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Brooklyn Lash

Major 

Civil engineering with a minor in global engineering

Awards 

Community Impact Award
Research Award

The Community Impact Award recognizes undergraduate students who contribute to improving their department/program, college, university and/or local community.

The Research Award recognizes undergraduate students with demonstrated excellence in research. 

Post-graduation plans

Working at Ulteig as a structural/geotechnical graduate engineer in the renewables sector. Looking ahead, I plan to pursue my Professional Engineer (PE) license and eventually attend graduate school.

What led to you being recognized with the Community Impact Award?

Over the past year, I volunteered at the Buff Pantry and local powerlifting meets, and I participated in Engineers Without Borders. Volunteering and helping my community not only gave me a sense of fulfillment but also allowed me to gain new perspectives from people of diverse backgrounds. After four and a half years here, I truly feel that Colorado has become my new home and I'm committed to giving back to the community that has supported me. Looking ahead, I hope to continue volunteering in my professional life, whether through a professional Engineers Without Borders chapter or by contributing to Colorado’s many food banks and food rescue organizations. 

What do you believe contributed to your recognition with the Research Award?

For my Research Award, I had the privilege of working with Professor Wil Srubar and the for the past year and a half. Initially I joined as a Discovery Learning Apprentice (DLA) appointment, and now continue part-time as a research assistant to wrap up projects we began last year. Our work focuses on sustainable building materials, particularly with calcium sulfo-aluminate cement and metakaolin. Over the [ast year, we explored how algae and biochar (burnt algae) influence the strength of these materials.

My contributions included generating a significant portion of the data used in a paper published by my postdoctoral mentor, Cansu Acarturk, last May. I am also providing data for her second paper, currently in progress. Additionally, I authored a technical paper and presented my findings at the ASCE Regional Competition in Wyoming this past April, earning second place! Research has been a central part of my life since high school, and I feel fortunate to contribute to such impactful work.

What is your favorite memory from your time at ���Ҵ�ý�ƽ������?

I loved participating in the extracurriculars I was involved in! Through the  American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)I was able to travel to the US Air Force Academy, Colorado School of Mines and the University of Wyoming to compete—and even row—in the ASCE Concrete Canoe competition as well as compete in the surveying competition and the sustainable solutions competition. I even had the privilege of traveling to the ASCE nationals in Utah with four other teammates, where we competed in the sustainable solutions competition and placed sixth out of 18 nationally! 

I also loved traveling to Atlanta last April for USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals. Competing on a national stage, setting personal records and being recognized for something beyond engineering was truly rewarding.

Can you share a moment (or moments) when you felt like you were "officially" an engineer?

I've had many different jobs and experiences, but the one that really made me feel like I fit in as an engineer was my structural/geotechnical internship with Ulteig last summer and this fall. I would start with a blank Excel sheet and was expected to create an entire calculation package to analyze concrete drilled shafts, steel pile groups or shallow foundations. I was able to collaborate with coworkers in both the civil and electrical departments to develop a cohesive design. It was gratifying to talk with other engineers and feel like a true team member, where my voice was heard despite being an intern. I am beyond excited to keep learning and exploring when I start working there full time in January!