Zoe Kresek (CivEng’23) had a passion for design and construction from an early age. She would sit for hours building marble runs and Lego creations.
As she advanced in her education, she knew 工程 was the best path to match her interests. 然而, determining a specific area of focus and where to apply her 工程 education was more evasive. As part of the Kiewit 设计、 学者 program, she visited the Central I-70 construction site, where she went underground and viewed the pipe structures. This experience piqued her interest in water resources and helped narrow the focus of her 土木工程 major.
“I’d seen many pictures and videos of 工程, but being on the site gave me a completely different perspective. Going down into the ground and seeing the ginormous pipes was the highlight of the trip for me,克瑞塞克说.
Since the Kiewit 设计、 学者 程序 launched at CU Boulder in 2020, it has given 工程 students an inside view of the design and construction industry. This month, Kiewit Corporation extended the program for five years with a generous $2.5 million investment, demonstrating a sustained commitment to the success of students.
Building the 工程 workforce pathway
每学年, 25 to 35 students participate in the program, 包括经济援助, 行业指导, guaranteed internship offers and professional development programming. 项目 that support students’ professional development are especially important to address the problem of aging and deteriorating infrastructure systems in the U.S.
The American 社会 of Civil Engineers' (ASCE) most recent Report Card for America’s Infrastructure in 2021 rated infrastructure in the U.S. C-. The government is working to improve infrastructure systems through legislation. 然而，根据a 2023文章来自ASCE, 土木工程 firms find it challenging to hire and retain the skilled employees needed for the infrastructure work that is suddenly available.
The Kiewit program is helping to educate the future workforce needed to tackle these issues by helping students understand how to apply their education to their future careers. 学生 like Kresek can participate in internships and receive support in their search for a full-time position through resume workshops, interview practice and mentorships.
“在Kiewit, we believe in the value of leadership development for those entering the construction and 工程 industry,约翰·多纳泰利说, president of Infrastructure Engineers for Kiewit 工程 Group Inc. and executive sponsor for the Kiewit 设计、 学者 program at CU Boulder. “Our partnership with CU Boulder and, 重要的是, the programming and mentoring we provide to the students is one more step we are taking toward building a pipeline of well-rounded future industry leaders.”
Offering mutually beneficial solutions
Reaching students at the college level benefits the university, students and Kiewit.
“With their Lone Tree headquarters right in our backyard, we can tap into their knowledge. We invite experts from Kiewit into the classrooms to share their experiences and lessons learned with our students,Chris Senseney说, associate teaching professor and director of the Kiewit 设计、 学者 program at CU Boulder.
By participating in the education process, Kiewit helps develop the skills and knowledge students need to succeed in the workforce. 同样的, CU Boulder has a strong 土木工程 department, which is even more robust when students can access industry experts and internship opportunities.
The investment pays off for students like Kresek. After graduation, she accepted a position as a drainage engineer with Kiewit 工程 Group, Inc. 在科罗拉多州的Lone Tree. This demonstrates that Kiewit’s investment at CU Boulder produces the engineers needed to meet industry demand and solve critical infrastructure problems.
“The Kiewit 设计、 学者 program is an extraordinary model for 工程 员工发展, rooted in our shared vision and goals,Keith Molenaar说, dean of the 工程学院 and 应用科学. “Kiewit and CU Boulder are dedicated to creating the highest caliber and most diverse group of engineers to address the pressing infrastructure challenges of our time.”