Prospectors are Montana Tech's Student Ambassadors

Andy Larson

Major: Construction Technology & Carpentry
Year: Senior
Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah

1. Favorite class at Tech: My favorite class so far has been, Business Law. Professor Sam Cox has a lot of first-hand experience in the field and is super knowledgeable, so he has a lot of really interesting and relevant stories.
2. What I think makes Butte special: I think the unique history and it being a very old town makes Butte special. The combination makes for some very cool old buildings and lots of awesome sights around the city. Plus, the location is very close to all the outdoor activities you could ever want.
3. Favorite place to grab food off campus: My favorite place to eat off campus is definitely Christina's Cocina. I was put onto it by a co-worker and it is some great food! I love the cilantro chicken roll.
4. Favorite event(s) at Tech: My favorite event was the entrepreneurship panel put on by Professor Todd Tregidga. It was really interesting to gather knowledge from actual entrepreneurs. The panel was super great at answering questions and while this was a shorter event it was by far the most educational.
5. A MUST that I carry in my backpack: A notebook is essential in my backpack. A lot of my classes are open note tests and so it can ease the load on your studying if you take good notes and pay attention.

Liamm Villasenor

Major: Occupational Safety & Health
Year: Senior
Hometown: Anaconda, Montana

1. Why Montana Tech: I chose to attend Montana Tech because of the small class sizes, the university has great job opportunities post-graduation, and it is close to home.
2. Favorite spot on campus: My favorite spot on campus is the second floor of the library. It is very quiet and a great place to do homework or study.
3. What I love about Butte: I love the scenery on and off campus.
4. Plans after Tech: After Tech I plan to use my degree in Occupational Safety & Health to protect the workforce, specifically in construction.
5. A celebrity (dead or alive) I would like to meet at the campus coffee shop: I would like to meet Stephen Curry. I am a huge basketball fan, my favorite team is the Golden State Warriors, and my favorite player is Steph Curry.
6.  

Lily Kemmer

Major: Environmental Engineering
Year: Senior
Hometown: Hunters, Washington

1. A MUST that I carry in my backpack: A pencil, because you never know when you’ll need to write something down.
2. Campus involvement: I am on the Mining Team and ISEE (International Society of Explosive Engineers). I love being on the Mining Team because we get to travel to really cool places around the world, like London.
3. Favorite Residence Hall: My favorite Residence Hall is the Living Learning Center (LLC) because it’s the newest and therefore has larger community spaces.
4. My hero: My dad is definitely my hero!
5. One thing most people might be surprised to learn about me: I have been detained by Border Patrol, by mistake.

Marshall Cornwall

Major: Civil Engineering
Year: Senior
Hometown: Butte, Montana

1. What I think makes Butte special: I think the people are what make Butte special! This city has some of the nicest people I've met and it really feels like a community here.
2. Three celebrities I would invite to a dinner party: I would invite Adam Sandler, because who wouldn’t want Adam Sandler at their dinner party, Stevie Nicks, because she’s been one of my favorite singers since middle school, and Roger Federer, because he’s the GOAT of tennis.
3. Involvement on campus: On campus I am involved in the American Society of Civil Engineers, Concrete Canoe Club, and Swing Dance Club.
4. One thing most people might be surprised to learn about me: People might be surprised to learn that I show cattle.
5. Why Montana Tech: I chose to attend Montana Tech because of the strong career outcomes!

Olivia Clairmont

Major: Business - Management of Information Technology
Year: Senior
Hometown: Ronan, Montana

1. What I love about Butte: When I first moved to Butte, I was nervous. It was bigger than anywhere I had lived, and I only knew a handful of people. The day I moved I knew I had made the right choice. People that live in Butte have a strong sense of community and welcome college kids like family. I immediately felt like I was at home and can’t imagine going to school anywhere else.
2. Favorite class at Tech: My favorite class at Tech is Doug Abbott’s Finance class. Finance careers have shifted to the digital world over the past few decades, but Doug takes the time to teach his students how to do things by hand. While this was challenging, it was very rewarding to know how things work without all the fancy computers and software.
3. Favorite event(s) at Tech: My favorite event at Tech is the Career Fair. Business students have the advantage of being needed in every industry, so the possibilities are endless. While the Career Fair is an opportunity to find a job or internship, I believe that making genuine connections is just as valuable. In my case, a five-minute conversation at the Career Fair my freshman year helped me get my name out there and gain the connections to obtain two internships later on in my time at Tech.
4. One thing I cannot go a day without: I cannot go a day without coffee. I try not to spend too much money on fancy coffees and usually enjoy a nice cup from home each morning (and/or afternoon)!
5. In 5 years I hope to be: I see myself working at an institutional investment firm. After completing my CFA exams, I will have the tools necessary to be a successful analyst. I believe I will still be in Montana, somewhere around Helena or Butte that I can call my forever home.

