Over the course of Fall semester, the Skyline College community has seen the construction of the new Environmental Science building progress tremendously. Having an interest in Project Management, a Civil Engineering student in Skyline College’s Engineering and Technology Scholars Program, Melanie Trujillo, spent her winter break shadowing Pam Welty. Pam is the Senior Construction Project Manager of Swinerton Builders, who is currently overseeing the new Environmental Science building construction project.
For two weeks, Melanie learned the ins and outs of construction management. This was a rewarding opportunity for Melanie to see aspects of civil engineering being applied in real-time and gain valuable skills. She assisted Pam while she managed the communication among the entire construction team and supervised the progress of the project to make sure all components of the projects were coming together seamlessly. One of the activities that Melanie appreciated the most was seeing her engineering courses being applied on the job through learning to reading construction plans.
This short trip became a crucial experience for her to see her education come alive and served to strengthen her confidence and decision in pursuing a degree in civil engineering. Seeing how these experiences have enriched her, Melanie aims to continually serve as a mentor for local youth. Last Spring semester, Melanie facilitated a workshop on the applications of electronics and engineering during the Expanding Your Horizons Conference and strives to continue engaging young women to pursue STEM.
Article By Melanie Trujillo, Maryam Khan & Jenny Le
