Isabella Michael
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Lincolnshire, IL
Major: Chemical Engineering
Why your major?: I picked chemical engineering because it combined my love of chemistry and math with being creative. I hope to pursue energy and sustainability through chemical engineering.
Why UW-Madison?: Passionate, hardworking, adventurous
Describe yourself in 3 words: Social, empathetic, driven
Hobbies and Interests: Reading, playing soccer, astronomy, history, and baking.
Fun Fact: I’m a huge Harry Potter fan!
What’s one thing you want to accomplish in your lifetime?: I want to contribute to mitigating global warming and finding renewable sources of energy.
What is your favorite spot on campus?: The Historical Society
Jacob Pellinen
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Racine, Wi
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Why your major?: Mechanical Engineering allows me to work in a variety of fields while giving me the opportunity to solve current world problems like global warming.
Why UW-Madison?: I chose UW-Madison because it has a good engineering program, everyone here is proud to be a badger, and it’s social atmosphere.
Describe yourself in 3 words: hard working, ambitious, caring
Hobbies and Interests: running, soccer, cooking
Fun Fact: I had 6 wisdom teeth.
What’s one thing you want to accomplish in your lifetime?: I want to get my pilots license.
What is your favorite spot on campus?: Memorial Union
Mahadev Mohan
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Dubai
Major: Computer Science
Why your major?: I love all things computer, from programming to video games so it just felt right
Why UW-Madison?: Great CS program and a complete change of scenery from my hometown
Describe yourself in 3 words: Not, Very, Creative
Hobbies and Interests: Cars have been my interest for the longest time, I love working on them and driving them.
Fun Fact: Walking up Bascom without gasping for air.
What’s one thing you want to accomplish in your lifetime?: I want to make a difference in this world, something that’ll leave my mark.
What is your favorite spot on campus?: Memorial Terrace and the docks
Emilie Nogosek
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: St. Anthony, MN
Major: Environmental Engineering
Why your major?: I always knew I wanted to do an engineering major, and I chose environmental engineering after learning more about it because I am very interested in learning in the different ways we can adapt more sustainable practices in the engineering world.
Why UW-Madison?: It was a big university that was a good distance from my hometown that could offer a good education, social life, and environment.
Describe yourself in 3 words: Adventurous, Easy-going, Optimistic
Hobbies and Interests: Hiking, skiing, working out, and watching/playing sports
Fun Fact: I have successfully backpacked the Kalalau Trail, which is one of the most dangerous hikes in the United States.
What’s one thing you want to accomplish in your lifetime?: I want to run a marathon and visit all the National Parks.
What is your favorite spot on campus?: Memorial Union
Reese Highbloom
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Chappaqua, NY
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Why your major?: I have always had a passion for helping people and creating a brighter future. I hope to design technologies that will better humanity.
Why UW-Madison?: UW Madison was the best balance between a fun city school and a great engineering program.
Describe yourself in 3 words: Funny, Kind, Adventurous
Hobbies and Interests: Photography, Volunteering, Working out, Snowboarding, Wakeboarding, Traveling.
Fun Fact: My favorite food is sushi
What’s one thing you want to accomplish in your lifetime?: Travel all 50 states
What is your favorite spot on campus?: Union South
Ian Patrick Hoffman
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: New Berlin, WI
Major: B.S. Engineering Mechanics & Aerospace Engineering
Why your major?: I want to make space travel more safe, efficient, and accessible.
Why UW-Madison?: It’s been my dream to come to UW since my first badger game when I was in middle school. I like that the school is big and that I have
Describe yourself in 3 words: Sincere, patient, resourceful
Hobbies and Interests: Music, snowboarding, running, camping, golfing, gaming.
Fun Fact: I performed on tour in Ireland with MYSO (Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra) in 2020.
What’s one thing you want to accomplish in your lifetime?: I want to inspire people to be successful in whatever makes them happy.
What is your favorite spot on campus?: Trees on lakeshore path
Arun Sivarajah
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Buffalo Grove, Il
Major: Computer Engineering
Why your major?: Wanted to do both engineering and computer science
Why UW-Madison?: Wanted a good campus with a good social life
Describe yourself in 3 words: Motivated, Determined, Responsible
Hobbies and Interests: Basketball, Music
Fun Fact: I am a nationally ranked fencer.
