Hometown: Avon, Indiana

Current year: Junior

Drake's emphasis area is in Structural Engineering.

Why I chose Purdue Civil and Construction Engineering

I honestly didn’t know a lot about civil engineering until high school. For a while, I wanted to be a veterinarian. Then, I was thinking about being an architect, but I wanted more math and science — and that’s when I came across civil engineering. The more I learned about it, the more interested I became. I especially liked how many different systems and structures could be studied within civil engineering.

Emphasis area

My emphasis area is in Structural Engineering. Ultimately, my fascination with bridges is what drew me to structures. I find them to be quite interesting and surprisingly complex. My goal is to eventually lead a team that designs bridges.

Drake is member of the Purdue American Society of Civil Engineers and competes on its steel bridge team.

Active on campus

I am involved in several student organizations at Purdue University. Within the civil engineering community, I am a member of the Purdue American Society of Civil Engineers as well as Chi Epsilon. Within these organizations, I am a member of several competition and outreach teams. I am also a member of Boiler Catholics where I help organize retreats. There are just so many opportunities to meet and socialize with other students at Purdue — both in and outside of my major — and it helps make campus life one of my favorite aspects of being a Boilermaker.

After I graduate

After I graduate, I plan to start my career instead of pursuing a graduate degree. For the past three years I have been interning with HNTB in Indianapolis, and I hope to join them after I graduate this December as a bridge engineer.

While at Purdue, Drake participated in a study abroad session in South America.