MSES Makes a Difference -Investing in Students and Building Tomorrow's Leaders

After a busy summer full of interning and gaining practical work experience, the 2019-2020 MSES Scholarship Program winners are busy preparing for the upcoming school year.  For many, that also means getting their finances in order to pay for another year of school.  While the Annual MSES Scholarship Program winners are announced in the Spring, funds are not disbursed until closer to the start of the awarded school year.  

Jaakob Pesola, a current student at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities and 2019-2020 Scholarship Award Winner of the Ulland, Weinel, McGray Scholarship (designated for materials/asphalt paving/civil engineering), recently reached out to MSES to express gratitude upon receipt of his scholarship award this past month:

Dear MSES Scholarship Committee and MSES Members,
 
I am very excited and grateful to be a recipient of the Ulland, McGray, Weinel Materials Scholarship for the upcoming 2019-2020 academic year at the University of Minnesota. This generous award will go a long way in helping me finance my way through the Civil Engineering program at the University of Minnesota. I offer my most sincere gratitude not only from me, but also from my family as we are making sacrifices together to secure a promising future with my career in the engineering field. 

Jaakob with his wife Clea and 2-year old son, Soren

While growing up in the small town of Clearwater MN, my love of nature and the outdoors began along the banks of the Mississippi. I now live in Minneapolis with my wife Clea and 2-year-old son Soren. I am an avid outdoorsman and musician. Any chance I get is spent in nature, either with my family camping, canoeing, and hiking, fishing from my kayak, or heading North to hunt in the Fall. This connection with nature is what drew me to Civil Engineering.
 
I plan to use my degree, combined with my 7 years of experience working in the highway-heavy construction industry to find innovative and sustainable solutions to our aging infrastructure and expanding society. I will find a position where I engage in ongoing learning, networking, and interdisciplinary collaboration to use new strategies and technology along with existing methods to form my own brand of leadership. 
 
Much of engineering is problem-solving and getting great minds together with different skill sets and new vantage points to yield the greatest results. MSES' mission of bringing industry leaders together aligns directly with my career goals and will be a great asset as I find my place within the industry. I look forward to the networking opportunities MSES has to offer and the people I will meet from within the organization. Again, I offer my sincere heartfelt gratitude and hope to meet in person soon.
 
Sincerely,
 
Jaakob R. Pesola

MSES is honored to support students like Jaakob as we continue our work investing in the Minnesota transportation infrastructure industry by attracting and building tomorrow's leaders.  Good luck to all of our scholarship winners as you head back to school this Fall:  We know you will make us proud!