Bradley Wheeler

Bradley Wheeler's unrelenting curiosity has served him well at St. Ambrose.

"I ask a lot of questions. I don't like leaving any question unanswered," he said.

His drive to find the best answers and create the best solutions led him to study two different aspects of engineering: industrial and mechanical; to lead undergraduate research seeking ways to clean the sediment in rivers and lakes; to study abroad in Rome, Brazil and Germany; and to push himself academically and always do his very best.

All the while, he gained a second family and lasting friendships as a Fighting Bee tennis player and took time to guide younger peers as vice president of the Engineering Club.

Bradley graduated magna cum laude on May 9 with a double major in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering, and will soon launch his professional career working for the federal government on the Rock Island Arsenal.

Bradley came to St. Ambrose already decided on a career path. "I like the creative aspect of engineering," he said. "There are a million ways an engineering problem can be solved, and none of them are right or wrong. I always want to find the best way to do it."

Instead of living on campus, he chose to live at home in Moline and broaden his world perspective through study abroad. His first summer trip was a 3.5-week course focused on genocide, rebellion, and God in Nazi Germany. His second was a three-week engineering service trip in Brazil where he and classmates delivered assistive technology they had designed and built for children, adults, and hospitals.

"One of the kids we were helping has Cerebral Palsy. He couldn't talk and had never walked on his own," Bradley said. The students presented him with a walker. "His mom was there, and for the first time, as soon as his helper let go, he was walking and started calling out to his mom. She just burst into tears.

"It was an unexplainable experience. A lot of people think engineers just sit there and solve math problems all day without thinking about why they are doing it. That experience showed me engineers are really there to help make life easier and better for people," he said.

His last trip abroad was to Rome, learning about the ancient city and its ties to SAU during winter 2019-20.

Bradley's foray into undergraduate research began during his first year at SAU. He was a work-study for the engineering department, and Associate Professor Susa Stonedahl, PhD, was working to find a method to remove pollutants and nutrients trapped within the sediment in freshwater rivers and lakes. It caught his full attention.

"I became so focused on helping her that I ended up becoming her full-time research student," he said.

A paper he co-authored about the research was published last year in the International Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities. Then, he was the main author of a second paper which has been accepted for future publication in the PennScience Journal. He also presented at two undergraduate research conferences, including the Illinois-Iowa section of the American Chemical Society.

Bradley did not realize the last day he spent in the hydrology lab at SAU would be his last. And while he understands why campus closed, he's disappointed he did not get to finish the research.

"It's just more for her next research student to continue working on," Bradley said. Plus, research, by its very nature, is never-ending. "We can always find answers but the research will always keep going and going," he said.

That never-ending pursuit for advancement is something Bradley practices. During mock interviews at SAU, he turned the tables and asked each engineer to tell him one thing they wish they had learned in college. Bradley listened to what each had to say, then enrolled in classes to learn code and computer programming. "It was a skill I could add to my resume, something I would have that would set me apart. That's what I focused on," he said.

His four years at St. Ambrose made an impact that went far beyond academics. "I'll miss everything, having that sense of community, being able to see everyone. We were all focused on one main thing and we were all working at it together," he said.

And, all of his experiences led him to another question he can't wait to answer.

Bradley's new employer won't divulge what he will be working on as an engineer for the federal government until he starts work. "I'm not sure what my job entails, but I'm very intrigued and extremely excited."