October 2008 - First Student Days Conference
posted by Larry J Smith
By: Larry J. Smith, P.E., CCM, F.ASCE
Chair, Sacramento Section Construction Institute, President-Elect, ASCE Sacramento Section
130 college students from 11 California and Nevada Universities, 9 volunteers from the Sacramento and San Francisco Sections of ASCE and representatives from 10 sponsors met in Burlingame, CA, from September 26 through 28, 2008 for the ASCE Construction Institute first Student Days Conference.
Students and Members attended the ASCE San Francisco Annual Meeting Water Supply Seminar and Dinner followed by a Saturday morning bus tour of San Francisco Bay Bridge and San Pablo Dam construction sties.
Planned by the Construction Institute Chapters of ASCE’s Sacramento and San Francisco Sections, Student Days provided students and industry professionals numerous personal opportunities to meet and to get acquainted. In addition to introducing students to the real-world opportunities open to them in their future as practicing engineers, students participated in seminars, presentations on job search techniques and ethics, site tours, several networking and social activities and speed networking sessions and a Job Fair with representatives from the event’s corporate sponsors. The 3-day event concluded with the presentation of 6 Construction Institute scholarship s to winners of the theme “My Future in Construction.”
ASCE Construction Institute Director, Dr. Marvin Oey’s vision created an exciting and extremely educational opportunity for students to connect with construction industry leaders and experience first hand the vast opportunities that Civil Engineering and Construction careers have to offer.
Opportunities in Civil Engineering
Each activity presented students insight into the opportunities for Civil Engineering and Construction but more importantly students saw the ‘passion’ that Civil Engineers have for their jobs and their profession in the proud statement “I am a Civil Engineer!”
Industry Sponsors Supporting and Attending Student Days
• Envirocon
• Granite Construction
• Harris & Associates
• HDR
• Kiewit
• Kleinfelder
• Manson Construction Company
• Traylor Brothers, Inc.
• URS
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Construction Institute Scholarship Awardees
The ASCE local Construction Institute Chapters of the San Francisco and Sacramento Sections awarded a total of six Scholarships to the following students:
Kurt T. Schmiegel - Cal State Sacramento - $2,000.00
Tayvin Saks - Stanford - $2,000.00
Shauna England - Cal State Chico - $2,000.00
Cassie D. Leonardo - Cal State Fresno - $1,000.00
Nicholas Biddle Hume - Humboldt State University - $1,000.00
James Apple - Humboldt State University - $1,000.00
Students Enthusiastically Speak Out
We had a great time and students felt the weekend was a fantastic opportunity to obtain real world engineering exposure and valuable face time with the area’s leading Civil Engineering and Construction companies. Many new friendships were formed during the weekend in Burlingame. When asked to define what Student Days looked like in a few words, students responded:
“I learned that there is a good place for young engineers to grow into Professional Engineers in the Construction Field. This experience has helped me see that I want to work for a company that is interested in keeping the employees in a happy working environment.”
“Student Days was informative and transitional. I felt it was a great opportunity for students to get more comfortable approaching and talking to possible employers. Personally it made me question the direction I had been planning to take with Civil Engineering by exposing me to options that I had not considered.”
“Overall, I can’t wait to go again next year!”
Students have been asked to respond to a survey asking the following:
• What do you think the most important issues civil engineering students nearing graduation are facing?
• What area of Civil Engineering are you planning on pursuing?
• In what state do you go to school?
• What college or university do you attend?
• What would you find most beneficial to you in a future Student Days Conference?
Student Days – Looking Forward
Student Days was well attended and considered a success. Our sponsors concluded Student Days as an “excellent opportunity to generate interest for a career or internship.” Both the San Francisco and Sacramento Chapters of the Construction Institute have pledged to continue Student Days into the future. ASCE Construction Institute is developing a Regional Forum – Ideas in Action: Leadership for the 21st Century hosted by the Construction Institute Younger Member Directorate in Los Angeles, CA January 15, 2009 where “young construction professionals” will have the opportunity to interact and network with leaders in the construction industry.
The Sacramento Section Construction Institute Board is starting an outreach program to colleges and universities within our Section. The outreach program will feature on-campus presentations by Construction Professionals, and project tours for engineering students. Anyone interested in helping with next year’s Student Days program or our new outreach program is encouraged to contact Jon Balzer, P.E., or Larry Smith, P.E..