Engineering News Record has just announced the winners of its 2017 Mountain States Top Young Professionals contest, and among them is SCA alumna Lisa Weidemann.
A specialist in mine reclamation with Arcadis U.S. Inc. in Boulder, CO, Lisa (bottom row, second from right) works with engineers and scientists to clean up mining sites and further the understanding of environmental impacts of natural resource extraction.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in 2010 from Michigan Tech University and has already put it to use developing novel strategies to address acidic mine lake water, tackling perpetual sources of radionuclides and metals discharging to surface water and helping to develop passive, sustainable engineering solutions for groundwater afflicted by mine wastes.
Although still a junior engineer, she frequently heads teams with more senior professionals in a variety of disciplines and is described as someone with a knack for translating innovative ideas into safe and cost-effective solutions.
Public service is also a passion; in 2012, she took five months off to volunteer for AmeriCorps, the Student Conservation Association and the U.S. Forest Service to improve hiking trails and assess abandoned mining areas in Idaho.
A lover of the outdoors, she has also “adopted” two campsites on the north shore of Lake Superior.
Other winners include CEOs, architects, engineers, constructors, transportation gurus, professors and project managers, but also sustainability experts and technology whizzes. All have worked hard to mentor colleagues and students on better design and construction practices.