ST. THOMAS Engineer ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA | FALL 2025
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SPECIAL IN MINNESOTA Building Something
It has been another year of exciting accomplishments and growth for the School of Engineering. From innovative student projects and impactful research to the continued growth of our partnerships with industry and community, the stories in this issue highlight the vibrant momentum that defines our school. Our greatest strength remains the students, faculty and staff who bring our programs to life, supported by state-of-the-art facilities that fuel innovation and collaboration. Together, these elements make for a truly distinctive engineering education, one that prepares our graduates to lead with both skill and purpose. As always, this magazine is just a snapshot of the energy here at St. Thomas. I invite you to connect with us, drop us a note, follow along on social media, or come visit. And if you are inspired by what you read, I encourage you to support our efforts on this upcoming Tommie Give Day.
With gratitude, Dr. Don Weinkauf Dean, School of Engineering
WANT MORE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING? Explore these stories in full and even more on our Newsroom page! news.stthomas.edu/school-of-engineering
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SUPPORT US THIS TOMMIE GIVE DAY
ON NOV. 4 with the giving period open OCT. 21-NOV. 4.
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Celebrating Our EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS
Transforming Uganda — Brian Osende ’10, ’11 MS, is making a profound difference in Uganda by applying engineering skills to improve infrastructure and empower local communities. His work is demonstrating the global reach of a St. Thomas education.
Balancing Family, Football and Future — Langston Robinson ’25 is a leader on the football field and in the engineering bay. Robinson exemplifies dedication by balancing athletics with advanced studies in product innovation, preparing to lead in both the sports and technology sectors.
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Hands-On Learning, Real-World Results —
Our graduating seniors continue to thrive in the market. The combination of a liberal arts foundation with a rigorous, hands-on engineering educational experience makes a difference. Understanding technology and people is what it is all about.
Tommie Concrete Canoe Competition Club — Our civil engineering students made history by representing the university at the 2025 ASCE Western Great Lakes Student Symposium in Milwaukee, WI. As first-time competitors in this prestigious event, the team showed incredible dedication, innovation and Tommie spirit. Tommie Motorsports Club — The club continues to be one of our most active groups, representing St. Thomas Engineering at multiple recruiting and outreach events. The club was key in supporting our St. Paul Grand Old Day event in June where they helped over 200 kids build flying helicopters in the Family STEM zone.
Faith and Gratitude Fuel Success — Hailing from a family of engineers, Phoebe Frentzel ’25 knows what it takes to find success. With a strong faith to guide her dedication to basketball and her studies, Frentzel has been able to excel as a student athlete at St. Thomas.
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Dr. Brittany Nelson-Cheeseman
Dr. Tom Secord
AI and Society: Testimony at the Minnesota Senate Dr. Manjeet Rege testified before the Minnesota Senate on AI’s societal impacts, advocating for ethical development and responsible use. His leadership guides policy and research in artificial intelligence. Engineering Peace: A Fulbright Hays Scholar’s Journey Dr. Obasesam Okoi, a Fulbright Hays Scholar, inspires the next generation of engineers by combining technical expertise with a commitment to peacebuilding and education, showcasing the diverse paths our students pursue. Celebrating our EXCEPTIONAL FACULTY
Dr. Manjeet Rege
Dr. Obasesam Okoi
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AI-Powered Surgical Analysis In partnership with the University of Minnesota, faculty member Dr. Chih Lai and Jihun Moon ’24 MS developed AI systems to enhance surgical analysis. They’re aiming to improve patient outcomes through advanced technology.
Jihun Moon ‘24 MS and Dr. Chih Lai
Addressing PFAS Pollution Dr. Ali Ling co-authored studies on the environmental and economic costs of PFAS “forever chemicals,” influencing regulatory approaches in Minnesota and Europe.
Dr. Ali Ling
Climate Science and Extreme Weather Dr. John Abraham’s research links rising ocean temperatures to Minnesota’s extreme weather, providing critical insights for climate resilience and policy.
Dr. John Abraham
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Advancing Microgrid Innovation A $2 million grant from Bright Green Energy supports the Center for Microgrid Research, advancing sustainable and resilient energy systems. Strengthening Industry Partnerships St. Thomas leads a five-university consortium awarded $2 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to boost industry collaborations. The funding supports faculty partnerships in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, AI and more. By sharing resources and expertise, the consortium creates a strong network to drive innovation and meet industry needs. Celebrating our EXCEPTIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
Dr. Mahmoud Kabalan
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START Center The St. Thomas Applied & Renewable Technologies START Center is a collaborative hub where university researchers, startups, established industries, and government research labs converge to translate fundamental energy research into applied and use- inspired solutions that drive innovation and advance clean energy technologies. Making the Future of Manufacturing Smarter Through an exclusive partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), St. Thomas and Third Wave Systems now offer free machining modeling training opportunities. The Machining AdvantEdge program delivers a powerful combination of on-demand advanced machining modeling eLearning and hands-on Computer Numerical Control (CNC) optimization boot camp training.
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Celebrating our EXCEPTIONAL FACILITIES Federal and State Support Fuels Expansion at the Center for Microgrid Research The Center for Microgrid Research is expanding, thanks to over $20 million in federal and state funding. This support fuels new research, a growing team, and a new facility with a second microgrid. The expansion will allow students to work on real-world microgrid solutions, preparing them to lead in clean energy and grid modernization.
Schoenecker Center Achieves LEED Gold The Schoenecker Center earned LEED Gold for its
sustainable design, featuring energy-efficient systems and a large underground cistern that recycles rainwater for irrigation. This 130,000-square-foot building supports St. Thomas’ carbon neutrality goals and saves over $100,000 annually in energy costs, showcasing the university’s commitment to green innovation and a healthy learning environment.
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Shaping State-Of-The-Art Students: Blattner Robotics and Automation Lab
Featuring multiple industry-standard robots, the Blattner Robotics Lab provides practical hands-on experience and research opportunities for St. Thomas students in multiple disciplines, preparing them for real-world applications. Environmental Engineering at Work in the Water Lab The Water Lab offers students the opportunity to develop critical skills in water quality analysis and environmental resource management. It’s an essential space for future engineers committed to solving global water issues. Five-Axis Machining Center The fabrication capabilities of the School of Engineering shops have been increased through the addition of a HAAS UMC 500-SS five-axis CNC machining center funded through the START Center and housed in the Center for Advanced Manufacturing. This will allow fast machining of complex parts such as turbine blades, medical devices and airfoils. Precision multi-axis machining will support research projects, senior design projects, Tommie Motor Sports, and prototyping collaborations with industrial partners.
3D Data Visualization Studio The Data Visualization studio features a 32-foot curved 3D display wall funded through an equipment grant from the Army Research Lab. The wall is a powerful resource that enables faculty, students and partners to visualize complex data, uncover patterns and connections, and present findings through interactive, immersive experiences. It also showcases creative projects that bring Ming Dynasty art to life, explore jet engines and offer virtual tours of landmarks.
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School of Engineering, OSS 100 2115 Summit Avenue St. Paul, Minnesota 55105-1096
BUILDING SOMETHING SPECIAL IN MINNESOTA
ST. THOMAS SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING is ranked #1 in Minnesota and #29 in the U.S. - U.S. News & World Report ranking
Read more engineering success stories here:
news.stthomas.edu/school-of-engineering/
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