Schemmer’ Kathol Named Young Engineer of the Year; demonstrated curiosity early on.

OMAHA, NEBRASKA (June 2003) -- Unlike most kids, Steve Kathol’s childhood pastimes didn’t focus on playing with toys. He was more concerned with taking his toys apart and rebuilding them to make them “better.”

Nebraska’s 2002-2003 Young Engineer of The Year, now 34, was initially preoccupied with electricity – perhaps dangerously so.

“It was a thirst for wanting to know how electronics and electricity worked,” he says.

He once built a transistor radio with an electrical kit, but he couldn't get the volume loud enough. He thought the two AA batteries didn’t give out enough power, so he cut the power cord off an old clock to "boost” the radio’s power.

“When I plugged it in, sparks went flying, and I 'fried' the outlet,” he recalls.

Kathol also frequently tasked himself with building structures with Lego’s, Erector Sets or using scrap in the neighborhood to build go-carts and forts. The 1988 Burke High graduate decided to pursue structural engineering when he took a Physics class.

“When I got to high school, my passion turned from electronics and electricity to forces and stresses and how structures stand up.”

Kathol now heads the bridge design group of Omaha-based architecture-engineering firm Schemmer, where he is directly responsible for all bridge engineering and management activities.

“I think I’ve got the best job in the world. I’m faced with unique problems every day. When you solve these problems, you see your ideas go down on paper and then get constructed. And the result is people actually using your ideas in every-day life -- that’s very exciting.”

Kathol was recognized last summer by the Nebraska Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) as the organization’s Young Engineer of the Year. NSPE presents the award annually to an engineer age 35 or younger who has made outstanding contributions to the engineering profession and their community. The recipient must demonstrate exceptional educational and collegiate achievements, professional engineering achievements, participation in professional and technical societies and civic activities, and maintain a consistent record of continuing education.

“I am deeply honored to have been recognized by my peers with this award. I take great pride in being a member of a profession that is responsible for the quality of life for all aspects of society, and considers the health and welfare of the public to be paramount.”

Kathol holds a bachelor’s of science degree in civil engineering and a master’s of science degree in structural engineering from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln.

He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Nebraska, Iowa and five other states, and a licensed Structural Engineer in Illinois. Since joining Schemmer in 1994, Kathol has been involved in many successful design projects and was Structural Engineer-of-Record on many building and bridge structures located throughout the Midwest. He has performed engineering services for organizations such as the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Creighton University, Nebraska Health System, Airlite Plastics, Nebraska Department of Roads, and the Iowa Department of Transportation.

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