Student Days

The 2009 – 2010 Joint Scholarships of the Construction Institute Chapters of the Sacramento and San Francisco Sections are being awarded to eight students in Civil Engineering and Construction Management Programs. Twenty nine well qualified applicants from thirteen Northern California and Nevada Universities were evaluated by the Committee. The top two choices will receive $2,000 each, and six will receive $1,000 each. The Scholarships will be presented to the Students accompanied by a Faculty Member of their choice, at the ASCE Capital Branch Luncheon in Sacramento on October 27, 2009.Top winners are Elizabeth Kincaid from UC, Berkeley and Alex Yaroshevich from CSU, Sacramento. A complete listing of scholarship recipients includes:

Name	School	Amount
Elizabeth Kincaid	UC Berkeley	$2,000
Alex Yaroshevich	CSUS	$2,000
Shauna England	CSU Chico	$1,000
Garrett Smith	SCU	$1,000
Cody Cann	UNR	$1,000
Ryan Henry	CSUS	$1,000
Paul Warnock	UCD	$1,000
Peter Rees	CSUF	$1,000

In evaluating applicants, the Scholarship Committee evaluated each candidate for meeting the base requirements specified in the scholarship announcement. Upon meeting the requirements the committee evaluated individual talent, skill, work ethic, and unique qualities of each applicant. After evaluation, the committee reports that this year’s scholarship recipients exhibited the skills and talents necessary to succeed, but furthermore, the attitude and stability that comes with life experiences and “real-world” exposure.

Each of this year’s eight scholarship recipients demonstrated:

1. Professional Orientation
2. Promise for Success
3. Passion for the Business of Civil Engineering/Construction Management

The Scholarship Committee is pleased to introduce each of this year’s Construction Institute Scholarship recipients.

Elizabeth Kincaid

Elizabeth is Senior Civil Engineering major at U.C. Berkeley. A native of Los Angeles, Elizabeth preferred to stay in-state to attend college. She is involved in numerous Civil Engineering clubs on campus including ASCE and the Cal Construction Team. Elizabeth completed several internships, helping her gain design and work experience. Elizabeth is a frequent visitor to the Cal Woman’s Volleyball games where she loves to cheer the Bears to victory. Elizabeth feels her future in construction will lead her to a Master’s Degree and to be able to contribute in the heavy civil arena.

Alex Yaroshevich

Alex is a Senior Civil Engineering major at CSU, Sacramento. Alex was born in Ukraine and is the oldest of eight children. Alex finished first grade in Ukraine and moved to the United States with his parents. Alex attended public schools, and worked at Krispy Kreme to support himself in college. Working his way to a manager level position, Alex learned leadership skills and responsibility. He is involved in his church youth organization planning events and services, and worked for Belfour Beatty gaining valuable construction experience. Alex enjoys reading, playing volleyball, and snowboarding in the winter. Alex believes challenges, goals, and success is his future in construction.

Shauna England

Shauna is a Senior Civil Engineering major at CSU, Chico. Shauna has a solid educational base to build on, practical work experience, and extra curricular activities that reflect her own passion and interests. Shauna has given back to the community and is involved in national technical competitions. Both have given her fond memories and a sense of accomplishment. Shauna completed three-summers of internships learning a variety of diverse technical and people skills. Shauna summarizes her college experience as “fulfilling, challenging, and worthwhile.” Shauna believes her future in construction will lead her to becoming an expert and in the forefront of the construction industry.

Garrett Smith

Garrett is a Senior Civil Engineering major at Santa Clara University. A native of Lake Stevens, WA. Garrett attended college on a running scholarship. Garrett finds the construction profession vastly fascinating and changing. Garrett has completed summer internships. Garrett prides himself on being independent and intent on learning and providing for himself. Sports have played a big role in Garrett’s life. He considers himself very fortunate to be able to use what he loves as a vehicle for future endeavors. Garrett believes his future in construction will be of developing new methods and means to better people’s lives.

Cody Cann

Cody is a Junior Civil Engineering major at University of Reno, Nevada. A graduate of Fallon High Cody started college as a business major. After two years of college Cody was hired by a Nevada Department of Transportation Consulting firm. While working in construction Cody decided he wanted to become a Civil Engineer. He enrolled in the UNR College of Engineering in the spring of 2007. Cody’s future in Construction is for a full career then a dream to teach Engineering students construction at the college level.

