Alumni Snapshot: Sienna Meekhof
Name: Sienna Meekhof
NHA Schools Attended: Cross Creek Charter Academy, Class of 2013; Grand River Prep High School, Class of 2017
Colleges Attended and Degrees Earned: Michigan Technological University (B.S. 2021) & Ohio University (M.S. 2026)
Current Employer & Position: Senior Staff Geologist, SME
Tell us about your journey since you graduated from NHA: After graduating from Grand River Prep, I attended Michigan Tech for my Bachelor’s in Geology. During this time, I did a co-op with the Geotechnical Group at SME (which is a 6-month internship program SME has) and got in-field experience before graduating and then got further in-field experience with our Geology and Geophysical Field Camps in the Geology Department at Michigan Tech. During my time at Michigan Tech, I was also a student member of AIPG (American Institution of Professional Geologists) and was on the board for my universities chapter. After graduating, I received an offer to return to SME in the Lansing office and will hit my five-year mark with SME in April. I have also continued being a member of AIPG, volunteering on the Michigan Section’s executive committee and select national committees and hope to achieve my Certified Professional Geologist certificate through them in the upcoming year. I was recognized this summer for my effort to mentor early career professionals with the John Stewart Memorial Early Career Professional Award. From August 2025 to August 2026, I also attended an online master’s program in Geological Science through Ohio University, with support from my team at SME.
Which Moral Focus™ virtue has best shaped your life and why? Perseverance (or #tenacity as we like to say at Michigan Tech!) is the NHA Moral Focus virtue which has shaped my life the most. Something I have recently started to share with peers and young professionals or students when they ask how to grow professionally is “show up”. Even if it feels hard, or uncomfortable, the first step is always to show up and be present. It seems so simple! And yet, I see a lot of people miss out on opportunities because they don’t. I even tell myself this when pushing through difficult seasons of life and I truly believe that persevering and “showing up” is what has brought me where I am today through my undergraduate degree, AIPG, my career, and going for a graduate degree while working full time.
How did your NHA schools help prepare you for your academic and life experiences? I went to NHA schools kindergarten through my senior year of high school, so the moral focus virtues have been ingrained into me – but beyond that, I truly believe that both Cross Creek and Grand River instilled a hard work-ethic in me with challenging classes and passionate teachers. I apply this work ethic every day at SME, making sure I get the job done and get it done the right way! At Grand River, I felt like volunteering was highly encouraged, which I believe has led to my contribution to AIPG and other local organizations.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with us? NHA schools were a large part of my life, and I am thankful for the values that we practiced every day as I think it's a large part of who I have become in my adult life and career.