Her story begins in Nicaragua, but follow closely, because the plot moves all over the map from there.
Madeley Arriola Guerrero, A.M.ASCE, an associate engineer for Chen Moore and Associates in West Palm Beach, FL, holds a remarkably world-wise perspective early in her career thanks to a decade of global education and engineering work. ASCE has honored her as a 2019 New Face of Civil...
Monica Morales grew up in Reno, the daughter of parents who each work at casinos. So it was probably inevitable that her career path would come down to a game of chance.
As a senior in high school, Morales was excited to be headed for college. The only question was what to study. Everything from medicine to fashion design was under consideration.
Then one day, a...
Jose Aguilar had an idea.
A transportation engineer at Psomas in Tucson, AZ, he wanted to inspire the students in his hometown with a civil-engineering competition similar to the STEM activities and competitions that he loved when he was a teenager.
It was a nice idea, a good idea. But for the time being, just a concept. And this is where most people usually stop –...
It’s been almost two years since Dream Big: Engineering Our World began amazing kids and adults alike on big screens at museums and theaters across the world.
Since then, the film – presented by Bechtel and produced by MacGillivray Freeman Films in partnership with ASCE – has enjoyed quite a ride of success, smashing attendance goals, scoring big with critics, inspiring ASCE outreach events all...
One week out of the year we dedicate to celebrating our society’s unsung heroes – engineers.
An engineer’s work affects everything we do, yet it’s often taken for granted. While we are perhaps too often enamored of celebrity athletes and entertainers, this month we focus on the true heroes, the ones who ensure our quality of life with things like shelter, heat, transportation, and water....
Visualize life as an infinite circle of giving. Someone does something nice for you? Do something nice for someone else, and pay it forward.
On today's episode of ASCE Plot Points, we meet civil engineers who have taken this philosophy to heart.
Jose Aguilar, who works for Psomas in Tucson, AZ, talks about how he made his idea for an inspiring student competition a reality (2:01).
In...
Money was tight for Fernando Ceballos growing up in Brownsville, Texas, a city on the Rio Grande River right at the southernmost tip of the state.
At home, it was just him, his mom, and his little brother, so when rent came due, 8-year-old Fernando did what he could to pitch in.
“I was knocking on my neighbors’ doors, selling tacos, tamales, slices of cake, things...
For some people, an address represents merely where they live.
For Ruwanka Purasinghe, it’s who he is.
Purasinghe is Los Angeles to his core.
“I was born and raised in L.A., so I have a special connection with the city. I love this city,” he said.
“L.A. is an incredibly huge melting pot of people, cultures, and ideas. There’s something in L.A. for everybody. You can snowboard and...
Alexa Ducioame was one of only two women in most of her civil engineering classes in college.
She’s working now to make sure that the women of future generations don’t find themselves in the same position.
“We have an informal women engineers group here. I think we all realize it’s important,” said Ducioame, a project engineer for Moore Engineering, Inc. in West Fargo, ND.
“We want to...
Being a role model wasn’t really a choice for Aziza Amiri. It was a job she was born into.
“I have so many little cousins, I’ve lost count,” Amiri laughed. “I’m one of almost 20 grandchildren, and I’m the oldest, so I’ve always been around young kids my entire life.”
Amiri isn’t complaining. She loves serving as a role model – for both her family and...
