Future Engineering Leaders | Voices from ACEC Kansas Scholarship Winners
What does the next generation of engineers actually want from their employers — and are we listening? Two ACEC Kansas Scholarship winners join the podcast to share their journeys into engineering, what makes a great internship, how companies can stand out at career fairs, and what they're really looking for in a future employer. From site visits to mentorship, flexibility to communication, Hailey Nicholas and Connor Gibbs offer a candid look at what it's like to be an engineering student today — and what the industry can do better to keep young talent engaged.
Highlights
- Hailey grew up dancing in Andale, Kansas, and balances her analytical engineering mind with the creativity of dance — a rare right-brain/left-brain combination
- Connor's path to civil engineering started with dreams of baseball, a few high school engineering classes, and a natural aptitude for math
- Both credit STEM exposure early on — Hailey through Girl Scouts and her aerospace engineer dad, Connor through multiple engineering courses at his large high school
- Hailey applied for the ACEC Kansas Scholarship three years in a row before winning — perseverance paid off
- Connor discovered the scholarship through an email from his civil department secretary and had never heard of ACEC before
- Internships taught both students that applying classroom knowledge in the field accelerates learning — and that a summer without one can feel like falling behind
- Connor's internship journey spanned design (Trek Design Group), construction (Alberici Constructors), and his current role at Turner Construction on a massive EV battery plant in DeSoto
- Hailey valued site visits — including a power plant tour during her time at Affiliated Engineers — and appreciates employers who explain the full project context, not just the task
- Both students want companies to show up at career fairs with more than trinkets — personal connections, guest lectures, and pre-fair events make a real difference
- LinkedIn works for recruiting outreach; Facebook and Instagram are less effective for students seeking career information — company websites still come first
- What students want most: mentorship, growth opportunities, people who share knowledge, and a workplace that treats colleagues like family
- Jeff's advice to new engineers: be open-minded, communicate with your employer, and treat coworkers like family — you'll spend a third of your life with them
- Scott's advice: let your personality show — the engineers who rise are the ones who can communicate and connect, not just calculate
Chapters
0:00 — Welcome And Guests
1:09 — Hailey's Early Influences
4:30 — Connor's Path To Civil Engineering
8:52 — Scholarship Discovery
10:54 — Internships And Lessons
15:43 — What Makes A Great Internship
21:07 — Plans After Graduation
22:22 — Recruiting At Career Fairs
23:25 — Personal Recruiting Connections
23:58 — Beyond Career Fair Trinkets
24:34 — K-State Job Boards And Events
25:20 — Career Fairs For Interns
27:10 — Social Media Recruiting Reality
31:10 — What Students Want From Employers
34:33 — Showing Mentorship In Interviews
36:31 — Advice For New Engineers
41:02 — What Employers Want Most
43:02 — Flexibility And Humility At Work
46:33 — Lightning Round Fun Questions
50:19 — Final Thanks And Wrap
Resources Mentioned
- ACEC Kansas Scholarship Program
- University of Kansas (KU) Civil Engineering program — engineering.ku.edu
- Kansas State University Architectural Engineering program — k-state.edu
