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.
Regan Fields
Hometown: Chesapeake, Virginia
Career Goals: As a future structural civil engineer, my goal is to contribute to the design of safe, sustainable, and innovative infrastructure that meets the evolving needs of modern society. I look forward to applying the knowledge and skills I’m gaining through my education to real-world projects that have a lasting impact on communities. In the long term, I aspire to grow into a leadership role where I can guide teams, promote sustainable practices, and help shape the future of the built environment.
Colin Peterson
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Career Goals: After graduation, I plan to pursue a master’s degree instructural and materials engineering. My ultimate career goal is to earn my P.E. and S.E. licenses and contribute to the research, design,and rehabilitation of large-scale, resilient infrastructure in majorcities.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND MATERIALS
Gabriel Ackall
Hometown: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Georgia Institute of Technology
Career Goals: I plan to earn an S.E. with the goal to start up my own company around adaptive reuse, structural design, and repair. Along the way, I hope to get involved in industry organizations to better building codes and the structural engineering profession.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND MATERIALS
Liz Chen
Hometown: Bristol, Tennessee
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Notre Dame University
Career Goals: After finishing my M.S, I intend to work in industry inforensic engineering. I also aim to work toward obtaining my professional engineering license.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Will Dawson
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Old Dominion University
Career Goals: To expand scholastic attention to environmental resource engineering, conjoining water treatment practices with K-12 learning opportunities.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Paul Debole
Hometown: Cranford, New Jersey
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Virginia Tech
Career Goals: I would like to continue studying water usage and conservation as a doctorate student and eventually as a professor.
SUSTAINABLE LAND DEVELOPMENT
Nichole Dorn
Hometown: Audubon, Pennsylvania
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Virginia Tech
Career Goals: I plan to work for a land development consulting firm, where I can continue building on what I’ve learned at Virginia Tech. I hope to incorporate sustainable practices into my work and focus on designing innovative solutions that make a lasting, positive impact on communities.
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Erika Gallus
Hometown: Rathdrum, Idaho
Location of Undergraduate Studies: United States Air Force Academy
Career Goals: After earning my M.S., I will be heading to pilot training to fly helicopters for the Air Force. Post Air Force career, I hope to pursue geotechnical engineering in some capacity.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Megan Goulden
Hometown: Wharton, New Jersey
Location of Undergraduate Studies: United States Coast Guard Academy
Career Goals: Upon completing my M.S. degree, I plan to work as a Civil Engineer for the Coast Guard, improving the service's shore infrastructure and facilities. I hope to one day teach Environmental Engineering at the US Coast Guard Academy.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Zach Lowicki
Hometown: Manalapan, New Jersey
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Virginia Tech
Career Goals: I hope to design water/wastewater systems, work in a water/wastewater lab, or design hydraulic structures. I am interested in all areas of EWR. Overall, my goal is to positively impact public health, access to potable water, and the general environment.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Madison Millspaugh
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Old Dominion University
Career Goals: I plan to begin my research at an advanced oxidation treatment facility for indirect potable re-use via managed aquifer recharge. I plan to stay in the Hampton Roads region consulting as an Environmental Engineer aiding in water resource management and improving treatment processes for the health and welfare of society and environment.
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Samuel Nakai
Hometown: Winchester, Virginia
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Virginia Tech
Career Goals: I strive for the safety and proliferation of nuclear energy, nationally and internationally. Secondarily, I will pursue writing.
CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
Rory Oden
Hometown: Muncy, Pennsylvania
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Carnegie Mellon University
Career Goals: After completing my M.S., my career goal is to work in construction engineering with an emphasis in public policy. By analyzing the effects of policy decisions on local communities, I aim to drive the adoption of safer and more sustainable industry practices.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Kaitlyn Parker
Hometown: Gloucester, Virginia
Location of Undergraduate Studies: University of Mary Washington
Career Goals: After earning my M.S., I plan to pursue a career in monitoring and preserving drinking water supply integrity while helping build trust between consumers and providers.
Della Thomas
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND MATERIALS
Della Thomas
Hometown: Stillwater, Oklahoma
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Oklahoma State University
Career Goals: After completing my M.S., I want to pursue a career designing and retrofitting new and existing structures.
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
Paul Atwood
Hometown: Temple, Texas
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Utah State University
Career Goals: I will teach engineering at the Air Force Academy. and continue my military career as a Civil Engineer Officer, leveraging my Virginia Tech experience to bring cutting edge pavement design and rehabilitation techniques to the Air Force.
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.
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Michael Bennett
Hometown: Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Lafayette College
Career Goals: After earning my Ph.D., I want to return to practice as a civil engineering consultant and work on large-scale domestic infrastructure projects to improve the free flow of people, commerce, and ideas within the United States.
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 M.S., I want to continue research on the provisioning of ecosystem services to enhance human health and well-being. I hope to work in the public sector, leveraging engineering and social sciences to improve social quality by working with policymakers.
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
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Daniel Cigleo
Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Purdue University
Career Goals: I aim to work for any level of government, helping to research and build sustainable and safe drinking water systems.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Elowen Cox
Hometown: Christiansburg, Virginia
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Virginia Military Institute
Career Goals: I want to develop novel solutions to practical problems in water systems, domestically and abroad, to provide clean drinking water free of pathogens and contaminants of concern.
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 aprofessor 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 governmental policies, working on international projects that drive sustainable change in infrastructure and environmental practices.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Krystin 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 my the opportunity to focus my expertise on pathogens in drinking water and wastewater. Throughout my career after graduation, 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
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
Jack Mays
Hometown: Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Location of Undergraduate Studies: University of Central Florida
Career Goals: After obtaining an M.S., I hope to work towards a Ph.D. on a structural engineering topic. I also hope to obtain my P.E. and work in structural engineering.
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
Lillian 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
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 ofpoems along the way.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Caroline Sear
Hometown: Libertyville, Illinois
Location of Undergraduate Studies: Saint Louis University
Career Goals: After graduation, I hope to use my experience to promote sustainability and human-environmental health through a teaching, non-profit, or government position.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES
Olivia Yancey
Hometown: Redlands, California
Location of Undergraduate Studies: The University of Oklahoma
Career Goals: My career goals after completing my Ph.D. are to return to the government sector where I wish to work on water outbreaks. I plan to use my skills to protect public health by identifying, investigating, and preventing outbreaks caused by pathogens in various water sources.