The small Albanian village Kristina Milaj grew up in is hard to find on a map. But this spirited senior in civil engineering at Oregon State University is making a very visible mark on the world as a standout student, driven humanitarian, peer leader, and capable researcher.
Milaj’s energy is palpable. She is almost always smiling, even when talking about her countless activities, which include Engineers Without Borders, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the steel bridge team, and the Society of Women Engineers.
“Kristina jumps right in, wants to learn, and isn’t afraid to ask questions,” said assistant professor Jason Ideker, who hired Milaj as an undergraduate assistant in his Green Building Materials Laboratory. “She gets involved and thrives with a lot of things going on at once.”
People are noticing her passion and hard work. The American Society of Civil Engineers recently recognized her achievements in 10 New Faces of Civil Engineering – College Edition. The program promotes young civil engineers by highlighting their academic success, volunteerism, and dedication to making a positive impact on society through a chosen profession.
Despite the award’s prestige, Milaj deflects praise: “Luckily, I am surrounded by engineering students who are just as dedicated as myself, and I am glad to represent them by receiving this award.”
A chance encounter
Growing up in Albania, Milaj could never have imagined the life she has now. She was the first girl in her village to go to high school and may not have gone that far if it were not for a chance encounter with Steve Cook, a geosciences instructor at Oregon State University. Cook encouraged Milaj to continue her schooling as part of his charity work with the Albanian Alps Institute, a program that supports improved educational opportunities for youth in Albania.
But Milaj didn’t stop at high school. She enrolled at Oregon State and received a competitive scholarship with the International Cultural Service Program. After a job shadow at CH2M HILL, she gravitated toward civil engineering.
“I realized I wanted to dedicate myself to solving problems through the use of my math and science passion. Engineering seemed like the perfect field for that,” she said.
Beyond borders
As a first-year student, Milaj seized every opportunity to get involved. “I was everywhere,” she said, laughing. “I felt privileged to have the education and opportunities that OSU provided. Also, I like to challenge myself, and getting involved helped me give back to others.”
She was soon elected as a board member for a student humanitarian group, Engineers Without Borders, and was part of the team that traveled to Lela, Kenya, to contribute to a clean water project. In collaboration with community members and teammates, Milaj helped install a well and rainwater catchment system that brought safe drinking water to hundreds of people. The project has been nationally recognized, receiving both the Engineers Without Borders–USA premier project award and the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES) Student Project Award.
Fellow Engineers Without Borders members credit Milaj’s keen leadership skills.
“Kristina is always willing to step into a leadership position by thinking critically and organizing the team’s thoughts so that they can be put into action efficiently,” said Jordan Machtelinckx, former president of Engineers Without Borders, who traveled with Milaj to Kenya. “In a more subtle display of leadership, she is also always willing to encourage another designated leader, offering support and advice.”
Cementing her future
Besides charity work, industry and research experience were important to Milaj. She interned for the city of Vancouver, Wash., where she inspected and coordinated projects between the city and private contractors. As an assistant in Ideker’s lab, she is working with cement-based materials.
In one research project sponsored by Weyerhaeuser, Milaj is helping to assess the effects of adding cellulose fibers to concrete to see whether it enhances performance. Her work could benefit industry and improve aging infrastructure.
“Kristina had to do a large testing matrix that involved casting different cement-based samples with varying amounts of cellulose fibers,” said Ideker. “She had to make sure the specimens were mixed and cured properly, then do the testing, enter the data, and interpret what the data meant.”
The experience grounded her in useful technical skills and challenged her to think holistically about problems.
“In the real world, you want things to be straight and simple,” she said. “But research has taught me that there’s not just one solution. There are so many ways to approach a problem.”
With Milaj’s strong skill set and real-world experience, graduate school and a career in industry are easily within her reach. She plans to pursue both, but she is just not sure which one will come first.
“I’ll knock on lots of doors and see which ones open,” she said.
In the meantime, Milaj encourages fellow students to do as she has done and never let self-limitations get in the way of trying something new.
“You are needed,” she said. “Even though you are going to encounter people with way more knowledge and experience than you, don’t feel ‘unqualified’ to follow your passions. This is your time to learn, explore, and gain important skills you will carry with you wherever you go.”
— Abby P. Metzger
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