Trey Mattson

Double Major: Petroleum Engineering
Year: Senior
Hometown: Missoula, Montana

1. One thing I cannot go a day without: I cannot go a day without caffeine. In copious amounts.
2. Favorite class at Tech: My favorite class at Tech was the First Year Engineering Seminar. All first-year students have this class to learn about all of our engineering options. Although it seems a bit tedious, it played a huge role in helping me decide what I wanted to pursue. Plus, I met some great people along the way.
3. What I love about Butte: I love the outdoor activities you can do around Butte. My personal favorite is fishing. Especially at the Big Hole River. The views are amazing.
4. Favorite place to grab food off campus: My favorite spot off campus to grab food is La Sirena. They serve some of the best Mexican food I have ever had. If you go, I recommend the taco box! It’s birria tacos with enough cheese to stop a heart.
5. Favorite spot on campus: My favorite spot on campus has to be the Museum Building, for many reasons. Firstly, it’s close to a parking lot which is a big must in the winter. It is open late, so I can procrastinate. Plus, it has great views outside the coolest doors on campus, and if you like geology you can take a break and visit the Mineral Museum, on the second floor

Audrie Jensen

Major: Petroleum Engineering
Year: Junior
Hometown: Laurel, Montana 

1. Why Montana Tech: I chose to attend Montana Tech because it was a smaller-sized school in a great town. It’s also not too close to home, but not too far for me!
2. Favorite class at Tech: I loved Principles of Micro & Macro Economics. Professor Doug Abbott definitely knows how to engage a classroom and make a basic class fun and interesting.
3. Involvement on campus: On campus, I am the Vice President of Society of Petroleum Engineers, the Secretary of International Association of Drilling Contractors, and I am a student Prospector!
4. Favorite Residence Hall: It’s a crazy opinion, but my favorite Residence Hall is Prospector Hall! It’s the oldest Residence Hall on campus, but you’ll find the most entertainment there.
5. In 5 years, I hope to be: In five years I hope to be in a management position for an oil and gas company. Maybe even in a different country! But first I need to focus on passing Calculus 2 before I think of anything after college!

Bridger Schutte

Major: Mechanical Engineering
Year: Junior
Hometown: Butte, Montana

1. What I love about Butte: I love that Butte is located so close to several mountain ranges which gives you the ability to enjoy the outdoors every day. Even when I am in town, it doesn’t feel like a crowded city and the air is still fresh.
2. Plans after Tech: After Tech, I’d like to pursue a career in offroad racing suspension, possibly at Fox Factory or Elka.
3. Most intelligent person I know: This has to be my friend Cameron. If you have a problem, either inside or outside of schoolwork, he can find a solution.
4. Hardest class I have taken: The hardest class I have taken in college has been Physics Magnetism and Motion.
5. Favorite spot in Butte: Sparky’s garage has the best nachos I have ever had.

Han Pate

Major: Data Science
Year: Junior
Hometown: Great Falls, Montana 

1. Research projects: I’m really interested in the intersection of Data Science and public policy. I am also interested in datafication and its impact on advocacy and community organizing. I learned about this topic while working on an assignment in Advanced Technical Writing, and I’ve been captivated by it since.
2. What I love about Butte: I really love the community that I’ve found in Butte. Butte has a lot of incredible people that care deeply about their community’s wellbeing. For example, I love going to open studio nights at the Imagine Butte Resource Center to practice printmaking or to enjoy people’s company.
3. One thing I cannot go a day without: I cannot go a day without a carbonated beverage. Whether it be sparkling water, or Pepsi Zero, I love carbonation.
4. How I get to campus: I walk to campus! Make sure you wear layers if this is your plan, I’ve had many cold walks back to my room because I underestimated how quickly the weather can change.
5. Favorite spot on campus: My favorite spot on campus is the Museum Building. It has plenty of computers that are great for research, homework, and collaborating with friends on coding assignments. It’s an older building, but the older architecture is beautiful, and the view when you step outside is one of the best in Butte that I’ve seen. Around finals week, it is accessible to students 24/7, which is really helpful for when you need to get out of your room for late-night studying.
6.  

