Jamie (Groos) Momber was selected as the 2022 recipient of the Paul Ripley Award for Young Alumni. The award was established in 1994 and is presented to graduates who have enjoyed exceptional personal and professional success early in their careers. She is married to fellow Laker Alumnus, Ben Momber. They have two children, Colin (7) and Quinn (5).
Jamie graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2008, with Bachelor of Science degrees in both Computer Networking and Computer Science. While a student at LSSU, she was a member of the Volleyball Team, Alpha Chi, and Student Athlete Advisory Committee. Jamie also was the Outstanding Computer Science Graduate in 2008 and received the GLIAC Post-Graduate Scholarship.
“Lake State checked so many boxes for me,” said Jamie. “I was able to continue a sport I loved at the collegiate level, I was able to remain in the Upper Peninsula at a small school where I knew my professors personally, and I was able to study a field that keeps me learning still today.”
After graduating in 2008, Jamie went on to earn a Master’s degree in Computer Science at Western Michigan University. During this time, she worked on the software for WMU’s VII (Vehicle Infrastructure Integration) program, sponsored by Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). She also taught an undergraduate class each semester as a Teaching Assistant and was recognized with the WMU Graduate Teaching Effectiveness Award. Just prior to graduation from WMU, she was recruited by Steelcase Inc. in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
“When I was considering grad school during my final year at Lake State, I wondered if I would struggle, having come from a smaller university. Turns out, Lake State not only prepared me, but allowed me to excel in the master’s program at Western Michigan University,” said Jamie. “I’m so thankful to the professors in the Computer Science department that gave me an edge over my grad school peers and encouraged me to pursue an advanced degree. At Lake State, I was a name, and not just another student in a large assembly hall. That sounds cliché, but as a Teaching Assistant at Western Michigan University, I had more interaction with students than the actual professor teaching the course and I think that made a huge different in the education I received.”
In her current role as a Senior Application Engineer, she builds solutions for internal business customers working with teams in the US, Mexico, Germany, and Malaysia. In 2019 she was part of a team recognized for custom building an application on PTC’s ThingWorx Navigate. The team presented this application along with a case study to a large group of other PTC customers at the annual LiveWorx Conference in Boston.
Jamie is an established cook and gardener and uses these skills to volunteer with various organizations in the Grand Rapids area, including The Renucci House and Kids Food Basket. Jamie is consistently recognized by her team as being a source of positive energy, deep technical knowledge, and creative “developer” skills. Her drive to serve, to do well, and bring joy to others is inspiring.
Jamie will be formally honored as the 2022 recipient of the Paul Ripley Award for Young Alumni during this year’s Great Lake State Weekend on Friday, October 21.
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