3/11/2022 Maddie Yang 3 min read
Written by Maddie Yang
Anthony Valiaveedu, a third-year student in MechSE, was named one of this year’s nine Knights of St. Patrick.
The Knights of St. Patrick is an honor awarded to students who demonstrate leadership characteristics, excellence of character, and exceptional contribution to The Grainger College of Engineering. The award originated at the University of Missouri, Columbia, where students claimed St. Patrick must have been an engineer to have been able to drive all the snakes from Ireland, and since then the honor has represented excellence in engineering fields.
Valiaveedu, originally from Glenview, Illinois, followed in his brother’s footsteps by enrolling in the U of I. He liked the wide range of opportunities, technical and non-technical, that Illinois provided as well as the fact that “there is something unique you can find on campus every day: the steam tunnels, various labs… Boneyard creek is especially nice in the summertime.”
Valiaveedu’s varied extracurricular interests include policy-making. On campus he is the president of the Society of Engineering Mechanics and also wrote two articles for the Illini Journal of International Security (IJIOS) on foreign policy, one on artificial intelligence and how it affects the geopolitical landscape and another on why the United States should ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child.
These interests outside of mechanical engineering led him to use his technical skills to work for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) under the nuclear material safety and safeguards branch. Starting as an intern last summer, Valiaveedu continued his work during the school year for a co-op and, after he graduates in May, he will begin working for them full-time in Rockville, Maryland.
“I enjoy working with the NRC because I know the work I’m doing protects not only the people of the United States but also the people of the world,” said Valiaveedu.
Valiaveedu has really enjoyed being a Knight of St. Patrick so far because of the community it creates within engineering. “It’s interesting to see how different departments and different people all have very similar experiences, even though we come from different backgrounds and areas. I got closer with a lot of students I think I never would have met before.”
Outside of school, Valiaveedu enjoys cooking, including making his own strawberry jam and milk tea. He’s looking forward to graduating in a few months and starting his career with the NRC.
Congratulations to all of the 2022 Knights of St. Patrick!
- Stefany Boyas (CEE)
- Christina Garcia (CEE)
- Erika Jarosch (AeroE)
- Grace Levita (MatSE)
- Linda Nguessan (ISE)
- Ali Nunes (MatSE)
- Ege Gungor Onal (BioE)
- Yvonne Smith (CompE)
- Anthony Valiaveedu (MechSE)