AEF CAMPAIGN CONNECTION
Kendra Carlson, 19 University of Alberta (B.Sc. Civil Engineering) Class of 2019
As a synchronized swimmer in junior and senior high school, Kendra Carlson learned her ABCs — agility, balance, coordination and speed. But it was her interest in numbers and formulas — math and science in particular — that led her to the University of Alberta to study engineering. This fall she’s heading into her sec- ond year, having just been accepted into the civil engineering co-op program in the University of Alberta's Faculty of Engi- neering. She’s excited about exploring the many options a career in civil engineering can provide. “There are so many areas you can go into — designing buildings, roads, water and sewage plants, to name a few,” she says. “I like how broad the discipline is — and the opportunity to make society a better place.” She also hopes to suit up again for the U of A’s synchronized swimming squad — and will continue to apply the skills she’s learned as an athlete to her schooling. “Synchronized swimming has definitely taught me team work. You have to learn how to cooperate with people,” she explains. “And also time management. I’ve had to learn how to manage my time with swimming and school, while still getting good marks.” Over the summer break, Ms. Carlson also learned a bit about chipping and putting while working for a local golf course doing maintenance. Starting her days at 5 a.m. didn’t bother her, though, since the job helped her save money for tuition. During her first year at university, a $2,000 scholarship from the APEGA Education Foundation was also a big help in paying for her education. “That scholarship, along with a few others, helped pay for my entire first year of tuition,” she says. “I was able to go through my first year without having to get a student loan or a job. I could focus on being a student.”
When she started university last year, several scholarships helped Kendra Carlson pay for tuition and allowed her to concentrate on her grades. -photo courtesy Kendra Carlson
four weeks to make these ceramic bars, then I put them in a four-point bending machine and got to break them all and see how much pressure they could withstand,” recalls Ms. Carlson. The program, which included industry tours, made a big impression on a young high school student. “I got to do my own research project and present my findings. I really enjoyed that experience, which is what made me want to go into engineering,” she says.
Before starting Grade 12 at Strathcona Christian Academy in Sherwood Park, Ms. Carlson spent her summer working in a materials engineering lab at the U of A, as part of the Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science & Technology (WISEST) Summer Research Program. The program gives students a chance to work as paid research assistants while learning about careers in engineering, science, and technology. “I made dental ceramics and got to do lots of cool experiments. It took me probably
FALL 2015 PEG | 37
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker