Wendy Carr defines perseverance.
In August of 2018, at the age of 42, Carr returned to college to obtain a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from The University of Toledo.
CELEBRATING SUCCESS: UToledo recognizes the Class of 2023 with a series of stories featuring students receiving their degrees at spring commencement.
“We had a quiz in our first chemistry recitation – it was basic algebra, just making sure we were up to speed,” she said. “I couldn’t figure out why my handwriting looked weird, then I realized it was because my hand was shaking. The numbers might not have looked perfect, but the answers were all correct.
“A month later, the afternoon of Oct. 2, I shook through my first mid-term, but I did fine: I’d later learn that I’d gotten an A.”
The relief of passing that first milestone was short-lived, though, because on the night of Oct. 2, her husband was taken to the emergency room for apparent dehydration. He was moved to the intensive care unit but passed away the next day.
When reflecting on that time, Carr shared, “There were a great many things that came after that. There was that first winter when I wasn’t sure how I was going to make it, there were two car accidents (neither was my fault, for the record), a property sold, a house bought, moving, furnace outages, backed-up sewer lines, one really quick temporary relocation to Cincinnati, leaking water pipes, a global pandemic, the time I was blind for a month (I’m not even kidding), and the ongoing tragedy of keeping up with mowing my yard. Through all the chaos there have been classes, lectures, labs, homework, exams, reports, presentations and research.”
Through it all, though, she stayed on course with her required co-ops.
Her third co-op was with Verdantas, which then hired her part time while Carr was finishing her degree.
With Verdantas she has been working on the Delaware/Clark Island Restoration Project in the Maumee River, helping with research and costing estimates for the project.
Carr is gradauating May 6 with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from The University of Toledo.
The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, the city of Toledo and the Maumee AOC Advisory Committee (MAAC) are working to improve water quality and aquatic habitat while helping to restore and protect Clark Island and Delaware/Horseshoe Islands, which are in the Maumee River near Walbridge Park and are owned by the city of Toledo.
When asked who most influenced her during her time at UToledo, Carr had a long list that included Dr. Defne Apul, professor and chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Dr. Eddie Chou, a professor of civil engineering and director of the Transportation Systems Research Lab.
“During the time Wendy was in my transportation I course, we were all wearing masks,” Chou said. “However, even with the added obstacle of communicating through masks, Wendy stood out as an exceptional student. Later, I was delighted to recruit her to participate in my research projects, and she also excelled in my online systems modeling course the following semester. Throughout that time, Wendy consistently impressed me.
“Working with her has been an absolute pleasure, and as an educator, I will always treasure this gratifying experience.”
Apul added: “I first got to meet Wendy in May 2020 when I worked with Hull and Associates (now Verdantis) to provide a client-based design experience to replace the company co-ops that students could not do due to Covid restrictions. Wendy rose as the leader of the student group at that time, and she assumed many leadership roles in the department and college since then. Wendy’s strong sense of purpose, desire to learn and help others have been inspiring to say the least. Also, she does excellent work with a great attitude and humor. She may be the one getting the degree but certainly, we have all learned a lot from Wendy.”
Carr is talking to employers and still weighing her options for post-graduation.
“As for my dream job, it’s project management. I like systems – people and networks and processes. Not just the building shell, for example, but how the whole structure and all its utilities come together, and how it both affects and is affected by its environment and the people who use it.”
But more than persevering, Wendy has continued to shine on the path she began five years ago.
“On Saturday, May 6, 2023, I will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering with a sustainability studies minor. There’s also a new dog that lives with me now — a rescue who, quite literally, found me. I’m not sure what life is going to look like after graduation, but I’ve made it through the last five years. It wasn’t always graceful, it was mostly hard and messy and painful, but I don’t shake through tests anymore. I think I’m ready for anything likely to come next.”
Wendy Carr, center, with members of her Verdantas Co-Op, which has been working on the Delaware/Clark Island Restoration Project in the Maumee River, helping with research and costing estimates.
