Construction Engineering Technology junior Shelby Bishop and Civil Engineering senior Allie Thurman represented Louisiana Tech University as 2 of only 36 collegiate students invited to attend the 2018 Women’s Construction Leadership Seminar in Aurora, Colorado. Seminar sponsor Kiewit Engineering selected Bishop and Thurman from among applicants around the U.S. for their passion for construction and engineering fields and strong leadership skills. At the seminar, Bishop and Thurman participated in hands-on training and networked with industry professionals. “This conference is an important networking experience for women in the construction field,” Thurman said of the event. “It was an incredible experience to network with such inspiring women in leadership positions at one of the best construction companies out there.” “I had the opportunity to meet and network with empowering and intelligent women in the construction industry,” Bishop added. “The seminar taught me how to encourage confidence and growth in those around me, leadership skills that I hope to use at Louisiana Tech. Since women represent only a small fraction of the construction industry, I want to encourage other women that want to enter an underrepresented industry to have confidence in what they do.” Jeffery Pike, senior lecturer of civil engineering and construction engineering technology, nominated Bishop, and Dr. Sanjay Tewari, assistant professor of civil engineering and construction engineering technology, nominated Thurman for the seminar. “It’s obvious from looking at the numbers that Kiewit chose the best of the best to participate in their leadership event,” Pike said. “I nominated Shelby because she is self-motivated and ambitious enough to be successful in whatever she chooses to do whether or not she gets help from others. I am delighted to get to be a part of seeing her achieve success.” “Allie has demonstrated a great interest in academic activities as well as activities such as the Women’s Construction Leadership Seminar and serving as president of our American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) student chapter,” Tewari said. “I was happy to recommend her for the leadership seminar because the participants gain valuable hands-on experience and industry knowledge while also developing leadership skills.” “By attending events such as the Women’s Construction Leadership Seminar, our students can continue to develop the foundational leadership tools and to learn what is needed to become a leader in the construction industry,” Dr. Norman Pumphrey, associate professor of civil engineering and construction engineering technology and program chair of construction engineering technology, said. Bishop is a broker assistant for Trenton Street Realty and a former thrower for the Louisiana Tech Women’s Track and Field team. In addition to serving as president of the Louisiana Tech chapter of the ASCE, Thurman was an assistant coach for the Bulldog Aquatic Club and has interned for Ford, Bacon & Davis, LLC, as both a civil engineer and a structural engineer.