Theta Tau Xi Chapter is very excited to welcome our fall pledge class of 2018! Thanks to the wonderful work of Abby Rahn as rush chair, we have thirteen pledges joining our chapter this semester. We asked the pledges a variety of questions to get to know them but we can’t wait to learn more about each of them in the future.
Anders Bandt
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota
Year: Freshman
Major: Electrical Engineering
Why your major? “I love making circuits and working with electrical stuff!”
Why UW Madison? “It’s a good location from my hometown and also super cool with a good nature/city mix. Great education too”
Favorite place on campus: the view of the lake from the top of Observatory Drive
Describe yourself in 3 words: chill, creative, fun
Who is your biggest role model? Nikola Tesla
Other interests: running, painting, cooking
Fun Fact: “My belly button is half innie and half outie”
Josie Beres
Hometown: Waukesha, Wisconsin
Year: Freshman
Major: Industrial Engineering
Why your major? “When I first heard about industrial engineering, I was super interested because it focuses on the business side of engineering. I am very much a detail-oriented person and this major focuses a lot on quality and efficiency, so I think it will be a good fit!”
Why UW Madison? “UW Madison seemed like the obvious choice for me because they have an incredible program for industrial engineering and I got direct admission into the College of Engineering. I have always loved Madison and the Badgers, so it seemed like the right choice!”
Favorite place on campus: the Terrace at Memorial Union and the library at the Historical Society
Describe yourself in 3 words: hardworking, loyal, and generous
Who is your biggest role model? “My biggest role model is my mom. I admire her positive attitude in every situation, her unending faith and love, and her strong sense of adventure! I hope that I can follow in her example and see the good in everything around me”
Other interests: “I love to read, listen to music, go to concerts, play tennis, and volunteer. I am also involved in a sorority on campus and can’t wait to join more clubs!”
Fun Fact: “I never know what to say for these, but I guess something unique is that I used to be an Irish dancer”
Siew Kheng Ch’ng
Hometown: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Year: Sophomore
Major: Industrial Engineering
Why your major? “I wanted to major in the business sector or major but I wanted something more technical as well. I have always been good in math and really love science, so I decided on Industrial Engineering where it has a close relation to business as well as math and science”
Why UW Madison? “Real question is why not? It has a good ranking and engineering program and also focuses a lot on diversity. Also has a nice location where there’s the downtown area and the lakes are nearby so you get the best of both worlds”
Favorite place on campus: the indoor deck looking place next to Prairie Fire in Union South
Describe yourself in 3 words: an optimistic procrastinator
Who is your biggest role model? “My mum”
Other interests: volleyball, jogging aimlessly, eating ice cream all year long, sketching, finding new cooking recipes, hanging out with friends, watching cute dog videos
Fun Fact: “I can make really good pork patties”
Zoha Cochinwala
Hometown: San Jose, California
Year: Sophomore
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Why your major? “Innovation seems pretty cool”
Why UW Madison? “It has a good program, I kinda wanted a new experience, and I liked the vibe/campus when I visited”
Favorite place on campus: the Terrace
Describe yourself in 3 words: chill, dependable, humorous
Who is your biggest role model? “My mum”
Other interests: music, sports, chilling with friends
Fun Fact: “I have a black belt in karate”
Addie Drier
Hometown: Woodbury, Minnesota
Year: Freshman
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Why your major? “I was very interested by Biology in high school, but I knew that I also wanted to do some sort of engineering, so BME is the perfect mix of the two”
Why UW Madison? “It feels like home and the Engineering programs are fantastic”
Favorite place on campus: the Terrace
Describe yourself in 3 words: supportive, passionate, loyal
Who is your biggest role model? “My swim coach”
Other interests: swimming
Fun Fact: “My parents lied about my age when they signed me up for swimming lessons when I was in infant so I could do lessons earlier”
Madi Edwards
Hometown: River Falls, Wisconsin
Year: Sophomore
Major: Electrical Engineering
Why your major? “I like science and creating things”
Why UW Madison? “I’ve known Madison all my life and I just think it’s a beautiful city”
