Rachel Helm named biosystems Outstanding Student
3/24/17 7:00 AM
When I was only three, my father accepted a job in Indonesia, and my family was uprooted from my hometown of New Orleans. In Indonesia, my family and I literally lived in the middle of a rainforest. I spent my days capturing insects to watch them grow, planting pineapples and bananas, and splitting rocks to examine their intricate insides. Life was an adventure, and it was in Indonesia that I fell in love with the beauty, complexity, and importance of the environment. As a result, my decision to major in biosystems engineering was inevitable: it fed my passion for engineering and the environment. I knew that a degree in Biosystems Engineering would provide the tools to make a positive impact on the world around me. Through my time at Auburn, I have truly poured myself into the university and my curriculum. Whether as the Vice President of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, a Cupola Engineering Ambassador, or even on jobsites committee for the Big Event, I have thoroughly enjoyed serving my department and my university. As a result, I am honored and thrilled to be selected as the Outstanding Engineering Student for Biosystems Engineering. After graduation, I plan to pursue a career in Water Resources Engineering and attain my Professional Engineering license. Additionally, I hope to continue to promote the STEM fields to young women. I am so incredibly thankful for the endless support of my professors, mentors, family, and friends.
![Jonathan Pettus has been named executive director of the Auburn University Applied Research Institute. [Credit: UAH]](../../../news/2025/cropped---2025-01-28T151609.915.jpg)
