Roads. Bridges. Water treatment and distribution systems. These and other civil, electrical, mechanical and structural features of daily life aren't glamorous, but they are essential, and it takes engineers to design and build each one.
The role an engineer plays is an important one, and that is what Mitch Fortner, P.E. and Vice President at KSA Engineers, Inc., stressed recently to a group of eager sophomores at LeTourneau University. KSA recently was involved in renovations of a downtown Longview Main Street project.
"The engineering programs at LeTourneau University are well respected, and the establishment of a new civil engineering degree is a great step forward for our community," Fortner said. "Our company is excited to be able to help the program, and we appreciate the opportunity to share what we do with others."
Dr. Stephen Ayers, Ph.D is an Associate Professor of Civil Engineering and of LETU's new civil engineering program which launched in 2009. Ayers welcomed Fortner into his sophomore Design Seminar class.
"By having this seminar in sophomore year and bringing in industry engineers to talk about their experiences, we lift students' eyes up to see where they are headed in their own careers," Ayers said. "They glimpse that it's not all about math but that at the end of the day it's about helping people with real problems. That inspires and motivates them through the long hours of study."
Currently 400 students are enrolled in LETU's School of Engineering, which encompasses civil, mechanical, electrical, computer, biomedical and material joining engineering. Thirty-three of those students enrolled in LETU's new civil engineering program.
"Our aim is to prepare civil engineers to enter the professional world with the skills and knowledge necessary to operate in the modern global workplace," Ayers said. "The strength of our civil program is our integration of theory with hands on learning experiences and extensive project work. We will graduate our first civil engineering majors in Spring 2013."
Fortner piqued students' interests in the world of engineering for an hour, talking about his personal career journey. He shared a PowerPoint presentation showcasing a major renovation project in downtown Longview — an area that most of the students were familiar with. Fortner talked on the process of designing the project, from planning a timeline to working with community members.
"The students really liked seeing a project they could relate to," Ayers said. "Being in Longview, they have driven through the downtown area and seen some of the streetscape improvements. They enjoyed seeing a real civil project. I think what struck them was the amount of non-technical issues that had to be addressed to deliver a successful outcome to the project."
Fortner told the students that engineering impacts lives of everyone in the community.
"One of the things I was most excited to share with the students was the tremendous gratification we receive from our work," he said. "And if they persevere through their studies, they can look forward to a very rewarding and fulfilling career."
About KSA
KSA Engineers, Inc. is an industry leader providing a broad range of consulting, management, engineering, planning, surveying, and construction services for more than 30 years. Founded in 1978, the firm has grown to over 150 employees located in seven offices and was named on the 2009 and 2010 ZweigWhite Hot Firm Lists, which recognizes the fastest growing architectural and engineering firms from the United States and Canada. In addition, KSA was recently named to the ENR Top 500, a listing of the largest design firms in the United States. www.ksaeng.com
About LETU
LeTourneau University is an interdenominational Christ-centered university offering academic majors in aviation, business, education, engineering, health care, the humanities and sciences. Claiming every workplace in every nation as their mission field, LETU graduates are professionals of ingenuity and Christ-like character who see life's work as a holy calling with eternal impact. LETU's main campus is located in Longview, Texas, but the university also offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs online and at educational centers around the state of Texas.
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