Outstanding Engineering Students Awarded Scholarships by ACEC California for 2025
On June 17, 2025, the American Council of Engineering Companies of California (ACEC California) unveiled its highly anticipated recipients of the 2025 Scholarship Foundation scholarships. This initiative recognizes extraordinary graduate and undergraduate students who are diligently working towards degrees in engineering or land surveying, aiming to support their academic and professional journeys.
The ACEC California Scholarship Foundation is committed to investing in the future of engineering through annual scholarships, designed to alleviate some financial burdens that students might face. This year's recipients collectively received an impressive $82,000 in scholarship funds. Not only is this sum a reflection of ACEC California's dedication to education, but it also responds to the pressing need for skilled engineers and land surveyors in California, a state facing a growing shortage of professionals in these vital fields.
Brad Diede, Executive Director of ACEC California, expressed pride in supporting the ambitious aspirations of these deserving students. He emphasized the importance of encouraging young minds to pursue lucrative careers in engineering and land surveying, particularly in light of the state's evolving infrastructure needs. “With a growing shortage of engineers and land surveyors, it is crucial to encourage young people to pursue these rewarding, well-paying careers. We remain committed to fostering the next generation of professionals in these vital fields,” said Diede.
This year's remarkable cohort consists of six graduate students and nine undergraduate students who have all demonstrated significant achievements in their academic pursuits and a strong interest in addressing critical policy issues impacting California. Many of these students are actively involved in student engineering organizations, such as the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Student Chapters, Tau Beta Pi, and Zotbotics. Moreover, several of them are gaining real-world experience by working at consulting engineering firms while completing their studies.
Their contributions are far-reaching, with active engagements in projects that include designing rail and transit corridors, creating accessible pedestrian pathways compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), testing satellite functionalities, and developing sustainable clean water strategies for rural communities abroad. Emilda Gwerengwe, a civil engineering student at San Jose State University, shared her enthusiasm about receiving the ACEC Scholarship, stating, “As a first-generation graduate student, being awarded the ACEC Scholarship is so impactful and such an honor. It enables me to focus on my academic goals and stay on track to graduate on time.”
The selection process was highly competitive this year, drawing a record 150 applications that were carefully assessed by a dedicated Volunteer Board of Trustees. This esteemed group included industry professionals such as Chairman Chris Diaz from Diaz•Yourman Associates, Donald Blackburn from Blackburn Consulting, and Aundrea Tirapelle from Psomas, among others.
The scholarship funds will be disbursed to the recipients at the commencement of the Fall 2025 semester, marking a critical step in their educational journeys. The list of recipients showcases the diversity and aspirations of the next generation of engineers:
For further information on the ACEC California Scholarship Foundation and its initiatives, visit their official website at www.acec-ca.org/scholarship. ACEC California is the voice of California’s engineering and land surveying firms, representing a vast network of over 1,000 office locations and nearly 25,000 professionals engaged in various aspects of infrastructure design, construction, and repair across California.
The ACEC California Scholarship Foundation is committed to investing in the future of engineering through annual scholarships, designed to alleviate some financial burdens that students might face. This year's recipients collectively received an impressive $82,000 in scholarship funds. Not only is this sum a reflection of ACEC California's dedication to education, but it also responds to the pressing need for skilled engineers and land surveyors in California, a state facing a growing shortage of professionals in these vital fields.
Brad Diede, Executive Director of ACEC California, expressed pride in supporting the ambitious aspirations of these deserving students. He emphasized the importance of encouraging young minds to pursue lucrative careers in engineering and land surveying, particularly in light of the state's evolving infrastructure needs. “With a growing shortage of engineers and land surveyors, it is crucial to encourage young people to pursue these rewarding, well-paying careers. We remain committed to fostering the next generation of professionals in these vital fields,” said Diede.
This year's remarkable cohort consists of six graduate students and nine undergraduate students who have all demonstrated significant achievements in their academic pursuits and a strong interest in addressing critical policy issues impacting California. Many of these students are actively involved in student engineering organizations, such as the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Student Chapters, Tau Beta Pi, and Zotbotics. Moreover, several of them are gaining real-world experience by working at consulting engineering firms while completing their studies.
Their contributions are far-reaching, with active engagements in projects that include designing rail and transit corridors, creating accessible pedestrian pathways compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), testing satellite functionalities, and developing sustainable clean water strategies for rural communities abroad. Emilda Gwerengwe, a civil engineering student at San Jose State University, shared her enthusiasm about receiving the ACEC Scholarship, stating, “As a first-generation graduate student, being awarded the ACEC Scholarship is so impactful and such an honor. It enables me to focus on my academic goals and stay on track to graduate on time.”
The selection process was highly competitive this year, drawing a record 150 applications that were carefully assessed by a dedicated Volunteer Board of Trustees. This esteemed group included industry professionals such as Chairman Chris Diaz from Diaz•Yourman Associates, Donald Blackburn from Blackburn Consulting, and Aundrea Tirapelle from Psomas, among others.
The scholarship funds will be disbursed to the recipients at the commencement of the Fall 2025 semester, marking a critical step in their educational journeys. The list of recipients showcases the diversity and aspirations of the next generation of engineers:
- - Sonia Yanez Ayon, University of California, Davis - Master’s in Civil Engineering and Structural Engineering
- - Morgan Bates, University of the Pacific - Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering and Engineering Management
- - Justin Gip, San Diego State University - Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering
- - Emilda Gwerengwe, San Jose State University - Master’s in Civil Engineering
- - Xitlaly Anaely Gonzalez, California State University, Chico - Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering
- - Kai Halpin, University of California, Irvine - Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering
- - Alexandra Kersting, University of California, San Diego - Master’s in Structural Engineering
- - Kaleb Limtiaco, California Baptist University - Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering
- - Oscar Macias, California Baptist University - Bachelor’s in Construction Engineering
- - Merissa Mills, University of California, Los Angeles - Master’s in Civil Engineering
- - Peter Otoshi, California Polytechnic State University, Pomona - Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering
- - Giuse Pham, Stanford University - Master’s in Mechanical Engineering
- - Komal Kaur Sandhu, University of California, Davis - Master’s in Structural and Civil Engineering
- - Nathan Vlasin, University of California, Irvine - Bachelor’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering
- - Garrett Westwick, California Baptist University - Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering.
For further information on the ACEC California Scholarship Foundation and its initiatives, visit their official website at www.acec-ca.org/scholarship. ACEC California is the voice of California’s engineering and land surveying firms, representing a vast network of over 1,000 office locations and nearly 25,000 professionals engaged in various aspects of infrastructure design, construction, and repair across California.
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