For over 15 years, Sargent & Lundy has supported the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign MechSE Alumni Board through sustained leadership and service. This year, Kevin Traeger, a project manager for the firm, will join the board for a five-year term. Mark Santschi, a senior vice president and the director of operations for Sargent & Lundy, will complete his five-year term on the board.
The MechSE Alumni Board serves as an advisory body for the university’s Department of Mechanical Science & Engineering. Board members from various companies provide an industry lens for UIUC, ensuring the MechSE program’s focus remains relevant to evolving engineering needs. The board supports the department and its students by contributing to fundraising efforts, sponsoring senior design projects, and providing seminar speakers.
Santschi, a 1986 UIUC mechanical engineering alum, joined the board in 2020, succeeding former Sargent & Lundy Senior Vice President Dave Wright, who followed former Sargent & Lundy Senior Vice President Paul Predick. During his term, Santschi helped fund the renovation of UIUC’s Mechanical Engineering Building, which was completed in 2022. He supported the board’s fundraising efforts and was part of a $500,000 contribution from Sargent & Lundy executives. The project transformed the building into a modern space with instructional labs, a maker space, and active-learning classrooms, exemplifying the community impact Sargent & Lundy has achieved through its continued board presence.
Traeger, a project manager for the firm, earned both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in mechanical engineering from UIUC in 2002 and 2005, respectively. During his time there, Traeger was a lab research assistant and a member of the Marching Illini band. Before becoming a MechSE Alumni Board member, Traeger was a frequent resource for the university, presenting at seminar series’, assisting with STEM summer camps for pre-college students, and sponsoring senior design projects. He looks forward to contributing even more in his new role and sharing industry-oriented feedback to help shape university initiatives.
Drawing on 15-plus years of board leadership and a deep commitment to the next generation of STEM leaders, Sargent & Lundy aims to guide UIUC MechSE students and advance the department’s educational mission. By maintaining a supportive presence at the university, the firm provides future engineers valuable insight they may not gain from technical coursework, such as fostering client relationships. As a global leader in the power and energy industry, Sargent & Lundy remains dedicated to giving back to STEM education and providing learning opportunities for students.