{"id":63265,"date":"2024-11-04T07:51:20","date_gmt":"2024-11-04T12:51:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/?p=63265"},"modified":"2024-12-17T10:35:44","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T15:35:44","slug":"first-generation-student-breaking-barriers-in-civil-engineering","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2024\/11\/first-generation-student-breaking-barriers-in-civil-engineering\/","title":{"rendered":"First-generation student breaking barriers in civil engineering"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Arly

Arly Perez-Morales, shown in the Civil Engineering Materials Laboratory in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, is a junior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Photo by Angela Foster.<\/p><\/div>\n

Arly Perez-Morales is navigating uncharted waters\u2014and redefining what\u2019s possible along the way.<\/p>\n

Perez-Morales, a junior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, is a first-generation college student pursuing civil engineering\u2014a field historically underrepresented among women and Hispanic\/Latinx professionals.<\/p>\n

With a desire to make a difference, Perez-Morales\u2019 first-gen story reflects the purpose and the importance of family support.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy parents were born in Guatemala, and they came here around their 20s,\u201d said Perez-Morales, a 2022 graduate of nearby Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy. \u201cThey\u2019ve just tried to build a better future for us because they came from a tough background in Guatemala where there weren\u2019t many available jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said being the first in her family to attend college has been \u201cchallenging but also very rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy parents are always very supportive and they\u2019re always proud of my achievements,\u201d she said. \u201cBut there\u2019s a side where I get lost sometimes or I\u2019m not sure how to take on classes or just develop my career because\u2014 since I\u2019m the first\u2014no one else in my family has gone through this.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s also very rewarding \u2026 just having their support and knowing that I can always just lean back on them and know that they\u2019re always cheering me on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Motivated by her parents\u2019 sacrifices and a love for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education, Perez-Morales said she was immediately drawn by the challenge of civil engineering \u201cbecause I know civil engineering doesn\u2019t really have women in the field.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI always like being hands-on,\u201d she said, \u201cand I was hoping to get into a diverse field where I could work outside but also be able to work in the office\u2014so I could either work with stormwater or structural or transportation or anything that I\u2019m aiming for.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to a Data USA study of the 2022 U.S. workforce, around 17.1% of civil engineers in the U.S. are female\u2014and 11.3% of civil engineers are Hispanic\/Latinx.<\/p>\n

Those percentages won\u2019t be changing drastically anytime soon. The website reported only 14.3% of civil engineering bachelor\u2019s degrees awarded for 2021-2022 went to Hispanic women.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Arly

Arly Perez-Morales<\/p><\/div>\n

Perez-Morales\u2019 ambition is not just to succeed but to have a lasting impact. At UTC, she has become a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Society of Women Engineers, as well as a College of Engineering and Computer Science student ambassador. She has also landed an internship with Arcadis\u2014a leading global design and engineering consultancy firm\u2014where her work focuses on developing sustainable stormwater solutions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to be able to change the community, whether that be with stormwater like I\u2019m doing right now or working on roadways,\u201d she explained. \u201cJust being able to make a difference out in the world so that people can actually see that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stormwater research involves working on solutions for stormwater runoff, a critical issue in urban areas where water fails to absorb into the ground\u2014carrying pollutants to rivers and lakes.<\/p>\n

Her professors quickly noticed Perez-Morales\u2019 potential.<\/p>\n

Dr. Jejal-Reddy Bathi, assistant professor of civil engineering and environmental engineering coordinator, recognized her passion for leadership and community impact. He recommended her for the Dr. Roberto S. Benson Cultural Value Leadership Scholarship offered by the Cultural Value Leadership Institute<\/a> (CVLI)\u2014a local organization founded by Dr. Veronica Herrera to develop leadership skills in historically underserved students.<\/p>\n

\u201cArly is an exceptional student,\u201d Bathi said. \u201cShe expressed her interest in working in civil engineering and staying in a leadership role. I observed her traits of extraordinary work in class, maintaining a high GPA and paying attention to the details.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I learned about this institution led by Dr. Herrera and building leadership in the community, it was very satisfying to recommend her for the scholarship. At UTC, especially in civil engineering, we are thriving with bright students, connecting them to the community and making a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

