Civil Engineering
Biography
My name is Oliver Hemmelgarn, and I am a Civil Engineer in the 2027 Heath Integrated Business and Engineering Program. I am also a member of the Chancellor’s Honors Program and Cook Grand Challenge Honors Program.
I joined Heath IBEP because of a desire to better understand how the business and engineering worlds collaborate within evolving industries. Ultimately, I do not want to be the stereotypical engineer who works solely with machines. I see Heath IBEP as an opportunity to explore the business world and gain a better understanding of how industries function.
A successful engineer must be competent at leading, managing, and working with teams and people, skills synonymous with business. Furthermore, joining the program allows me to team up with motivated business and engineering students to solve real problems in industry. Being part of these teams not only makes me a more critical problem solver and team player but also exposes me to the critical thinking processes of fellow Heath IBEP students. As a driven student, I plan on utilizing this program to its full potential to sharpen my professional skills and critical thinking in an active team setting.
I maintain my well-being by challenging myself daily both mentally and physically while pursuing adventures and new experiences. In my free time, I love immersing myself in the outdoors. Growing up in Knoxville meant that the Smoky Mountains were essentially my backyard. I spent countless hours hiking, biking, kayaking, and engaging in any other outdoor activities I could find.
In high school, my love for the outdoors led me to become president of the environmental club; for my IB Diploma, I worked on creating a local outdoor environmental learning area. Additionally, I played lacrosse and served as team captain during my junior and senior years.
My current professional goals are to graduate from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering while gaining experience through internships or research opportunities. I aim to become a leading team member on engineering projects. Although open to different industries at this time, I hope to incorporate sustainability into my work.
