Evan Dzurik: Carving his own path through Industrial Engineering
When Evan Dzurik arrived at Purdue, he wasn’t just choosing a college — he was choosing a direction. A senior in the Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering from Forest Lake, Minnesota, Dzurik will graduate in May 2026 with a Purdue experience shaped by leadership, persistence and a clear belief in the value of applied problem solving.
His connection to Purdue University began well before he started his college search. His grandfather earned both a master’s degree and a PhD from Purdue in the late 1960s and often told Evan that if he ever wanted to study engineering, Purdue was the place to do it. When Evan eventually visited campus, the advice immediately resonated.
“I knew I wanted to major in industrial engineering,” Dzurik said. “When I looked at where Purdue IE graduates were landing jobs and learned about opportunities like the IE-specific career fair and Industrial Roundtable, I felt confident that Purdue would set me up well after graduation.”
Coming from a hometown where attending college — especially far from home — was uncommon, Dzurik was drawn to the idea of carving his own path. While many of his classmates stayed close to home at small state schools, he wanted to immerse himself in a new environment, meet people from different backgrounds and challenge himself in a way few others from his graduating class had.
Choosing industrial engineering helped him resolve an early dilemma between business and engineering. Advice from his father, an engineer, helped clarify the decision. His father often emphasized that engineering graduates bring a way of thinking — analytical, adaptable and solution-focused — that translates across industries. Dzurik saw that mindset reflected in his own experiences growing up.
Although he loved math and science, he didn’t see himself as the stereotypical engineer. Instead, he was always thinking about how to do things better. Family camping trips became early lessons in optimization, as he took over the process of packing the camper refrigerator, mentally calculating how to transport and arrange food efficiently so nothing needed to be unpacked and repacked. That instinct for systems thinking made industrial engineering feel like a natural fit — a discipline that blends technical skills with real-world problem solving and broad career flexibility.
At Purdue, Dzurik quickly became involved both academically and professionally. During his freshman year, he joined RIISE (Reinventing the Interface of Inclusivity, Sports, and Engineering), where he worked on prosthetic design projects aimed at improving sports accessibility. As a sophomore, he joined the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers student chapter, an experience that would shape much of his undergraduate career. He began as an ambassador, speaking with prospective, first-year and admitted students about industrial engineering and the opportunities available within the field. He
later served as vice president of finance, managing chapter transactions ranging from career fair payments to national membership dues, and eventually took on the role of director of industry relations, where he led planning efforts for the SIGMA Career Fair serving the entire School of Industrial Engineering each semester.
His Purdue journey also included moments of doubt. During the second semester of his freshman year, Physics II proved especially challenging. After struggling on the first exam, he began questioning whether engineering was the right path. That changed when he discovered Supplemental Instruction sessions led by a student who had previously excelled in the course. Attending twice a week, Dzurik found clarity through small-group discussions, practice problems and explanations that helped concepts finally click.
“Those sessions made a huge difference,” he said. “I know I wouldn’t have earned the grade I did without them.”
Now nearing graduation, Dzurik is considering two paths forward: accepting a full-time position or returning to Purdue for one additional year to earn a professional master’s degree in industrial engineering. He recently interned with United Airlines in Denver, where he developed a strong interest in the airline industry and data analytics.
“I absolutely loved working for an airline,” he said. “It’s a complex, fast-paced and incredibly interesting. I’ve learned so much in just a short amount of time.”
Reflecting on his experience, he encourages future students to focus less on stress and more on effort. “Work hard and worry less,” he said. “If you put in the work and do your best, the results will work themselves out. In the grand scheme of things, knowing you tried your hardest is what matters most.”