Members of the American Society of Civil Engineers student chapter at Arizona State University put their classroom knowledge into practice at the ASCE 2026 Intermountain Southwest Student Conference and Symposium held at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. For Steel Bridge Project Manager Aven Pamintuan, the competition was an opportunity to translate classroom lessons into practical problem-solving.
“Preparing for these events pushed us to collaborate as a team, learn industry software, solve problems together and work toward a shared goal under pressure,” says Pamintuan, who is working toward a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU.
Participating in conferences and competitions helps students learn more about their field, connect with industry professionals and gain insights that guide their future academic and career goals.
“It’s one example of how our school supports undergraduate student success through opportunities that connect classroom learning with career readiness,” says Ram Pendyala, school director and a professor of civil, environmental and sustainable engineering.
Eighty ASCE at ASU members represented the Fulton Schools at the symposium, where they earned 14 awards, including the Spirit Bell, which recognizes the chapter that best embodies enthusiasm and sportsmanship during the conference.
“Few things are more fulfilling than watching our students step onto a regional stage and shine,” says Ravi Kiran Yellavajjala, an associate professor of civil, environmental and sustainable engineering in the school and a faculty advisor for the student organization.
“Seeing them turn classroom theory into structures they built, tested and defended was unforgettable,” Yellavajjala says. “Just as meaningful were the friendships formed and the conversations with practicing engineers that will guide their paths ahead.”
Involvement spurs leadership
“Ask any ASCE at ASU student what leadership looks like, and they’ll point to a bridge build or a canoe team,” Yellavajjala says. “These activities foster critical thinking, communication and collaboration skills that correlate with stronger professional growth and give students a genuine sense of belonging and purpose at ASU.”
Clarice Nguyen agrees. For the past three years, she has served in ASCE student chapter leadership roles. This year, she served as co-project manager alongside Madison Peglowski for the Sustainable Solutions Team.
“ASCE at ASU has been such an integral part of my college experience and a huge influence on my perspectives and passion in civil engineering,” says Nguyen, who earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in spring 2026 and received a Leadership and Service Award. “It wouldn’t have been possible without all the friends and connections I’ve made through this awesome organization.”
Becoming friends with Transportation Team members during last year’s symposium in Tucson, motivated Robert Serrano to do more this year.
“One of the highlights of our trip was having a Sun Devil takeover of the University of Arizona’s main library,” says Serrano, the Fulton Schools’ Outstanding Graduate in civil engineering for spring 2026. “That’s when I decided to get involved deeper, not just with the transportation project, but with ASCE in general.”
Sean Hur, one of five students who built the team’s two-story structure during the Timber Strong competition, says he appreciated guidance from seniors on the team.
“You created an environment where I genuinely wanted to work hard and come back week after week,” says Hur, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. “I have been inspired by all of you and hope to also showcase the same leadership in the years to come.”
3D Printing Team Project Manager Dominick Minicucci spent countless late nights refining and testing ideas to develop a structurally efficient, rapidly assembled, prefabricated modular bridge system.
“It was a true design-build-test cycle, refining geometry, tweaking print settings, adjusting assembly strategies and pushing for improvements,” says Minicucci, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering with a minor in sustainability.
He received assistance from ASCE at ASU President Oliver Groenli, who built an apparatus that simulated the exact loading conditions of the competition, allowing Minicucci to physically test each design’s load capacity and deflection.
“It gave me fast, reliable feedback on what was working and what wasn’t, so every iteration was more informed than the last,” Minicucci says.
Nguyen’s help with the aesthetics of the team’s poster was a key part of earning first place in Best Presentation. Their work came together at the competition, where judges let Minicucci incrementally add weights to a bucket suspended from the bridge.
“Hearing the crowd cheer me on as the bridge held up was something I won’t forget,” he says.
Partnering with industry professionals
Support from ASU alumni and industry professionals was key to the Transportation Team’s success, says Serrano, the project manager for this year’s team.
Most teams receive competition rules in the fall semester and start preparing then, but the Transportation Team gets their rules just six to eight weeks before the competition, compressing the timeline to prepare requests for information, analyze data, create a design solution and write a report.
For help with this project, Serrano reached out to ASU alumni HDR Traffic Engineer Miranda Sundblom, HDR Transportation Engineer-in-Training Carsen Hudgins and Kimley-Horn Traffic Engineering Analyst and Engineer-in-Training Isaac Wotherspoon, who held workshops and information sessions for students in the fall.
“These basic trainings — Intro to Civil 3D, Intro to OpenRoads, Intro to SYNCHRO and more — gave students a chance to see how industry-standard software is used,” Serrano says.
Reflecting on the work of the team, civil engineering program chair and FORTA Professor of Pavement Engineering Kamil Kaloush noted that success isn’t necessarily measured by the trophies that the students bring home.
“It’s in the leaders they become and the tradition of mentorship they carry forward. That’s what makes the ASCE chapter at ASU so special,” Kaloush says.
Indeed, Minicucci plans to carry on the tradition of ASU alumni serving as industry mentors for ASCE at ASU students.
“I’ll be coming back next year as an advisor for the 3D Printing Team,” he says. “I can’t wait to help the students build on the momentum we started this year.”
