University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The Grainger College of Engineering
Illinois Center for Transportation

Bright futures ahead: CEE students take on 8th-grade career conference

2/3/2020 Noelle Arbulu

Nelson Mandela once said, “Children are our greatest treasure. They are our future.” José Rivera-Perez and Punit Singhvi, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering doctoral students, couldn’t agree more.

The two were chomping at the bit to present at the 29th annual 8th Grade Career Conference at the I Hotel in Champaign, Illinois, late last month.

This six-day conference inspires young minds and promotes future career success by having professionals and students in their respective fields come and chat with the junior highers.

José Rivera-Perez, left, and Punit Singhvi, UIUC CEE doctoral students, were all smiles at the 29th annual 8th Grade Career Conference, where they shared their passion about transportation engineering.
José Rivera-Perez, left, and Punit Singhvi, UIUC CEE doctoral students, were all smiles at the 29th annual 8th Grade Career Conference, where they shared their passion about transportation engineering.

Rivera-Perez and Singhvi were all set to chat transportation engineering.

“How did you get here today?” Singhvi said while addressing the crowd.

“The bus!” the eighth-graders exclaimed.

“Which is on?” Singhvi asked.

“Wheels!” the crowd echoed.

“Which is on?” Singhvi pressed.

“The road!” the kiddos responded in unison.

“Yes, pavement!” Singhvi said.

Punit Singhvi, front left, and José Rivera-Perez captivated their audience during the 29th annual 8th Grade Career Conference, which saw participation from area East Central Illinois schools.
Punit Singhvi, front left, and José Rivera-Perez captivated their audience during the 29th annual 8th Grade Career Conference, which saw participation from area East Central Illinois schools.

Singhvi explained transportation engineering is more than just the roads we drive on, but it also encompasses airplane runways, railroads, highway design and much more.

Rivera-Perez highlighted the importance of education in order to become a transportation engineer.

And what’s a better place to gain an education than UIUC, Rivera-Perez asked, as civil and environmental engineering program ranks No. 2 and 3 in the U.S. for its graduate and undergraduate programs, respectively.

But perhaps the most exciting part of their presentation were the very interested eighth-graders, who were quick to raise their hands and ask insightful questions.

Singhvi and Rivera-Perez left the event elated, having had the opportunity to promote what they are so passionate about ― transportation engineering.