87 College Students Get a Real-World Look into Future Career at 6th Annual A/E Job Shadow Day
San Antonio, Texas – On October 4, 2019, 87 students enrolled in the architecture and engineering programs at San Antonio College (SAC) spent the morning at one of 20 local firms as part of the Sixth Annual SAC A/E Job Shadow Day. Groups of students were assigned to firms across San Antonio based on their career interests. The firms provided office and project tours, involved students in meetings, and demonstrated design programs. The students observed how the different disciplines collaborate across project phasing, gained exposure to design software utilized, and discussed the skills and education required to attain their chosen profession.
Eight architecture and engineering students visited O’Connell Robertson’s office during the morning, where they were able to view San Antonio College projects in design and construction. They then toured the San Antonio job site to see one of the Firm’s designs under construction. “Through this experience I was able to see how closely architecture and engineering interact. If you want to be part of an efficient firm, you must learn to work as a team.,” said one participating SAC student.
O’Connell Robertson, which sponsored lunch for all participants and hosted the event with the Alamo Colleges Foundation, started the program in 2014 with program coordinators at SAC and Alamo Colleges Foundation staff. Following the shadow, students and representatives from each firm gathered for the lunch on the San Antonio College campus where they shared their experiences and impressions. Leaders from Alamo Colleges, SAC and the Alamo Colleges Foundation were also in attendance.
“Through the job shadow day, this helps to bridge the gap between academics and professional environment. A lot of minds were changed today and a lot were confirmed,” says Dwayne Bohuslav, Architecture Program Coordinator at SAC.
Dr. Dan Dimitriu, PE, Engineering Program Coordinator at SAC shared during the luncheon, “The job shadow day should be job shining day because you shine a bright spot on the jobs out there. The students see the kind of education they need for these jobs.”
O’Connell Robertson has worked on the SAC campus since opening their local office in 2000. Firms joining the Job Shadow Program with O’Connell Robertson this year include: Alamo Architects, Bain Medina Bain, Baptist Medical Center, CNG Engineering, Gessner Engineering, HEB Architect/Engineering Department, IES, Jose I. Guerra, Inc., Lake Flato Architects, LPA Architects, Marmon Mok, MEP Engineering, Overland Partners, Pape-Dawson Engineers, PBK, RVK Architects, Terracon, and WestEast Design.