Kristian Botten, Class of 2011, earned his degree in Engineering Sciences at Bethany Lutheran College. He now serves as an Advanced Field Service Engineer at Beckman Coulter, working on civil construction projects. In the winter, Kristian focuses on estimating multimillion-dollar bids; in the summer, he helps ensure those projects are completed correctly.

Kristian is motivated by the intellectual and practical challenges his work presents. “I like what I do… every day is a challenge. I’m forced to solve different problems every day,” he explains. His goal is to improve his engineering department and eventually move into upper management.

At Bethany, Kristian values how his education shaped critical thinking and creativity. He recalls how engineering projects and problem-sets helped train him to think outside the box. During his time on campus, he even built two hammered dulcimers—an example of hands-on learning and inventive thinking.

His journey—from majoring in Engineering Sciences at Bethany to key roles in civil project estimation and management—illustrates the College’s ability to equip graduates with analytical strength, character, and real-world readiness in technical careers.