Craig Smallegan

Craig Smallegan, Trine sophomore civil engineering

Craig Smallegan is a long way from his Dalhart, Texas, home, and he says there′s never a dull moment or any down time at Trine – and he likes that.

"I′m considering getting my master′s here at Trine so I can continue to enjoy all that campus life has to offer," said Smallegan, a sophomore civil engineering major.

Smallegan is active with Christian Campus House, the American Society of Civil Engineers student chapter and the Trine Ski Club, and serves as a tour guide and freshman orientation leader.

"I have found that these organizations give you a great opportunity to connect to other students because just being in a few clubs has provided me with a large group of friends I greatly value," he said.

He also values Trine′s faculty and staff, the academic quality and the engineering school.

"Every single person on the faculty and staff at Trine cares about you as a person," he said. "I know and talk with all of my professors on a first–name basis and can walk into their offices at any time with any question."

He equates the smaller class size with academic quality because "the classes are small enough for meaningful personal interaction with professors. Also, the professors are knowledgeable and able to make their lectures both fun and understandable.

"A.J. Alnaser, Ph.D., my calculus II professor, has had the biggest impact. He helped me understand a difficult subject, and the importance of it as an engineer. He made a complex class fun and exciting and showed me how much potential I really have," Smallegan said. Alnaser is a member of the mathematics and informatics department.

Smallegan also has kind words for his department. "I love the Allen School of Engineering because all of the students and faculty in it are able to talk with me about the projects and classes I am working on," he said.

Smallegan didn′t say whether it′s his professors or study habits that have helped him land on the President′s List during his first two semesters at Trine. One thing is more certain: he′ll continue to make the best of his time at Trine.