{"id":65760,"date":"2025-02-26T08:40:56","date_gmt":"2025-02-26T13:40:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/?p=65760"},"modified":"2025-03-04T08:36:02","modified_gmt":"2025-03-04T13:36:02","slug":"a-triple-threat-in-mechanical-engineering-riggs-siblings-building-their-futures-together","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2025\/02\/a-triple-threat-in-mechanical-engineering-riggs-siblings-building-their-futures-together\/","title":{"rendered":"A triple threat in mechanical engineering: Riggs siblings building their futures together"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"From

From left: Luke, Isabella and Matthew Riggs. Photo by Angela Foster.<\/p><\/div>\n

For many college freshmen, finding a study group can be a challenge. But for triplets Isabella, Luke and Matthew Riggs, their study partners have been the same since birth.<\/p>\n

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga mechanical engineering majors are inseparable\u2014attending every class together, taking the same coursework and earning identical 4.0 GPAs.<\/p>\n

Their presence in the classroom hasn\u2019t gone unnoticed by their professors\u2014who marvel at their academic excellence, discipline and the rare dynamic of having three high-achieving siblings excelling in the same rigorous field.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese three, I mean, they take classes together, they sit side by side, front row together,\u201d said Dr. James C. Newman, professor and head of UTC\u2019s Department of Mechanical Engineering. \u201cEverywhere you go, you see them together. They are close-knit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Newman, who has the three in his Introduction to Engineering Computations course, has had many talented students walk through his doors over the years\u2014but said he has never seen anything quite like the Riggs siblings.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had students like this before, to be completely honest. And there\u2019s three of them,\u201d said Newman\u2014who came to UTC in 2011 after spending 14 years in Mississippi State University\u2019s aerospace engineering program. \u201cThey\u2019re engaged, they\u2019re eager, they\u2019re hardworking.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be completely honest with you, they inspire me and motivate me as a faculty member.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The

The Riggs triplets\u2014Luke (left), Isabella and Matthew\u2014work in Dr. Reetesh Ranjan’s fluid mechanics laboratory in the Engineering and Computer Science building.<\/p><\/div>\n

Isabella, Luke and Matthew grew up in a household that nurtured curiosity. Their father, Eric, is a mechanical engineer. Their mother, Rebecca, is a chemist.<\/p>\n

The triplets, who also have an older brother, quickly found that they thrive in a structured, problem-solving environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all work together to ensure that everyone understands everything,\u201d Isabella said. \u201cOur parents placed a whiteboard up for us. All three of us can complete our homework and study for quizzes and tests by doing plenty of practice problems on the whiteboard.\u201d<\/p>\n

After one year at East Hamilton High School in Ooltewah, Tennessee, they enrolled at Collegiate High\u2014a dual-enrollment program at Chattanooga State Community College. They spent eight total semesters in that program\u2014including two summers\u2014and earned their high school diplomas and associate degrees in May 2024.<\/p>\n

Isabella said they pursued mechanical engineering at Collegiate High because it \u201callowed us to get most of the gen eds out of the way as well as calculus, linear algebra, statics and dynamics courses.\u201d<\/p>\n

The triplets became the first mechanical engineering cohort to go through the Collegiate High program.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was thrilling to say that you could do it,\u201d Luke said. \u201cNobody else had done it in the 20-year history of the school being open. Being able to say you\u2019re the first to do something is always a good feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

They arrived at UTC last fall as 18-year-olds with 98 credit hours already completed\u2014although they consider themselves freshmen on paths to receive bachelor\u2019s degrees in 2027\u2014and that head start propelled them straight into junior-level engineering courses.<\/p>\n

Not only did they handle the transition, but they excelled.<\/p>\n

Dr. Cecelia Wigal, UC Foundation professor and associate dean of undergraduate programs in UTC\u2019s College of Engineering and Computer Science, has the Riggs triplets for Introduction to Engineering Design.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re very good, strong students,\u201d Wigal said. \u201cNot just strong in terms of performance, but they have a desire to learn. They want to do things, they want to take in the information and they want to do well.\u201d<\/p>\n

