O’Connell Robertson and Alamo Colleges Foundation Host 4th Annual A/E Job Shadow Day
San Antonio, Texas – On October 13, sixty-eight students enrolled in the architecture and engineering programs at San Antonio College (SAC) shadowed at 20 participating local firms as part of the Fourth Annual SAC A/E Job Shadow Day. Students were assigned in groups to firms across San Antonio based on career interests. They visited workspaces, took project tours, and participated in project meetings. They observed how the different disciplines collaborate across project phasing, gained exposure to design software utilized, and discussed the skills and education required attain their chosen profession. Daniel, a SAC engineering student stated, “The Job Shadow was an amazing, career-changing event. It made me realize I want to be a civil engineer, and how we can make a big impact in the world.”
O’Connell Robertson, which hosted the event with the Alamo Colleges Foundation and sponsored lunch, started the program in 2014 with the architecture and engineering program coordinators at SAC and Alamo Colleges Foundation staff. Following the shadow, students and representatives from each firm gathered for a catered lunch on the San Antonio College campus. Leaders from Alamo Colleges, San Antonio College and the Alamo Colleges Foundation were also in attendance.
“The Architecture/Engineering Job Shadow Day is an example of experiential learning at its finest,” says Dr. Robert Vela, President of San Antonio College. “Each year, the number of firms which participate has grown, and the companies involved have been very generous with their time and talents in giving our students an up-close look at their profession. Our students return from the day energized. They gain an enthusiasm for their major. Several students remember the day as a turning point on their academic pathway to success after college.”
O’Connell Robertson has had projects on the San Antonio College campus since opening their San Antonio office in 2000. Participating firms include: Alamo Architects, Bain Medina Bain, Big Red Dog Engineering, CNG Engineering, Ford, Powell & Carson Architects, HEB Architect/Engineering Department, IES, Lake Flato Architects, LPA Architects, Munoz & Company, Overland Partners, PBK, RVK Architects, Terracon, and WestEast Design.