What’s one thing you want to accomplish in your lifetime?: I want to go skiing at whistler blackcomb
What is your favorite spot on campus?: Memorial Union Terrace
Dennis Tylets
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Mequon, WI
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Why your major?: I love the creativity and critical thinking that comes with Mechanical Engineering. I also love design and product development so I thought Mechanical Engineering would be the best option. It is also a broad type of engineering and you can to a lot of different things with it.
Why UW-Madison?: I chose UW-Madison for the great engineering program and for the amazing student life.
Describe yourself in 3 words: Hard-working, Caring, Motivated
Hobbies and Interests: I am a big sports fan. I love all of Wisconsin’s professional sports teams. My favorite sport is football, I love playing catch with my friends.
Fun Fact: I have a twin sister that goes to UW-Madison as well.
What’s one thing you want to accomplish in your lifetime?: One of my main goals is to create my own business.
What is your favorite spot on campus?: Camp Randall
Haniel Aryan Alva
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Sharjah, UAE
Major: Computer Science
Why your major?: I’m good at math and problem solving, CS is a fun application of both.
Why UW-Madison?: One of the best CS programs in the US, a close friend was going here too
Describe yourself in 3 words: Smart but stupid
Hobbies and Interests: I love music (singing, and playing the piano and drums), sports (soccer, basketball, badminton) and reading comics and graphic novels!
Fun Fact: I have magical powers that make three 80 buses appear at once (I know, super cool). The only downside is that if you miss them, you’ll have to wait for an hour give or take.
What’s one thing you want to accomplish in your lifetime?: At some point in my life, I hope to release a studio album. I grew up with a lot of family playing music and it is an outlet for me to express myself. I want to create something that would resonate and stick with people.
What is your favorite spot on campus?: The hill outside Waters Residence hall during the fall. The trees turning orange and the general scenery makes an amazing setting to do some reading.
Allicia Moeller
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Why your major?: I chose BME because I enjoy math and science and how they interact with the human body.
Why UW-Madison?: I chose UW-Madison because it has a good engineering program and because it is a good distance from home.
Describe yourself in 3 words: Creative, Ambitious, Kind
Hobbies and Interests: Some of my hobbies are playing tennis, crocheting, and hanging out with my friends.
Fun Fact: My brother and I have the same birthday, but we are not twins.
What’s one thing you want to accomplish in your lifetime?: I want to eat dinner with a Jonas brother.
What is your favorite spot on campus?: The Terrace
Lucas Grad
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Major: Computer Engineering
Why your major?: I love problem solving and all things STEM, so engineering felt like a great fit. I also have always enjoyed computers and all things technology, so computer engineering is perfect for me.
Why UW-Madison?: Madison has a great engineering program, an incredible campus, and is just an overall amazing place to be.
Describe yourself in 3 words: Calm, determined, adaptable
Hobbies and Interests: Music, sports, and trivia
Fun Fact: I have three screws in my ankle from a very unsuccessful ATV ride
What’s one thing you want to accomplish in your lifetime?: I want to create something that has a lasting positive impact on the world.
What is your favorite spot on campus?: Memorial Union Terrace.
Benjamin Kottak
Year: Junior
Hometown: Pewaukee, WI
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Why your major?: Engineering always interested me, and I felt like MechE gave me the best opportunity and the widest skillset to succeed
Why UW-Madison?: instate tuition and overall vibe
Describe yourself in 3 words: Patient, hardworking, compassionate
Hobbies and Interests: Basketball, Football, working out, hanging out with friends
Fun Fact: I played every Mario Kart track in one sitting, took roughly 21 hours
What’s one thing you want to accomplish in your lifetime?: There isn’t one specific answer I have to this question, but in a broad sense I would like to make the world a better place in some sort of way.
What is your favorite spot on campus?: Memorial Union
Ankit Kulshrestha
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Singapore
Major: Computer Science
Why your major?: I am a logical person and enjoy solving problems methodically so CS was an easy choice.
Why UW-Madison?: I liked the mix of strong academics and social scene and I wanted to travel somewhere away from home.
Describe yourself in 3 words: Logical, empathetic, easy-going.
Hobbies and Interests: Sneakers, collecting vinyls, and basketball.
Fun Fact: I had never seen snow until I was 21.
What’s one thing you want to accomplish in your lifetime?: Watch the Atlanta Hawks win a championship.
What is your favorite spot on campus?: The docks at Lake Mendota.