Benson, the scholarship\u2019s namesake, retired as a professor emeritus from UT Knoxville in 2018 after 32 years as a member of the university\u2019s engineering faculty. He also served as a host parent to Herrera and her sister when they came to the U.S. for college.<\/p>\n

\u201cI call him my American dad because his family took us and many international students in for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We spent the holidays in their home, so today they\u2019re like my family,\u201d said Herrera, a native of Venezuela who earned two bachelor\u2019s degrees from UT Knoxville. She later moved to Chattanooga and received a Master of Education degree from UTC in 2011.<\/p>\n

Shortly after Benson passed away at the age of 81 in 2022, coinciding with initial thoughts of launching CVLI, Herrera contacted his family.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to do something nice and begin this scholarship,\u201d she recalled, \u201cand that was the first thing we had in mind when we finally got the 501(c)(3) back to go ahead with the Cultural Value Leadership Institute.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Ann

Ann Cater, left, and Dr. Veronica Herrera, right, recently presented Arly Perez-Morales with the Dr. Roberto S. Benson Cultural Value Leadership Scholarship (photo courtesy of Dr. Veronica Herrera).<\/p><\/div>\n

The CVLI aims to cultivate leadership skills by drawing on the distinct cultural strengths and backgrounds of individuals. It encourages participants to harness elements such as linguistic diversity, traditions and historical experiences as tools for leadership and innovation. This approach empowers individuals to embrace and integrate both personal and community cultural influences into their leadership practices, fostering social impact and meaningful change.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe point is to use culture as an asset in economic development and social innovation. That is the whole purpose of this: for people to have a solid platform to lead,\u201d said Herrera, who\u2014in addition to her work as executive director of the CVLI\u2014is a language teacher at McCallie School.<\/p>\n

The goal, she said, was to award the Roberto S. Benson Cultural Value Scholarship to \u201csomebody with tremendous potential to make this community better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Herrera recently was accompanied by one of her mentors, Ann Cater, in presenting the scholarship to Perez-Morales at an event hosted by the Chattanooga Public Library.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are thrilled to have Arly as the first representative,\u201d Herrera said. \u201cThe idea that this person is a first-generation college student, we really had not put that into the equation. So it is wonderful.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m honored to realize how this opportunity broadens the potential for recognizing and connecting with a network of individuals who are committed to leadership growth, using their culture as a tool for their growth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Herrera was also proud to point out that Perez-Morales is already creating a ripple effect within her family. Arly\u2019s sister, Esmeralda\u2014inspired by her achievements\u2014is now a first-year student at Chattanooga State Community College.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot only is she somebody that we admire for what she\u2019s doing,\u201d Herrera said, \u201cbut she\u2019s really a trailblazer for other CGLA graduates and for people in her family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Perez-Morales, the third-oldest of seven siblings, shared how meaningful it feels to begin building her family\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m honored to be able to guide my sister, who started college this semester,\u201d Perez-Morales said. \u201cShe came to me with questions about applying for scholarships, what college will be like, the experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked about the three siblings younger than Esmeralda, Perez-Morales flashed a big smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re all planning on going to college, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Learn more<\/h4>\n

Visit UTC<\/a><\/p>\n

UTC Civil Engineering<\/a><\/p>\n

First Gen Week: Celebrate what it means to be a first-generation student at UTC <\/a><\/p>\n

How to apply<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\u201cI

\u201cI want to be able to change the community, whether that be with stormwater like I\u2019m doing right now or working on roadways,\u201d civil engineering major Arly Perez-Morales said. \u201cJust being able to make a difference out in the world so that people can actually see that.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Arly Perez-Morales is navigating uncharted waters\u2014and redefining what\u2019s possible along the way. Perez-Morales, a junior at UTC, is a first-generation college student pursuing civil engineering\u2014a field historically underrepresented among women and Hispanic\/Latinx professionals. With a desire to make a difference, her first-gen story reflects the purpose and the importance of family support.<\/p>\n

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