NOTRE DAME OFFENSIVE LINEMAN JOE ALT NAMED
MILITARY BOWL STEM SCHOLAR-ATHLETE PRESENTED BY BUILDSUBMARINES.COM
University of Notre Dame offensive lineman Joe Alt, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering, has been named a Military Bowl STEM Scholar-Athlete presented by BuildSubmarines.com.
Alt, who is from North Oaks, Minnesota, has a grade-point average of 3.243. He has been interested in STEM subjects from an early age and was part of his high school’s engineering academic program that included a capstone project to make an everyday activity or tool more efficient. Alt and his classmate chose to find better ways to improve an ice fishing tip-up. That experience helped Alt select mechanical engineering as his college major.
At Notre Dame, Alt has continued his inventive thinking through a variety of projects, using tools such as 3-D printers and CAD software. One project he undertook led him to build a “basic machine” to hold a computer and a phone. In a current course, Design Tools II, he designed a fidget spinner using a 3-D printer.
“Joe is a pleasure to teach,” said Michael J. Seelinger, Ph.D, director of undergraduate studies in Notre Dame’s Department of Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering. “He cares deeply about mastering the material presented in his courses. He has the courage to ask and answer questions, even in a large classroom setting. During my help sessions for my Mechanics II course, Joe frequently volunteered to lead me through the solution to the problems we were working on as a class. Joe possesses a great sense of humor and seems to always have a smile on his face. In fact, during group work, Joe’s groups always have a lot of fun while also producing high caliber work. Despite his fame for his prowess on the football field, he enjoys being just another engineering student in the program.”
On the field, Alt is in his third year as a starter and recently was named one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy, awarded to the nation’s best lineman. Although he has another year of eligibility remaining, he is considered a top prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Military Bowl and BuildSubmarines.com are proud to announce the members of the third annual Military Bowl STEM Scholar-Athlete Program, recognizing some of the brightest minds taking the football field in the ACC and the American Athletic Conference.
“The Military Bowl STEM Scholar-Athlete Program presented by BuildSubmarines.com recognizes some of the brightest minds taking the football field each weekend,” Military Bowl Foundation President & Executive Director Steve Beck said. “Together with BuildSubmarines.com, we commend these student-athletes for their ability to succeed on the field and in the classroom while managing a most challenging course load.”
The Military Bowl STEM Scholar-Athlete Program honors one football player at each university that is a member of the ACC and the American Athletic Conference – the two conferences that are represented in the Military Bowl college football game. These players are studying STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) subjects and/or aspire to STEM careers.
“STEM education is the cornerstone of innovation, equipping the next generation with critical thinking skills to tackle global challenges,” said Kiley Wren, co-founder and co-chief executive at BlueForge Alliance, owners and operators of BuildSubmarines.com. “These courses prepare students for purposeful, high-demand career paths while fostering adaptability, collaboration, and technological literacy. At BlueForge Alliance, empowering individuals with a stable foundation of knowledge pairs directly into our mission of ensuring a resilient and adaptable skilled trades workforce ready to meet the demands of revitalizing our nation’s defense. We’re proud to join the Military Bowl in recognizing outstanding student athletes aiming to make an impact off the field while supporting their fellow students’ pursuits.”
