UIC students excel at ASCE competition
UIC’s chapter of ASCE recently competed at and co-hosted the annual ASCE Western Great Lakes Student Symposium in Chicago. Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and Northwestern University joined UIC as hosts.
During the three-day event, UIC competed against 18 other schools in competitions that included the concrete canoe, sustainable solutions, surveying, construction institute, and steel bridge. These teams encompass the different technical concentrations students can explore in civil, materials, and environmental engineering.
The UIC students captured second place in the sustainable solutions competition. The team was made up of Ash Anuntez, Gen Castelar, Kai Choy, Sriya Gandikota, Sofia Garcia, Parthenia Gharavi, Hannah Hofer, Joseph Matusiewicz, Avin Naik, Chelsea Salgado, Laura Tomas, and Valerie Tomas.
The concrete canoe team placed third in the technical presentations. The team consisted up of Jimena Adame, Nathan Agoncillio, Nicholas Berland, Chris Brown, Xander Crisostomo, Max Edman, Anjanette Francisco, Nathan Kis, Tomasz Kowalczyk, Tarang Rana, Hector Salgado, Alex Schroth, Caden Slovacek, Oscar Sotelo, Sebastian Stankiewicz, Luke Vucic, and Dominik Wieckowicz.
The construction institute team, comprised of Yovani Montalvo, Emily Pugacewicz, Genesis Rivera Rodriguez, and Vincente Soto, earned third place in its competition.
In addition to competing, the UIC students served as co-hosts where they gained valuable experience and learned the importance of effective communication and strategic planning.
“Starting in the fall of 2022, my team and I faced unforeseen challenges hosting such a large-scale event. However, through constant collaboration and fundraising efforts, we navigated through complexities and ensured a smooth process. Balancing my roles as president of ASCE-UIC and head coordinator of Western Great Lakes Student Symposium tested my work-life balance, but the support from my team made it possible,” said Sriya Gandikota, an undergraduate student studying environmental engineering.
As members of ASCE, the students gain access to valuable resources, networking opportunities, and professional development.
“Students can connect with industry professionals and participate in competitions and conferences. ASCE provides a platform for students to expand their knowledge, build leadership skills, and explore career opportunities in civil engineering. Additionally, being part of ASCE offers students a chance to contribute to their communities through various outreach and service initiatives,” Gandikota said.
ASCE-UIC doesn’t require students to have technical knowledge and welcomes students from all backgrounds interested in civil and environmental engineering or related fields.
“Joining ASCE-UIC early in your college career can provide valuable experiences and connections that will benefit you throughout your academic journey and beyond,” she said.