Hannah Gingery

Major: Electrical Engineering
Year: Junior
Hometown: Havre, Montana

1. My weirdest study hack: My weirdest study hack is the following pre-test ritual:
   1. I will rewrite or annotate all of my notes over again.
   2. I will lock myself in a study room in the Student Success Center and create a mind map. (Think flow-chart full of doodles).
   3. Eat dinner, watch a horrible movie that I’ve seen a million times, and fall asleep by 9PM.
2. Campus involvement: On campus I am both a tutor and tutee at the Academic Center of Excellence (ACE). It’s a welcome space with great energy! I’m also a part of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), where I’ve found a supportive community of fellow female engineers.
3. Research projects: I'm passionate about clean energy. My interest began with installing solar panels with my dad on our pickup camper and building a windmill for our chicken coop. I think it’s fascinating to be able to use the resources that are already there working with the earth instead of against it.
4. One thing I cannot go a day without: I can't go a day without listening to music!
5. A MUST that I carry in my backpack: I always have to have my planner on me. I think it’s responsible for my GPA.

Jackson Walker

Major: Business & Information Technology
Year: Junior
Hometown: Kalispell, Montana

1. What I love about Butte: I love that Butte takes care of its people. Compared to other places, it is obvious that once you’re here, you are a part of the family. Whether it’s the faculty at tech, or a local business owner, there is a distinct hospitality that Butte offers.
2. Favorite event(s) at Tech: My favorite events at Tech are the football games. Tailgating before the games with your friends is hard to beat. The people of Butte take a lot of pride in supporting the Orediggers and their involvement makes it more special to be a part of.
3. Favorite class at Tech: My favorite class at Tech, is probably BGEN 285 (Critical Thinking, Decision Making, and Leadership). In that class, I was pushed to think creatively and not how I normally would. There are in-depth discussions about heated topics that are relevant to everyone in the class. I would highly recommend this class to anyone.
4. Favorite spot on campus: My favorite spot on campus is the Student Success Center. It has a great view of Bob Green field and of Butte. There’s also food available, dual monitor computers and tutoring around the corner. It’s by far the best spot on campus.
5. My hero: My hero is David Goggins. David is an accomplished Navy Seal whose words of wisdom changed my life. His books “Can’t Hurt Me” and “Never Finished” are New York Times best sellers, and he continues to inspire millions more today

Madi Varga

Major: Mechanical Engineering
Year: Junior
Hometown: Broomfield, CO

1. What I love about Montana Tech: I absolutely love the views from campus and how small it is compared to other universities. It is much easier to connect with professors and find some close friends!
2. One thing I cannot go a day without: At the end of every day I must have a sweet treat. It makes me happy no matter my mood, and ends the night on a positive note. I will never turn down a sweet treat.
3. In 5 years I hope to be: In 5 years, I will have hopefully started my master's degree at Montana Tech. I want to live in a house in the mountains with my boyfriend (hopefully husband at the time), and have some horses, cattle, chickens, goats, dogs, and plenty of land to roam on.
4. Favorite class at Tech: I absolutely loved my Mechanics of Materials Lab. My professor was a great teacher; the labs were fun and kept me occupied, and I learned how to test and calculate things like stress and strain of materials. This lab was not only fun but useful to me for my degree.
5. Favorite spot in Butte: My favorite place to grab food off campus would be La Sirena. Best Birria tacos I've ever had in my life, and they are close to campus!

Reid Whitlock 

Major: Nursing 
Year: Junior
Hometown: Kalispell, Montana

1. What I love about Butte: I love Butte because of the wide array of activities that you can do around here. Fishing, hunting, and many other outdoor activities are within minutes of here and some great spots.
2. How I get to campus: I walk to campus daily, as I live just a few blocks below campus.
3. Favorite spot in Butte: My favorite spot to grab a quick bite of food in town is Homestake Pub. They offer a great little menu and have the best Philly in town.
4. A MUST that I carry in my backpack: A must that I always carry in my backpack is chapstick.
5. What I love about Montana Tech: I love Montana Tech because of the smaller class sizes. The professor to student ratio gives students more opportunity to get help, interact, and get to know professors.

Rhys Layton 

Major: Business & Information Technology - Accounting
Year: Junior
Hometown: Eagle, ID

1. What is your favorite spot on campus? My favorite place to hang out with friends on campus is the field right behind the HPER. It is the best place to play spike ball, grass volleyball, catch, have a picnic, and even sled in the winter.
2. What do you love about Montana Tech? What I love most about Montana Tech is the sense of community. Everyone is incredibly inclusive and welcoming, which makes it easy to form genuine friendships. There's a strong feeling of support and compassion, not just on campus, but throughout the town as well. It really feels like being part of a big family—people look out for one another, and that creates an environment where you truly feel at home.
3. Plans after Tech: After Tech I hope to go into sports administration either working as an athletic director or involved in athletic operations management.
4. Involvement on campus: I currently play volleyball at Tech and am a Co-President of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), which is a club that hosts events for student athletes and looks to provide ways for Tech athletes to give back to the community. I am also student Prospector.
5. Favorite spot in Butte: The Abode. They have the cutest gift ideas for any occasion and basically anything you could need from a boutique.

Sophomores