For our 29th year, RICK proudly partnered with San Diego MESA Alliance (SDMA) Program to host Shadow Day for high school and college students to explore careers in engineering, planning, and design. Participating in Shadow Day has been a cherished tradition at RICK, and this year was our largest turnout yet, with 30 students attending from schools such as Mission Hills High, Southwest High, Imperial High, Calexico High, SDSU, San Diego City College, and MiraCosta College. The high school participants ranged from freshmen to seniors, showcasing a diverse group of students excited to learn about the industry.
The Shadow Day Experience
Carlos Avila, Principal Project Manager at RICK, shared how
Shadow Day shaped his career.
“My involvement with MESA goes back to high school. I attended two Shadow Days myself—one at CalTrans and one at GeoCon. Those experiences showed me that engineering isn’t an individual profession. It’s about teamwork and collaboration, with people depending on each other.”
—Carlos Avila, RICK Principal Project Manager
Carlos highlighted the value of exposing students to engineering early, especially for students who may not have access to these types of opportunities.
“The goal is to give students an early look at what engineering feels like. It wasn’t just about the projects—it was about how professionals interacted and worked together.” —Carlos Avila
For Carlos, the largest reason he went into engineering centered around the collaboration he saw during his own Shadow Days when he was a teenager. Now that he is a leader for Shadow Day at RICK, this spirit of teamwork is purposefully a large part of the experience.
“It’s the collaboration and mentorship that makes it all meaningful.” —Carlos Avila
This year’s program included ample one-on-one time with mentors, which was a deliberate change based on feedback from past participants.
“In previous years, we noticed that students wanted more time with their mentors. They don’t just want to hear people talk; they want a personal connection. That’s where the magic happens.” —Carlee Hasenin Rohr, RICK Water Resources Designer
By adjusting the format to prioritize mentorship over lengthy presentations, the day fostered engagement and created a welcoming environment for students.
Carlee shared her own journey of becoming involved with Shadow
Day, describing how she had always gravitated toward mentorship.
“When I was in high school, I was part of a mentorship program where we supported other students going through difficulties. So, when I started at RICK and was asked to mentor for Shadow Day, I immediately knew I wanted to do more. It’s so rewarding to share my experience and help make these careers feel achievable.” —Carlee Hasenin Rohr
The Student Perspective
Kiana Mason, a 16-year-old from Southwest Senior High, described Shadow Day as an experience that brought her career aspirations into focus. The one-on-one shadowing experience gave her valuable insight into the daily operations and collaborative environment at RICK.
“The first time I stepped into this company, I loved it. I now know what an engineering company looks like and how they operate, and I can safely say that I want to do this.” —Kiana Mason, Southwest Senior High School Student
Kiana emphasized the welcoming and supportive atmosphere, noting how approachable the team was.
“You can obviously ask a lot of questions, and your peers will help you out. I think that’s really cool in a company.” —Kiana Mason
Gersom Galindo, a 26-year-old student from San Diego State University, described his first-ever Shadow Day experience as “super cool” and deeply impactful.
“This was my first time doing a Shadow Day, so it set the bar high.” —Gersom Galindo, San Diego State University Student
Gersom gained a new perspective on his desired profession while shadowing Kevin Nguyen, one of our project managers. Beyond the technical insights, Gersom appreciated the camaraderie among the team.
“I learned that you’re not limited to just what your department is. Kevin showed me how transportation connects with other projects, which was eye-opening. It’s clear this is a place where people really enjoy working together. It feels more like a community than a strict workplace.”
—Gersom Galindo
Reflections
For Carlee and many others at RICK, seeing students engage so enthusiastically with their mentors was a highlight of the event.
“The students asked so many thoughtful questions, and it was clear they were truly engaged. It’s moments like these that remind us why we do this.” —Carlee Hasenin Rohr
Watching connections between mentors and students throughout the day underscored the event’s purpose—bridging the gap between student aspirations and real-world experience.
For Carlos, the event is deeply personal.
“Shadow Day is my way of giving back. It’s a chance to show students these careers aren’t as unreachable as they think.” —Carlos Avila
Thank you to MESA for this incredible partnership and opportunity, and thank you to all of our visiting students. We look forward to another very successful and impactful event next year!