At the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Roos are choosing civil engineering not just for job security, but to also make an impact in day-to-day lives. We spoke with students and alumni about their concrete dreams, how they have laid the foundation for their careers and why UMKC is the place to build a future in civil engineering.

Elijah Kline was not always sure if he would go to college. However, the career aptitude tests he took while in high school pointed him toward engineering.

“When I learned more about the field of engineering, I was drawn to the idea of designing skyscrapers and large buildings,” Kline said. “I learned civil engineers play a major role in creating those kinds of structures. Also, civil engineering offers so many different pathways within. I could’ve gone in 10 different directions with my career and enjoyed any of them.”

As to what drew him to UMKC specifically, Kline says it was affordability.

“I was in the foster-care system and am putting myself through college, so staying out of debt was really important,” Kline said. “UMKC offered me a very generous financial aid package.”

Kline says there have been major benefits in choosing to attend UMKC.

“Our professors are incredible,” Kline said. “They are brilliant, engaging and very approachable. Thanks to smaller class sizes, you really get to know your professors by the time you graduate. That kind of connection and quality is unique to UMKC.”

Another benefit of attending UMKC for civil engineering? The fact that we are in the heart of Kansas City.

“Kansas City is home to several top design firms,” Kline said. “In fact, some of the best design firms in the country have their headquarters here like Burns & McDonnell, HNTB, Black & Veatch and Garmin just to name a few. That gives UMKC students more opportunities for internships, co-ops and networking. I’ve done a co-op at HNTB and being able to work while going to school has given me a ton of hands-on experience. You graduate from UMKC with not just with a degree, but with real-world experience that sets you apart from other graduates.”

Fellow civil engineering student Emma Bjornstad agreed.

“Being in the middle of the city means we’re surrounded by a ton of great engineering firms,” Bjornstad said. “For me, and a lot of my friends, it was easy to find summer internships and even choose between offers. Many of us have been able to continue working during the school year as well.”

Bjornstad has been interning with HNTB for almost two years in their Water Resources department. She has valued being able to step into the "real world" of engineering and work on actual projects, rather than just solving idealized problems on paper.

Mauricio Bernal is another student who has been able to participate in internships while attending UMKC. Bernal has interned at Burns & McDonnell every summer since his freshman year, completing more than 875 billable hours across three summers by contributing to utility-scale solar and thermal energy projects.

Currently pursuing a double major in civil engineering and finance, Bernal’s interest in civil engineering began in third grade when a civil engineer visited his classroom through the Lead to Read program.

“The civil engineer described how they helped design bridges, roads and buildings that make up the world around us,” Bernal said. “I remember thinking how incredible it was that you could literally help build the spaces people live and work in.”

Bernal has been involved with campus organizations since his freshman year and is the vice president of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers or SHPE.

“SHPE has given me a strong sense of community and a chance to give back by helping other underrepresented students in STEM,” Bernal said.

Despite a busy schedule, Bernal credits the relationships he has built along the way as the most rewarding part of Civil Engineering.

“Civil engineering is such a collaborative field, and I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside incredible classmates, professors and mentors,” Bernal said. “As a UMKC Trustees Scholar, I’ve also had the chance to connect with professionals and leaders throughout the Kansas City area. Being born and raised in Kansas City, it’s been especially meaningful to give back to the same community that helped shape who I am. That sense of local impact and connection has made my college experience even more rewarding.”

Like Kline, Bernal said experience is a huge benefit of attending UMKC for civil engineering.

“One of the biggest benefits of studying civil engineering at UMKC is the hands-on nature of the coursework,” Bernal said. “A highlight of the program is the senior design course, a year-long capstone where students are partnered with local companies to work on real-word and meaningful projects in the Kansas City area. I’ve had the opportunity to work on the redesign of Independence Avenue in collaboration with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority and the City of Kansas City, Missouri, which has been an incredible experience in seeing how classroom learning directly contributes to real community improvements.”

UMKC students’ experiences with hands-on projects, internships and leadership opportunities show that UMKC civil engineering students are career-ready once they graduate. For alumni like Trent Robinett (BSCE ’95), those same experiences have continued to shape their journeys beyond graduation.

Robinett is president of TREKK Design Group. He founded the company with his wife, Kimberly Robinett (BSEE ‘95) in 2002. The company consists of around 225 people, with 11 offices across the Midwest.

TREKK has worked on major projects around the region, including the KC Streetcar Main Street extension and the Kansas City International Airport terminal.

“The opportunity to serve that many people is what gets me out of bed in the morning,” Robinett said. “UMKC provided me with the foundation to build my career on and be at a spot where I get to do what I love every day. I learned how to learn, apply logic and solve problems. Since graduating, I have made it a point to be a lifelong learner. You have to continue to push yourself to grow and learn new skills.”

Robinett has some advice for those considering a career in civil engineering.

“If you want to serve, if you want to make the world a better place and if you want to be a part of a profession that saves lives, engineering is your calling,” Robinett said. “No matter how developed technology gets, humans need a place to live, water to drink and spaces to experience life. Civil engineering will provide you with that opportunity. You will be able to see what you envisioned and designed become real right before your eyes. You will be given the opportunity to make a difference. At TREKK, we call this ‘improving lives’ and UMKC can be the start to your personal journey of improving lives.”

Alum Brian Boman (B.S. ’17), business development manager for Pullman, also shares a similar thought.

“Every aspect of building structures involves civil engineering,” Boman said. “Civil engineering provides a vast array of career paths that all have a comfortable financial outlook.  In addition, there are more engineers needed every day, which makes engineering education a desirable background for large firms that are competing for new graduates.  The work is rewarding and meaningful in a tangible way that is difficult to replicate in other careers.”

Boman credits UMKC for his successful career.

“UMKC is exceptional at providing the curriculum that will build critical thinking skills and provide tools that will allow graduates to be a contributor in any setting,” Boman said. “The degree of expertise of faculty is excellent and UMKC’s impressive research capabilities in a city that is a national hub for the design and construction industry is a unique set of circumstances that set UMKC apart from other schools.”

Terracon operations manager Mohamad Ibrawish (BSCE ’01) echoed Boman’s feelings, summing up why students should choose UMKC for civil engineering.

“UMKC is a great choice because of its strong academic programs, supportive faculty and connections to industry in the Kansas City area,” Ibrawish said. “These connections helped me build a network in the industry before even graduating, which made looking for work and building my career much easier. It’s a place where students can grow both personally and professionally.”

Check out the School of Science and Engineering’s civil engineering programs.