Industry partners’ support boosts student success
Professional guidance and support help build our future workforce
Friends of Civil and Environmental Engineering Education and Vice-Chair Camille Armendariz, PE, of Black & Veatch, shakes hands with a student who passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam after presenting him with an Engineer in Training stole during the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment’s Graduation Celebration in May 2025. Photographer: Lisa Irish/ASU
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Opportunities for construction student teams to present their projects at a national conference and the successful transformation of the civil and environmental engineering capstone project course were made possible by the invaluable support of industry professionals and firms engaged through the Industry Partner Circle, or IPC, and the Friends of Civil and Environmental Engineering, or FOCE2.
Industry support is key to the academic and professional success of students in the Del E. Webb School of Construction and the civil and environmental engineering programs of the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University.
“These organizations help build the workforce of the future by providing opportunities for students to grow into confident, innovative problem-solvers ready to adapt to a changing world,” says Ram Pendyala, director of the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment.
The goals of IPC and FOCE2 align with ASU’s Changing Futures campaign, especially the inspiring tomorrow’s game changers pillar, which advances efforts to shape a world of opportunity, sustainability and transformational possibilities for people and communities everywhere.
IPC supports hands-on, professional learning
Contributions and engagement by IPC investors provide Del E. Webb School of Construction students with world-class educational and professional opportunities.
“Industry integration is a key element in the success of the Del E. Webb School of Construction,” says Tim Becker, programs chair of the school. “The Industry Partner Circle is the structure through which annual investments by companies advance the outcomes of our students, faculty and staff. Our students’ experience is best-in-class due to our integration with industry through IPC.”
Connecting students directly with industry practices prepares them for high-income, high-tech, high-impact careers, he says.
Teams of undergraduate and graduate students, totaling 18 students, recently created comprehensive residential construction proposals for the National Association of Home Builders, or NAHB, Student Competition and traveled to Las Vegas to present their work, thanks to support from the IPC.
Monica Perrin, an assistant teaching professor in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, teaches sustainable construction and CON 101 Construction and Culture: A Built Environment. She is also the faculty advisor of ASU’s NAHB student chapter.
“We were fortunate to receive valuable feedback and support from several organizations, including the Homebuilders Association of Central Arizona, Toll Brothers, Camelot Homes and David Weekley Homes,” Perrin says. “Their input provided students with industry-aligned expectations and practical insights that significantly enhanced the quality of their final submission.”
The undergraduate student team of the National Association of Home Builders student chapter at Arizona State University before they present their project in the student competition at the NAHB conference in Las Vegas. Photographer: Monica Perrin/ASU
Students told Perrin the experience was deeply rewarding, helped them build lasting friendships and provided leadership opportunities. They appreciated the exposure and the valuable contacts they made, which they recognize as key to launching their careers.
Students also work closely with representatives of the Del E. Webb School of Construction Industry Executive Council member companies. The advisory group, composed of industry leaders and school alumni, recently collaborated with student leaders and faculty members to develop a strategic plan for the upcoming Associated Schools of Construction Reno competition, a major regional event that challenges university student teams to solve real-world construction management problems.
Industry Executive Council Chair Mike Gonzalez says, “It was great to see faculty members, students, alumni and industry come together to further our mission to develop the future leaders of our industry.”
Gonzalez, a vice president at McCarthy Building Companies who oversees the integrated design and project delivery process in the Southwest, says industry engagement and commitment to continuous improvement have consistently been key differentiators for the Del E. Webb School of Construction.
Industry collaboration, mentorship and support are essential to student success at the ASC Reno competition, a fact that Associate Teaching Professor Richard Standage, who mentors the student team, can attest to. Professor Kristen Parrish, the faculty advisor for the Advancing Women in Construction student organization, and Associate Professor David Grau, who helps students prepare for the Design-Build Institute of America student competition, also recognize the value of industry partnerships in enabling meaningful experiential learning.
IPC support made it possible for Associate Professor Jim Ernzen to take construction students to an international concrete materials competition at the American Concrete Institute conference and seminars at the World of Concrete trade show.
