Family traditions are very important in Kendall Miller’s family. As she prepares to graduate Saturday, Dec. 14, with a degree in mechanical engineering, she follows in the footsteps of her mom, Deborah Givens, and her dad, Marc Miller, who graduated from UToledo in 1995 and 1993, respectively.
The family tradition has continued to now include Kendall’s brother, Landon, a third-year mechanical engineer, and sister, Mallory, a first-year environmental engineer.
CELEBRATING SUCCESS: UToledo recognizes the Class of 2024 with a series of stories featuring students receiving their degrees at fall commencement.
Kendall chose engineering at The University of Toledo because she enjoyed math and dreamed of working with roller coasters one day, and she knew Toledo had an excellent engineering program.
Marc Miller, who works on UToledo’s Health Science Campus as manager of technology support said, “I am stunned and so proud that, in the end, all three went into engineering and all three are in the band.”
Kendall, who has completed all of her integrated engineering co-ops, said she knows that the rollercoasters may have to wait for a little while.
“I had two rotations with Campbell Soup company, as a team lead intern, and two with LogistiQ, as an application engineer and as a process engineer intern,” she said. “I enjoyed my time at both places and learned a lot. In both of these co-ops, I gained a lot of leadership experience and got to see what LogistiQ was like from the application side and then from the production side as a process intern.”
Having three siblings all in engineering on the same campus is unusual enough, but they are also all in the Rocket Marching Band.
“My last semester at The University of Toledo has really been a relaxed and fun semester so far,” Kendall said. “Part of the reason it has been so fun is that I get to be in the Rocket Marching Band with both my siblings. I have been doing marching band since I was a freshman in high school but marching with both my brother and sister has made this season so much fun.”
Kendall Miller, center, who graduates Dec. 14 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, poses with her family: mom, Deborah Givens, and dad, Marc Miller, who graduated from UToledo in 1995 and 1993, respectively; and brother, Landon, a third-year mechanical engineer, and sister, Mallory, a first-year environmental engineer.
Kendall and Landon both play saxophone and are line leaders during the pregame performance. During their pre-game performance, they end up marching right next to each other, with Mallory, who is a member of the color guard, in front of her siblings.
Dr. Andrew Rhodes, associate director of bands, said the siblings are all talented performers.
“Kendall’s first fall with the Rocket Marching Band was during the pandemic, which was such a challenge for bands and their students,” Rhodes said. “Even with the modifications that semester, it was clear she was leading by example. It makes me so proud that not only is she earning her degree while marching all five years, but she is also serving as one of our section leaders this season. And we are so spoiled to have all three Millers marching at once. Not only are they talented performers and students, but they also consistently demonstrate their passion and commitment to UToledo and the RMB and seek improvement every day — both for themselves and for those around them. I can’t thank their parents, Deborah and Marc, enough for sharing such wonderful young people with us.”
Kendall said it was a cool feeling to march on the field with her siblings.
“As I complete my last semester at UToledo, I feel very accomplished and proud to be graduating from the school my parents graduated from, my dad works at, and where I got to go to school with my siblings,” she said.
