(top row, left to right) Alana Alves de Moraes, University of Texas at
Austin; Joseph Cortas, University of Cincinnati; and Aditya
Jhunjhunwala, University of California, Davis. (bottom row, left to right)
Shitao Shi, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; and Kara Stall,
University of Cincinnati.

College students around the country are looking forward to spring break--but thanks to you, some are looking even further into the future after a life-changing few days last fall.

This past November, donors like you gave five college students the opportunity to attend the AISC Fall Task Committee meetings, where they got an inside look into the standards development process, exchanged ideas, and made valuable personal connections that will serve them well for years to come.

You gave a particularly significant gift to Joseph Cortas, a student at the University of Cincinnati, who said the meetings reaffirmed that structural engineering is the right path for him--what remarkable clarity to have as a student! Cortas said that he would recommend all students pursuing similar careers to engage with AISC in any way they can.

"Despite being the youngest person in the space, I felt I had every opportunity to interact, engage, and otherwise learn in a profound and unique way," Cortas said.

Aditya Jhunjhunwala, a University of California, Davis student, shared that his experience was hugely helpful, offering a platform for active engagement in discussions and reinforcing the importance of bridging academic insights with real-world industry practices.

"It was a stepping stone toward future involvement, inspiring a deeper commitment to the field," Jhunjhunwala said. "The exposure will undoubtedly inform and enhance my ongoing research work."

Shitao Shi, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, was particularly excited about the potential for future collaborations that could stem from the meetings, he said.

"I am grateful to my mentor for facilitating introductions to industry leaders and experts, enriching my experience during the meetings," Shi said. "These connections proved invaluable, creating opportunities to exchange ideas and perspectives with professionals who share a passion for advancing the steel industry."

You can learn more about this AISC Education Foundation-funded program and past grant recipients at aisc.org/travelgrants.

As always, we want to thank you for enriching the lives of students and providing them with career development opportunities like these meetings. Every contribution makes a difference. We look forward to keeping you updated on the difference you're making.