Chemistry - Alumni Profile - Steve Martin

I absolutely would not change a thing about my college education. Hesston did a great of preparing me to be successful at what many consider a top-notch engineering school. Beyond that Hesston also helped me shape my values of faith, relationships, education, and sports. I went to Hesston hoping to learn a little and play basketball, but left with the knowledge of what it means to be a Christian man in the workplace, home, and community. I will always be grateful for my time at Hesston.

Steve Martin, Class of 2004
Process Engineer, Anvil Corporation
Bellingham, Washington

My Hesston experience was amazing and much more than I could have ever anticipated. Both of my older sisters attended Hesston and I became familiar with the school and some of the coaches and professors while visiting them. I attended a small high school in southeastern Colorado and was glad for the transition to another small school for my first years of college. What I liked the most about the size of Hesston was it was small enough to feel personal with other students and professors while still providing everything I could need or want academically, spiritually, and recreationally.

What are your favorite memories from your Hesston years?
Most of my fondest memories of Hesston are from dorm life and basketball. It was really a great experience living with other guys and the friendships that have continued to grow from our time at Hesston. Many of my roommates are still my closest friends five years after graduating from Hesston. There is no way to describe dorm life in words and be able to capture everything that it entails. The relationships made with other students on campus are also something really special. New students at Hesston have an easier time making new friends and getting to know people than at four-year schools. I think that is a huge advantage of starting at a two-year school. Basketball was also a good source of memories. Playing in Yost Center was always a highlight. Everyone was so close to the court which made for some pretty loud games. Beating Johnson County and Brown Mackie at home are still two great memories of my time on the team.

What was your favorite course at Hesston?
My favorite courses were Biblical Literature with Marion Bontrager, and my chemistry courses with Jim Yoder. Both Marion and Jim have such a passion for what they teach. They influenced me as a student in ways that were powerful. Bib Lit was great to learn in depth the story of the Bible and how it ties into your own personal faith story and what it means to be a Christian and, more specifically for me, a Mennonite. Chemistry and Organic Chemistry were interesting to me and actually persuaded me to continue on the path to obtaining my degree in chemical engineering and working as an engineer. Cell biology was another powerful class for me in helping me establish without a doubt my belief that God created the earth and everything on it. I have always had a desire to find truth in theories, so learning about how the human body functions and is built, from a cellular level proved to me that we are a part of God’s plan in creation. That was very moving.
      Jim Yoder and Marion Bontrager were my favorite profs. The passion they had for what they were teaching was contagious, and helped to motivate me to be a better student. They also were helpful outside of class periods and would make time if you had questions.

How did your Hesston education shape you as a person?
It was helpful in establishing my beliefs and values as not only a professional in my field, but also as a man of God. After graduating from Hesston, I transferred to an engineering school that had little emphasis on liberal arts, so being exposed to those types of courses while at Hesston was important later in my academic career, in ways I wasn’t aware of while at Hesston. Also two years of being surrounded by other students who had similar religious values as I did was helpful in establishing and strengthening my own values and beliefs, and what it meant to consider myself a Christian.

Where did you go and what have you done since graduating from Hesston?
After graduating from Hesston, I transferred to Colorado School of Mines and graduated from that institution in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. I have worked as an intern in a couple refineries and have had some great experiences that have allowed me to travel to some neat areas.
      Currently I am working for Anvil Corp. in Bellingham, Wash., as a process engineer. Anvil is involved in the design of refineries and other production facilities all over the northwest and western United States.

What are your professional dreams for the years ahead?
I plan on earning my Professional Engineering license in another four years after I have worked for the required number of years. From what I have learned working as an engineer, I would love to be involved in organizations that do projects all over the world. Currently a chapter of Engineers without Borders is located here in Bellingham and I would love to get involved in some of the projects they work on to help improve the quality of life for people in countries who don’t have the advantages we have living in the U.S.

Do you have any advice for students considering beginning their engineering studies at Hesston?
You would be hard pressed to find a college that does as good of a job preparing you for being an engineer in your first two years of school as what you find at Hesston, and that includes schools specializing in engineering. I feel that my chemistry and math foundations that I obtained from Hesston were pivotal in my success at Colorado School of Mines. At Hesston you work with profs who are well trained and passionate about what they teach. When you need help at Hesston, the professors themselves help you; at larger schools you have to go to teachers assistants or study sessions, and that makes a huge difference in your first years at college.
      You are also much more rounded in your education after going to Hesston, something that many of those schools have a hard time matching. From my experience at Hesston I would strongly urge any student, not just those thinking about going into engineering, to attend. I actually wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after college and changed my mind while at Hesston. The broad base of studies allows you to be exposed to potential areas you would like to go into professionally or study more in-depth.