I would like to work in either a research setting or structural forensic analysis.
CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
Joshua Trump
Hometown: Manassas, Virginia
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Virginia Tech
Career Goals: My interests are split. I’m very interested in continuing research but I’m also considering my future in industry. I’m excited to see where this year takes me as I explore more of my research and experience academia.