CECON 2026 Connects TAMU-CC Students with the Future of Civil Engineering

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi civil engineering students had the opportunity to connect with industry professionals, explore career opportunities, and learn about emerging developments in their field while attending CECON 2026. Students from the university's American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) student chapter attended the three-day conference, which brought together students and professionals for technical presentations, networking, and industry-focused events.  

Among the students attending were Arianna Garcia ’27 and Jonas Pipkins ’29. For many members of the TAMU-CC group, CECON 2026 was their first opportunity to attend the conference. Garcia, President of the university's ASCE student chapter, said she was excited to help provide fellow students with the experience. 

This year's conference focused on the theme “Revitalizing Resilience,” with discussions addressing how engineers can develop more sustainable and resilient infrastructure while responding to modern challenges. Topics included issues particularly relevant to South Texas, such as water resources and drought, giving students an opportunity to connect broader engineering challenges with issues affecting their own communities. 

Students were also able to tailor their conference experience to their individual interests through breakout sessions covering different areas of civil engineering. Presentations included topics in water resources, transportation, structural engineering, and geotechnical engineering. Pipkins, who has an interest in water-related engineering, chose sessions focused on that area. 

Beyond the technical sessions, networking played a major role in the experience. Students interacted directly with engineering firms and professionals, providing opportunities to learn about potential career paths and build connections within the industry. Pipkins said attending the conference resulted in an interview with a local engineering company and connections with several other organizations. Other members of the group also received opportunities after speaking with professionals at the conference. 

For Pipkins, the experience also demonstrated how becoming more comfortable speaking with professionals can create new opportunities. After initially finding professional networking intimidating as a freshman, he approached CECON differently. 

“This year I decided to just walk in and just be myself and talk to people naturally, and it worked out,” Pipkins said. 

Garcia shared a similar experience. Having attended the conference previously, she said networking became easier the second time and emphasized that the ability to communicate with professionals is a skill that develops through experience. 

“I think networking is always a good skill to have,” Garcia said. “It's always going to get you somewhere professionally.” 

For both students, one of the biggest lessons from CECON was the importance of becoming involved and taking advantage of opportunities outside the classroom. Garcia encouraged students to put themselves in unfamiliar situations, even when doing so may initially feel intimidating. 

“My advice is just to always put yourself out there, no matter what the opportunity is or how scary it may seem. Just do it,” Garcia said. 

Pipkins similarly encouraged students to become involved with organizations related to their majors and attend professional events. He said those experiences become easier with time and can ultimately lead to internships, interviews, and connections that help students advance their careers. 

Through CECON 2026, TAMU-CC civil engineering students returned to campus with new industry knowledge, professional connections, and greater confidence interacting with practicing engineers. Experiences like the conference provide students with opportunities to look beyond the classroom, explore where their interests may take them, and begin building the professional relationships that can help shape their future engineering careers.