A Slice of Pie That Changed Everything: The Millers’ Journey of Gratitude and Giving

Keith Miller began his career path the summer after high school while working for his uncle's logging company where he gained hands-on experience doing things like building roads and moving trees. Inspired by the work itself and a John Wayne film about an engineer building a railroad in South America, Miller's eyes were opened to the world of engineering.

During his time as an engineering student at Boise Junior College, Keith worked in the kitchen at Albertsons cafeteria in Boise. That's where he met Mary Ann. A Christmas dance invitation sealed the start of their story together.

In 1965, Keith earned his associate degree and transferred to Utah State University to continue his education. That December, he and Mary Ann got married. To make ends meet, Mary Ann worked as a secretary at the hospital in Logan, while Keith held part-time jobs at Albertsons and the Utah Water Research Laboratory. Money was tight, but the couple managed to pay their way mostly on their own.

In the summer of 1967, a planned internship with the Idaho State Highway Department was unexpectedly cancelled. Keith quickly pivoted into a new role with the Utah State Highway Department in Ogden, traveling back and forth from Logan each day. Meanwhile, Mary Ann returned to Idaho, pregnant with their second child and worked at Idaho Fish and Game Department.

By winter 1968, the couple was $500 short for Keith's final semester at USU. Their parents couldn't cosign a loan, and graduation seemed out of reach. Then, one evening over a visit and a slice of homemade pie, their local church leader, Carl Anthon Ernstrom, offered to help. Ernstrom's willingness to cosign the loan made it possible for Keith to secure the funds and finish his degree.

With a degree in hand, Keith's career took off. He started at Chicago Bridge and Iron Company, earning $8,200 annually—a strong start for the time. Still, $400 of that went to rent each month, proving that even a promising start came with its challenges. Over the next 33 years, Keith worked his way up the ladder—from field engineer to field superintendent, project manager, and operational safety manager for global operations. He then devoted another decade as a senior safety manager at Jacobs Engineering, leaving a lasting mark on the industry.

His work took the family across the globe to California, the Midwest, Scotland, Okinawa, and Canada, more than 25 moves in all. Through it all, Keith and Mary Ann built a full life, raising six children and embracing every new adventure.

Today, they're back living life in Utah—reflecting with gratitude on their journey and the many opportunities an engineering degree offered.

Keith encourages young engineers to stay curious and flexible, saying that trying new things is the best way to find work you'll truly enjoy.

"I think that it's important to know that engineering was — and still is — one of the best fields in our nation for a good, lifetime career," said Keith. "My USU degree put me on the path to make a real difference in my life."

What began with a simple offer over a slice of pie has now come full circle. Inspired by that moment, Keith and Mary Ann established the Keith J. and Mary Ann Miller Engineering Scholarship to help support future engineers at Utah State University. Their hope is that this gift will help the next generation of Aggies turn hard work and determination into dreams fulfilled.

Today, Ernstrom's kindness is remembered not only by the Millers but also in the very fabric of campus, where his name marks the C. Anthon Ernstrom Nutrition & Food Sciences Building. So, the next time you're enjoying a scoop of Aggie Ice Cream, take a moment to notice the name on the building and consider how you too could make a lasting difference.

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Writer: Madeline Buskirk, madeline.buskirk@usu.edu, 435-797-7512

Contact: David Kunz, david.kunz@usu.edu, 435-797-8012