Ryan Henry

Ryan is a senior Construction Management major at CSU, Sacramento. Ryan is also studying business administration. Ryan participated in the Associated Schools of Construction Student Competition for two years as a member of the Heavy Civil Construction Division. Ryan completed several summer internships taking on complicated tasks and becoming a problem solver. Ryan believes his future in construction lies in his own hands.

Paul Warnock

Paul is a senior Civil Engineering major at UC, Davis. Paul is a single custodial father who has worked his way up through the design industry from entry level CAD Draftsman to a Project Manager in an architectural firm. Paul balances time between work, school and being a parent. He feels juggling a family, a career, and a university education is a daunting task, and believes his future in construction is to continue and advance sustainable projects through better design and construction techniques.

Peter Rees

Peter is a junior Construction Management major at CSU, Fresno. Upon completing high school he enlisted in the U.S. Navy with a goal to attend college at the end of his enlistment. Peter served tours in the Middle East. Upon receiving an honorable discharge in the fall of 2007 he enrolled at Fresno City College and was recognized twice on the Dean’s list. Peter transferred to CSU, Fresno as a Construction Management major in the spring of 2009, and believes his future in construction is working in the private sector to improve water problems in the central valley of California.

Shauna England is a Senior at CSU, Chico. She will graduate with a BS in Civil Engineering in May 2010.

Receiving the Construction Institute Scholarship and attending the Student Days conference in San Francisco has had a big influence on my future career and what direction I want to head in. Student Days really opened my eyes and made me aware of what the construction industry has to offer and the limitless opportunities as well as diversity construction has. I always considered construction to be limited to buildings, bridges, or roads little did I know what a slurry wall was or even how it was constructed until this past summer at my internship with the Corps!

At Student Days I was able to speak with professionals and learn about their practice and the different sectors from which they worked. Almost all of the professions I spoke with liked their jobs and were excited to tell others about their specialization. Knowing that these people loved what they did and cared about their workmanship and reputation was something that instantly attracted me to construction. The integrity and attention that the construction industry demands reflects my own feelings and personality. As such, even though I am an engineer by education, I can relate a lot to these projects and the people that are involved with them.

With a future in construction I feel that the prospects are almost endless. There is the possibly to work on a variety of projects perhaps some of the largest, most innovative, and unique in the world. So even with a sluggish economy, I am still optimistic and excited to graduate at a time where construction is changing. As I approach my final year of school I am now able to step back and appreciate the time and hours I put into class as it’s helped to prepare me for my own career in the construction industry.

- Shauna England, EIT

Cassie Leonarado Smith, CSU, Fresno

Cassie Leonardo Smith was awarded the Construction Engineering Scholarship at the Fall 2008 Construction Institute/ASCE Conference in Burlingame, California. Since attending the conference, she has continued to be actively involved in the engineering community. Cassie was a member of ASCE, along with Chi Epsilon and Tau Beta Pi at California State University, Fresno. She received the ASCE Scholarship Award for Academic Achievement in Spring 2009, and the ASCE Outstanding Senior Project Presenter Award upon graduation in Fall 2009.

Cassie obtained an internship at Blair, Church and Flynn Consulting Engineers in Clovis, California during her sophomore year of college. Upon passing her EIT exam, she was hired as a full-time Hydrology and Hydraulics Engineer during her senior year. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in three and a half years and married her college sweetheart and fellow civil engineer, Kevin Smith.

Cassie plans to continue her involvement in ASCE after graduation as an associate member. Her participation in ASCE as a student had a significant impact on where she is today. She believes that the effort ASCE puts forth to motivate students to become successful engineers is irreplaceable. She recalls that her most interesting trip to the field as a student was the ASCE/Caltrans-organized San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge trip. She says, “It helped me to realize the magnitude of engineering projects, and the impact that I could have as a successful civil engineer.” She recognizes and values the opportunity ASCE provides to network with experienced professionals, obtain advice, and job experience. ASCE provided a springboard for her to gain invaluable experience in the professional engineering world.

Over 170 college students from 12 California and Nevada Universities, 17 volunteers from two California Sections and representatives from 10 sponsors gathered in San Francisco, CA, from September 26-28, 2008 for the ASCE Construction Institute first Student Days Conference. Held in conjunction with the ASCE San Francisco Section annual meeting and in partnership with ASCE’s Sacramento Section, Student Days provided students and industry professionals numerous opportunities to meet and get to know one another, in addition to introducing students to the real-world opportunities open to them in their futures as practicing engineers. Students participated in technical sessions, major Bay-Area construction site tours, and speed a speed networking session with representatives from the event’s corporate sponsors. Read more>>