Favorite place on campus: Union South
Describe yourself in 3 words: cheerful, silly, easy-going
Who is your biggest role model? “My mom”
Other interests: “Anything that has to do with Up North”
Fun Fact: “I’ve moved a total of nine times in eighteen years, plus I have a tattoo of it”
Jackson Hellmers
Hometown: Hudson, Wisconsin
Year: Sophomore
Major: Electrical Engineering
Why your major? “First took classes about ECE in high school and found them to be extremely interesting. It’s also an area of study that comes much easier to me than other fields of engineering”
Why UW Madison? “Being raised in Wisco, the few times I got to visit UW Madison it always seemed as though I were in a different country, not on the opposite side of the state. The students, athletics and academics are each unique in ways I have never seen before. As soon as I received my acceptance letter I knew this is the college I was going to attend”
Favorite place on campus: Discovery Building
Describe yourself in 3 words: tall, easy-going, ginger
Who is your biggest role model? Elon Musk
Other interests: GUTS tutor, STLF (Students Today Leaders Forever), Quidditch, Intramural Basketball and Flag Football, listening to live music or new bands around Madison
Fun Fact: “I wear a size 15 shoe”
Liam Hupfer
Hometown: West Bend, Wisconsin
Year: Freshman
Major: Computer Engineering & Computer Science
Why your major? “CMPE and CS are interesting to me because they are applicable to so many areas today. With CS, I’m confident I will have the flexibility to experience many fields while in the workforce. I really enjoy applying computing to complex problems”
Why UW Madison? “Madison offers great engineering education, and in-state tuition was hard to pass up. The social aspects were key as well–I went to a high school of 2300+ and it felt small”
Favorite place on campus: Camp Randall
Describe yourself in 3 words: ambitious, curious, humorous
Who is your biggest role model? “My parents”
Other interests: “I like sports, especially soccer. I’m on an IM flag football team with people from my floor. I love the outdoors, and I like to volunteer when I can”
Fun Fact: “I was born in Ireland. The real fun fact is that I always use that for a fun fact tho”
Lauren Kinchla
Hometown: Dover, Massachusetts
Year: Sophomore
Major: Civil Engineering
Why your major? “Wanted to be able to make positive impact on environment”
Why UW Madison? “Cheese!”
Favorite place on campus: Memorial Library cages
Describe yourself in 3 words: nappy but happy
Who is your biggest role model? Chrissy Teigen
Other interests: art club, running, ASCE
Fun Fact: “I hate cheese curds”
Grace Lindsey
Hometown: Swampscott, Massachusetts
Year: Sophomore
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Why your major? “I wanted to study abroad engineering to be able to explore many different skills”
Why UW Madison? “I love the city and wanted a different scene then Boston”
Favorite place on campus: Discovery Building
Describe yourself in 3 words: adaptable, adventurous, easily-amused
Who is your biggest role model? “My older sister”
Other interests: watching football and cooking
Fun Fact: “I want to become a skydiving instructor”
Peter Sviatoslavsky
Hometown: Madison, Wisconsin
Year: Sophomore
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Why your major? “Money and most of my family are mechanical engineers”
Why UW Madison? “I live right next door”
Favorite place on campus: Memorial Union
Describe yourself in 3 words: fun, hardworking, helpful
Who is your biggest role model? My grandfather
Other interests: ASME, Badgerloop Propulsion Team, soccer, and tennis
Fun Fact: “I’m legally blind without my contacts in”
Kyle Verheyen
Hometown: New Lenox, Illinois
Year: Freshman
Major: Computer Science
Why your major? “I love the logical thinking that goes into it and the impact this field has on the world around us”
Why UW Madison? “I love the campus, academics, social scene, and football games here”
Favorite place on campus: the Terrace
Describe yourself in 3 words: chill, fun, happy
Who is your biggest role model? “My dad”
Other interests: travellilng, coffee, and tennis
Fun Fact: “I gave myself a concussion my first month here when I walked into a street light that came out of nowhere”
Griffin Zacharias
Hometown: Hudson, Wisconsin
Year: Sophomore
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Why your major? “I like to design things”
Why UW Madison? “In state tuition, prestigious engineering program”
Favorite place on campus: Steenbock Catacombs
Describe yourself in 3 words: an absolute unit
Who is your biggest role model? “My older brother, Quinn”
Other interests: soccer, rock climbing, Xbox
Fun Fact: “I can ride a long board”