Del E. Webb School of Construction students with the concrete beam they cast for the international concrete materials competition at the American Concrete Institute conference. Each team’s beam is loaded into a test machine at the event. Photo courtesy Jim Ernzen/ASU
Each January, Ernzen leads a group of 10 students to the World of Concrete in Las Vegas, where they attend technical seminars and explore new products and innovations. As part of the experience, ASU students host a group of up to 200 high schoolers, introducing them to careers in construction and guiding them on a tour of the trade show floor.
In addition to assisting students and faculty members’ travel to competitions and conferences where they can share their research and expertise, the IPC has also invested in instructional support and marketing to launch the new ASU online Bachelor of Science in construction management and technology.
“The biggest contribution the Industry Partner Circle makes is providing much needed discretionary support for the Del E. Webb School of Construction so that leadership can respond to urgent needs and emerging opportunities,” says Kati Martinez, executive director of development for the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at the ASU Foundation for A New American University.
That flexibility has enabled a wide range of initiatives that directly benefit students, from career preparation to improved learning environments. This includes support for networking events, updating classrooms and learning spaces, and funding a dedicated student success coordinator who advances community-building and extracurricular activities for students.
FOCE2 gives real-world insights, professional connections
A significant and longstanding group of engaged alumni and industry leaders is FOCE2, which has served civil and environmental engineering students for more than two decades.
FOCE2 provides students with real-world insights and engineering companies with access to top-tier talent, says Dan Meyer, the group’s steering committee chair and now-retired senior vice president of Black & Veatch.
FOCE2 began 25 years ago to support civil and environmental engineering students by providing scholarships, textbooks, and travel funds for the American Society of Civil Engineers student chapter, Meyer says.
Through the years, the scope of activities has expanded thanks to the involvement of alumni and industry professionals. Now, FOCE2 support also includes mentorship, internships, scholarships, guest lectures, travel funds to attend professional meetings, career fairs and mixers to help students make industry connections.
This year, FOCE2 support and the members’ willingness to mentor student teams was key to expanding the program’s senior capstone design project class from one semester to two.
Students share their proposal for revitalizing the Jackrabbit Trail Road and Interstate 10 interchange in Buckeye, Arizona, during the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment’s Senior Capstone Showcase on May 2, 2025. Photographer: Lisa Irish/ASU
The quality of the 15 capstone projects reflected the students’ growing understanding of professional engineering practices, says FORTA Professor of Pavements Kamil Kaloush, the faculty liaison for FOCE2 and chair of the civil engineering program.
FOCE2 funded and coordinated the production of the students’ project posters on banners that also featured member companies and additional team sponsors. Students used the posters to present their findings to industry professionals, faculty, staff and family members during the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment’s Senior Capstone Showcase in May.
Another focus of FOCE2 is encouraging more students to take and pass the Fundamentals of Engineering, or FE, exam before graduation, helping them earn the Engineer-in-Training certification. FOCE2 provides funds for reimbursing exam fees for students who pass the FE exam and supports the development of new technical elective courses that ensure students are ready to enter the workforce when they graduate.
Graduating civil and environmental engineers who have passed the FE exam are in high demand, Meyer notes.
Students meet with industry representatives during the FOCE2 spring mixer in the Mary Jo and Paul C. Helmick Atrium in the Paul C. Helmick Center. Photographer Lisa Irish/ASU
FOCE2 members, faculty members, industry guest speakers and Arizona State Board of Technical Registration representatives encourage students to take the FE exam during events throughout the year, says Udaya Halabe, a teaching professor who teaches classes on integrated civil, construction and environmental engineering design.
“Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam increases a student’s value to engineering firms, as it demonstrates a clear commitment to pursuing Professional Engineering, or PE, licensure,” he says. “To become a licensed PE, candidates must pass the FE exam and gain four years of experience under a licensed Professional Engineer.”
In fall 2025, a new one-credit elective course taught by an industry professional will be introduced to help students prepare for the FE exam and review the key subjects it covers. This elective course was made possible by FOCE2 support and contributions from its members. Also, FOCE2 will sponsor an FE exam open house where students can get more information and sign up to take the exam.
“The skill sets licensed civil and environmental engineers need in order to be successful have evolved significantly over the past decade, and FOCE2 has elevated their support to help mold and educate our future workforce,” Pendyala says.
