Get to Know: Krista Riester

Each year, departments in the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Wyoming nominate their top graduating senior for the Wyoming Engineering Society Student Engineer of the Year honor. The WES Scholarships and Awards Committee will review written nomination forms and interview each candidate to select the Student Engineer of the Year.

Name: Krista Riester
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Major: Civil Engineering

Why did you choose UW for your education? I’m a fourth-generation UW student. For the past three generations, my family has attended UW, so I knew I would, too.

Why did you want to study engineering? Sometime in middle school, an engineer visited my classroom to talk about various environmental issues and he showcased how engineers solved those problems. That really sparked my interest in engineering in general. As I finished up high school, I realized I was good at math and I liked doing it, and I remembered that presentation.

What sets UW engineering apart? We have phenomenal professors that make your time worth it. They have a good understanding of what students need to learn and how they learn best. They’re capable of attaching the academic curriculum to the industry and how you’d apply it in a job. This will be useful in your career, so they’ll teach you.

Do you participate in any extracurricular activities? I’m involved in the American Society of Civil Engineers chapter and I’ve participated in the concrete canoe challenge team for three years. I do it to compete with my peers and have fun and be more involved with the engineering community.

What are your post-graduation plans? I hope to get an environmental engineering job in Wyoming. After five years working under a professional engineer, I plan to be certified as a professional engineering and use that to practice in Wyoming.

What are some of your thoughts on being the department nominee for such a prestigious honor? It was a big surprise. I didn’t realize anyone took notice of those things. I was honored to be nominated by my adviser.