Growing up in New York City, construction and large-scale building projects have always been a big part of Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering undergrad Matthew Calvo's life. Soon after coming to Purdue University, Matthew said he started to gravitate toward the Construction Engineering Program because of how well it prepared students for their future careers with internship opportunities while they earned their degrees.

Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering undergraduate Minhea Thomas says she chose Purdue University because of its strong engineering programs and its great sense of community. Minhea says she aims to be part of major structural engineering projects as a professional that will shape and improve cities.

Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering undergrad John Kustra says he chose to come to Purdue because of its vibrant campus life and strong academic reputation. Set to graduate this spring, John will be joining a construction firm where he aims to work on projects that will be of great value to the community.

Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering undergrad Andrew Jones is the 14th member of his family to become a Boilermaker. Andrew says his love of the university and the strength of its civil engineering program made choosing Purdue a fairly easy decision.

Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering undergrad Laine Gideon says she's always had a strong interest in skyscrapers and being part of a team behind their construction. As a captain of the Purdue ASCE Seismic Design Team, Lainie competes against universities from all around the world.

Growing up in a Boilermaker family, and with a strong interest in science and engineering, Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering undergrad Greg Gerardot said Purdue was always on his radar. After touring campus and seeing the workspaces for students and its strong construction program, Greg said he knew he found the perfect place for him.

Lyles School of Civi and Construction Engineering undergrad Jason Li says he's always had an interest in engineering, so he knew he wanted to go somewhere that has a strong program. Jason also came from a small school, so he knew wherever he decided to go, he wanted it to be at a big campus with a strong community. Once he visited Purdue and learned about the civil engineering program, Jason said he knew this was the place for him.

Growing up with a love of both Purdue University and building things, Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering undergrad Andi Flittner said studying construction engineering at Purdue was a perfect match for her. Andi says she loves the community and collaboration the university and school fosters.

Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering senior Quentin Lovejoy said he always knew he wanted to pursue a career in civil engineering — transportation engineering in particular. Quentin says a dream of his is to work on a railway expansion project and improve the rail system in the U.S.

Growing up in Chicago, Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering junior Kalaya Sriver said she developed an interest and appreciation for mass and public transit at an early age. A dream of hers is to eventually work on a transportation project that everyone can benefit from.

Looking to make an impact on local communities and the world at large, Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering undergrad Ally Simon came to Purdue University for its strong engineering program as well as its dance minor offering. Ally says the creativity behind performing has only made her a better civil engineer and problem-solver.

Looking to make an impact on communities, Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering undergrad Violet Fitzgerald chose construction engineering at Purdue for its strong reputation, smaller class size, and opportunities.

Before coming to Purdue, Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering undergrad Drake Scheessele wasn't sure exactly what he wanted to pursue. But the more he learned about civil engineering, the more interested he became — especially with how many different systems and structures could be studied within the discipline.

Looking to blend his interests of art and science, Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering undergrad Mason Nichols said the construction engineering program — along with its incredible experiential learning opportunities — was a perfect fit for him.

Purdue Civil and Construction Engineering undergrad Carmen Caserio is passionate about creating sustainable cities. With transportation being key to achieving greater sustainability, he chose to pursue a degree in civil engineering with a focus on transportation engineering.

Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering undergrad George McAtee says what drew him to the discipline was its potential for a positive impact on both the environment and community. A dream project of his is to create open community spaces for people to come together and enjoy.

Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering undergrad Alana DeVilbiss said she's always had an interest in road and urban design, so wherever she chose to study, it had to have a great civil engineering program. She also wanted to complete a professional co-op and gain industry experience while in school. She found all she was looking for — and more — at Purdue University.

Over the years, the Lyles School of Civil Engineering's undergraduates have shared their stories and dreams with us. And while all of their stories have been unique, they all share at least one thing in common: Purdue Civil Engineering is where they found their path to a successful future.

After having spent most of his life living in Canada, Lyles School of Civil Engineering undergrad Elliot Cram said he knew he wanted to study engineering at a top program in the United States. He found all that he was looking for — and more — in Purdue University.

Civil Engineering was not something Carly thought she'd major in — especially after already earning her Bachelor's degree in Art + Design with a minor in Physics from Butler University. But, she said, she still wanted something more in a career that could blend engineering and design. And that's when she ultimately came to my decision to study civil engineering at Purdue University.