National Engineers Week is intentionally held during Presidents Day every year in recognition of George Washington, the first U.S. President and a trained military engineer and land surveyor.*
Engineers Week is a chance to talk about the important work engineers do and how it affects our communities and day-to-day lives, even when that work isn’t always visible.
At RICK, supporting students and mentoring future engineers is part of how our teams show up day to day, with many staff involved in organizations such as MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement), Future Construction Leaders (FCL), Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and Society of Hispanic Engineers (SHPE), among others.
Carlos Avila works with students through organizations such as MESA and SHPE, answering questions about careers in civil engineering and what the work looks like day to day.
“Much of my community and STEM outreach work takes place outside the organization. I’m grateful for RICK’s continued support in partnering with these groups, as the ultimate goal is to create meaningful impact beyond the walls of RICK.” —Carlos Avila, RICK Principal Project Manager
As a first-generation engineer, Carlos understands how important access and mentorship is. During his time at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, organizations like SHPE and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) helped him navigate career planning and professional networking.
Earlier this month, Carlos Avila and RICK Associate Engineering Designer Oscar Sarabia visited San Diego State University (SDSU) to meet with the ASCE student chapter. They spoke with students about different career paths within civil engineering, sharing examples of projects RICK teams are involved in across the region.
Similar conversations continue through RICK’s involvement with student and professional organizations. Many employees stay connected with their alma maters, including Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and SDSU, to engage with engineering students and alumni.
For many students in engineering programs, these connections provide a better look into how coursework translates into real projects and what working in civil engineering can look like after graduation.
Civil engineering is not always the most visible discipline. As Carlos noted, “Mechanical, electrical, aerospace—those fields are widely understood. Civil engineering, not as much.” Talking with students directly helps make the field of civil engineering feel more real and approachable by putting faces and experiences to the work.
Engineers Week appears on the calendar once a year, but the work it represents continues well beyond a single week. Through consistent outreach and direct engagement with students and early-career engineers, RICK supports the future of the civil engineering profession and the communities it serves.
*Source: https://www.ascemetsection.org/news-events/national-engineers-week