As a third grader at Ivy Stockwell Elementary School, Max Goodrich was enthralled by outer space.
Making a model of Mars in Mrs. Starr’s class was the first of many projects that launched his interest in science. At Turner Middle School’s eighth-grade science fair, Max’s project on hydroelectricity garnered him the first-place ribbon.
“I distinctly remember all the judges saying I should be an engineer,” Goodrich recalled. Thinking he would rather be a physicist, Max plunged into all the physical science courses that Berthoud High School (BHS) had to offer. “The teachers at BHS were amazing, and I have so many of them to thank for setting me up for success in college.”
When Goodrich started touring college campuses, engineering started to make more sense than physics. “The STEM program [at BHS] gave me real engineering experience before graduating.” This helped him choose mechanical engineering as his major at Colorado State University (CSU). While at CSU, Goodrich hit the “jackpot.”…