“If roundabouts are so effective, how come some people don’t like them?”
That was one of the questions students asked during a recent career fair at Saint Gregory the Great Catholic School.
Roundabouts can improve traffic flow and limit severe crashes, but they also ask drivers to change the familiar way they have always driven. It’s the kind of question that leads to a larger conversation about how engineering advancements can alter the patterns of everyday life.
For many of the students, it was their first time speaking directly with a civil engineer. Ed Walton, Senior Project Manager and Public Agency Liaison at RICK, spent the day talking with over 100 students in grades 5–8, walking them through the kinds of problems engineers solve and how those solutions affect the world around them.
“As engineers, part of our job is helping people understand change. Once people understand how something works and why it matters, they are often much more open to it.” –—Ed Walton, Senior Project Manager and Public Agency Liaison
At RICK, being part of an inclusive community means giving back to the industry and the communities we’re part of. Many RICK team members are involved in organizations outside of their day-to-day work, with some serving on boards, taking on leadership roles, and dedicating time to industry outreach.
Across the company, RICK team members have recently participated in a range of community events and programs we’ll spotlight here.
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On March 20th, RICK hosted 25 students from Imperial Valley College, San Diego Mesa College, Grossmont College, and Southwestern College as part of its ongoing partnership with the Community College MESA program. The program supports students from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM and provides hands-on exposure to careers in engineering.
Students worked in teams to complete a design challenge guided by RICK professionals and presented their ideas to a panel at the end of the day. They also took part in a 3D laser scanning demonstration, a hands-on experience that students often respond to with a lot of excitement and curiosity.
“I was thrilled to host such an engaged and enthusiastic group. I hope the experience expanded their understanding of what’s possible and where a career in civil engineering can lead.” — Carlos Avila, Principal Project Manager
For many students, opportunities like this help them develop a clearer view of what a future in the field can look like and how to get there.
Earlier this year, RICK partnered with the San Diego Blood Bank to host a blood drive at its San Diego office.
Twenty-nine employees participated, contributing a resource that cannot be manufactured or replaced. With each donation potentially helping up to 3 patients, the effort may benefit as many as 87 individuals across the region.
At a time when blood supplies remain critically low nationwide, hosting the drive on site made participation more accessible and opened the opportunity to the surrounding community, including our nearby neighbors, Mission Valley YMCA.
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RICK team members also participated in ASCE’s Earth and Engineering Day at the Mall, an event designed to introduce engineering concepts to younger students and families through hands-on activities.
At RICK’s booth, children had the chance to explore a watershed model, seeing firsthand how pollutants move through the environment and how engineers work to protect water quality.
“It’s a great way to give back to the community and represent our company.” —Ash Paranthaman, Associate Project Engineer
The day is an opportunity to show engineering in a way that feels real and accessible, helping kids see how the world around them works and where they might fit into it.
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RICK is dedicated to the industry and to supporting the next generation of professionals. Our people continuously show up and give their time and energy to the organizations and the communities they’re a part of. Our commitment to service extends beyond the work we do as a part of our company core values, and our people move that forward every day.