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<\/a>RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS \u2013 DEC. 7, 2021 \u2013 Not every engineer gets a chance to work on a $180 million renovation project, and most job interns can only dream about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Samantha Avila, a UTRGV grad student pursuing a master\u2019s degree in Civil Engineering, got to help on the project \u2013 the ongoing renovation of the Hidalgo County Courthouse in Edinburg, led by Jacobs Engineering Group based in Dallas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This Saturday morning, Avila will graduate from UTRGV in its Fall Commencement ceremony at the Bert Ogden Arena to accept her master\u2019s degree knowing she already has a job waiting for her at Jacobs Engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She interned with the company from June to August, which gave her three months of crucial, hands-on experience in the field. Not only was it a dream come true for Avila, but also led to a full-time job with Jacobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI worked on looking over constructor subcontractors, and I was responsible for helping with payments and inspections,\u201d she said. \u201cOur group also helped with moving management, as we helped move the current employees at the courthouse to another location so renovation could start on certain sections.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Due to the pandemic, most of the construction was postponed, so she got to see all the initial stages of the project, such as putting up walls and beams, and she even learned how to access security camera systems and protocols in construction security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJacobs is a very large company, so they have all of the necessary resources to get the best people into teams to make each project run smoothly,\u201d she said. \u201cThe team I was able to work with were very knowledgeable and being able to help project managers with their responsibilities on a day-to-day basis gave me a broader understanding of management.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Avila had completed her bachelor\u2019s degree in Civil Engineering in 2019 at UTRGV, inspired by her love of math and the broadness of the engineering field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aside from gaining important insight for her future career during the courthouse renovation project, Avila also won a districtwide competition that Jacobs hosts for summer interns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Avila represented the Hidalgo County project and went up against 20 other interns from varying districts, to share a project with regional leadership on what they\u2019ve learned during their internship. She won the districtwide competition and was invited to present at the company\u2019s monthly town hall meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was a presentation based off what we learned over the summer and how it correlates with what I learned at UTRGV,\u201d Avila said. \u201cIt was really nice getting recognition from the group here in the Valley and the group in Houston, as well.\u201d
Based on her hard work on the project and her win in the districtwide competition, Jacobs offered Avila a full-time position as a junior engineer in Dallas. She accepted with full confidence and excitement for her future.
\u201cJacobs has values and a great environment that made my decision easy,\u201d Avila said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She was offered jobs from a number of other engineering companies, but she turned them down.
\u201cDuring my summer internship, I got to see firsthand all the different programs they offer. And since it\u2019s an international company, I can work on jobs in Australia or Europe \u2013 pretty much anywhere I want to go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During her internship at Jacobs, Avila said, her interest in project management and structural design grew. Her time at UTRGV, combined with the internship, helped her gain the necessary knowledge to put her skills to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAttending UTRGV has been a great experience for me,\u201d she said. \u201cI have been really involved with the people here and everyone has made me feel so welcome. It\u2019s been a fun experience. So, I\u2019m happy to graduate, but it\u2019s also sad to say goodbye.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UTRGV Fall Commencement starts at 5 p.m. Friday at the UTRGV Parking Lot B3 in Brownsville and continues into Saturday in Edinburg with ceremonies at 8:30 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. at the Bert Ogden Arena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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