When she first saw their names listed together on her class roster, Wigal wasn\u2019t sure if they were siblings or simply shared a common last name. It wasn\u2019t until introductions that she learned they were triplets.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m learning just because they\u2019re triplets doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re exactly the same,\u201d said Wigal, a member of the UTC faculty since 1999. \u201cThey come with their personalities and they\u2019re their own people in how they relate. They\u2019re individuals, but they\u2019re all go-getters.\u201d<\/p>\n

\""We

“We all work together to ensure that everyone understands everything,” Isabella Riggs said of her brothers Matthew (left) and Luke.<\/p><\/div>\n

As triplets, their closeness extends far beyond the classroom.<\/p>\n

They live at home, commute together, and even work together as tutors and test proctors in ChattState\u2019s Math Center\u2014where they help students in subjects ranging from algebra to differential equations.<\/p>\n

Studying together is second nature to them, something that\u2019s been part of their daily routine for as long as they can remember.<\/p>\n

They each have distinct academic strengths\u2014Luke in thermodynamics, Isabella in computations and Matthew in engineering structures\u2014allowing them to help each other in different subjects.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we study, we play to each other\u2019s strengths,\u201d Isabella explained. \u201cIf one of us is struggling with a concept, the others step in and explain it in a way that makes sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLike Isabella said, if I\u2019m struggling with fluids or computations, I can go to her or Luke and vice versa,\u201d Matthew said. \u201cWe help each other out and we study together a lot\u2014especially when it comes to quizzes and exams.\u201d<\/p>\n

Isabella said it\u2019s incredibly valuable to have that built-in support system, likening their teamwork to a poker game.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know each other\u2019s strengths and weaknesses and we play them to our advantage,\u201d she said. \u201cIt makes us stronger as students.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite their shared path, each triplet has a unique vision for the future.<\/p>\n

Isabella, the oldest and the leader of the three\u2014according to her brothers\u2014has a keen interest in biomedical engineering. She recently connected with Assistant Professor Hamdy Ibrahim about research opportunities.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy interest is in computational medicine or improving current medical equipment and drug delivery systems to improve patient outcomes,\u201d she said. \u201cThat is very interesting to me and that\u2019s what I would like to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Luke, born second, is drawn to thermodynamics and fluid dynamics. He said he\u2019s fascinated by the mechanics of HVAC systems, heat pumps and steam power plants.<\/p>\n

\u201cI took Thermo-1 last semester and absolutely loved it,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s complex, but it\u2019s so interesting to see how everything fits together. I want to do research in that field and see where it takes me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lego bricks, he said, played a role in identifying \u201chow everything fits together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI played with Legos when I was a kid and loved to build stuff,\u201d he explained. \u201cAs I got closer to the University, I looked into different fields and engineering lined up with my interest\u2014and as I got more involved in my classes, it became more evident that the thermal sciences were more appealing just because of how interesting yet complex they could be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Matthew, the youngest and the most laid back, envisions staying in academia longer than his siblings.<\/p>\n

He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in computational engineering and hopes to take part in UTC\u2019s JUMP Program\u2014which allows students to transition from their bachelor\u2019s degree directly into a master\u2019s program.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to keep going,\u201d Matthew said. \u201cI\u2019ve always been interested in how things work and designing objects or devices that would help people. Mechanical engineering best suits that.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like building stuff and designing stuff and engineering allows you to do that\u2014whether it\u2019s aerospace, mechanical, chemical. But I\u2019m more interested in gears and structures and I knew mechanical was the best one for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

While they may have different specialties, they acknowledge that their fields naturally intersect.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think at some point our roads are going to branch out,\u201d Matthew said. \u201cWe\u2019ll each go our own way, but they might cross over.\u201d<\/p>\n

Isabella nodded in agreement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey might cross over, for example, with the artificial heart that uses fluid flow and thermodynamics,\u201d she pointed out. \u201cThat could be one area that biomedical and computational would come together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Their mother, Rebecca, couldn\u2019t be prouder of their successes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have worked very hard to accomplish what they have,\u201d she said. \u201cIt is phenomenal to say, \u2018My children graduated high school with an Associate of Science in Mechanical Engineering\u2014and they were the first to do so.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey work hard, but more importantly, they\u2019re good people. It\u2019s very satisfying to see how well they\u2019ve done.\u201d<\/p>\n

She also takes great pride in watching her triplets build their futures together.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you have children, you never know what they\u2019re going to be like. You don\u2019t know how they\u2019re going to turn out. You don\u2019t even know if they\u2019re going to get along,\u201d Rebecca said. \u201cIt\u2019s very comforting to know that the three of them enjoy each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, they\u2019re thrust upon each other because they\u2019re the same age, but they have the same interests and they enjoy each other\u2019s company.\u201d<\/p>\n

Learn more<\/h4>\n

Visit UTC<\/a><\/p>\n

College of Engineering and Computer Science<\/a><\/p>\n

Mechanical Engineering<\/a><\/p>\n

How to apply<\/a><\/p>\n

Photo gallery by Angela Foster<\/h4>\n
\"The

The Riggs siblings in Dr. Reetesh Ranjan’s fluid mechanics laboratory.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Isabella, <\/a>
Isabella, Luke and Matthew Riggs work Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 in Reetesh Ranjan’s fluids lab in the Engineering and Computer Science building. Matthew, taller, glasses, dark sweatshirt Luke, USNRC gray shirt, no glasses <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Isabella, <\/a>
Isabella, Luke and Matthew Riggs work Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 in Reetesh Ranjan’s fluids lab in the Engineering and Computer Science building. Matthew, taller, glasses, dark sweatshirt Luke, USNRC gray shirt, no glasses <\/div> <\/div>
\"Isabella, <\/a>
Isabella, Luke and Matthew Riggs work Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 in Reetesh Ranjan’s fluids lab in the Engineering and Computer Science building. Matthew, taller, glasses, dark sweatshirt Luke, USNRC gray shirt, no glasses <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Isabella, <\/a>
Isabella, Luke and Matthew Riggs work Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 in Reetesh Ranjan’s fluids lab in the Engineering and Computer Science building. Matthew, taller, glasses, dark sweatshirt Luke, USNRC gray shirt, no glasses <\/div> <\/div>
\"Isabella, <\/a>
Isabella, Luke and Matthew Riggs work Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 in Reetesh Ranjan’s fluids lab in the Engineering and Computer Science building. Matthew, taller, glasses, dark sweatshirt Luke, USNRC gray shirt, no glasses <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Isabella, <\/a>
Isabella, Luke and Matthew Riggs work Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 in Reetesh Ranjan’s fluids lab in the Engineering and Computer Science building. Matthew, taller, glasses, dark sweatshirt Luke, USNRC gray shirt, no glasses <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For many college freshmen, finding a study group can be a challenge. But for triplets Isabella, Luke and Matthew Riggs, their study partners have been the same since birth. The UTC mechanical engineering majors are inseparable\u2014attending every class together, taking the same coursework and earning identical 4.0 GPAs.<\/p>\n

Continue Reading <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1493,"featured_media":65887,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_slider":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_featurette":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12740,70,59,3,7712,64,48007,661],"tags":[122531,122305,124078,124372,123827,117125,125205,125209,125210,125206,125207,124776,123829,125208,117133],"class_list":{"0":"post-65760","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-academics","8":"category-college-of-engineering-and-computer-science","9":"category-community","10":"category-faculty-and-staff","11":"category-mechanical-engineering","12":"category-news","13":"category-research-academics","14":"category-students","15":"tag-cecelia-wigal","16":"tag-chattanooga-state-community-college","17":"tag-chattstate","18":"tag-collegiate-high","19":"tag-creating-the-mocs-experience","20":"tag-hamdy-ibrahim","21":"tag-isabella-riggs","22":"tag-james-c-newman-iii","23":"tag-jump-program","24":"tag-luke-riggs","25":"tag-matthew-riggs","26":"tag-mocs-learn-mocs-do-mocs-lead","27":"tag-operating-with-excellence","28":"tag-rebecca-riggs","29":"tag-reetesh-ranjan","30":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nA triple threat in mechanical engineering: Riggs siblings building their futures together | UTC News Archive: Jul 2007 - Oct 2025<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"For many college freshmen, finding a study group can be a challenge. 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