Hear from Koby Stewart, a civil engineering senior at the University of Michigan, as he shares his experience as a Simpson Strong-Tie Student Scholarship recipient. Koby dives into his background in construction and his introduction to Simpson Strong-Tie’s “No Equal” philosophy of excellence. Koby discusses how the experience broadened his professional network and influenced his career plans, including participation in ASCE competitions and pursuing a master’s degree in structural engineering.
Hey everyone! My name is Koby Stewart, and I’m a senior studying civil engineering at the University of Michigan. Following my sophomore year of school, I took ten months off to work for an engineering consulting company in Plymouth, Michigan, called Soil and Materials Engineers, or SME. I worked as an engineering technician performing concrete, asphalt, and soil density testing, among other tasks. Very soon after I’d begun working there, I knew the construction industry was where I wanted to build my career. I loved being involved in complex projects with so many moving pieces and seeing the progress of buildings I’d worked on for months.
I first heard about the Simpson Strong-Tie Student Scholarship through a departmental email. Many such emails slip by me, but I’m very grateful that I took the time to look into Simpson Strong-Tie and everything the company has to offer. What intrigued me about Simpson was the level of education they provide in order to “help construction professionals design and build safer, stronger structures more efficiently” and the Strong-Tie Undergraduate Fellowship (of which the Simpson Strong-Tie Student Scholarship is part) is testament to this ambition.
While touring the Stockton manufacturing plant I noticed a symbol that popped up all over the place. It was an equal sign with a slash through it which stood for “No Equal.” Designers often specify Simpson “or equal” products, but the confidence and pride the company has in their products mean they believe there’s really “no equal” or adequate substitute for them. I believe this mentality is needed in the work that you provide to the world, no matter what it is.
My favorite experience from the trip was visiting Alcatraz. We were lucky enough to have a clear and sunny day to explore the former prison island, and were even able to spot the famous Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. On the final day of the trip, the group built benches or planter boxes which were then donated to local schools. Through this, I was able to get to know another fellow named Princess who is from Nigeria. It was amazing being able to chat about life with someone who had a completely different upbringing than mine — something I haven’t been able to experience very often yet at my age.
From this trip, I’ve made many new friends, not just students my age but also established professionals who I will be able to reach out to for advice in my career. Going into my senior year I also want to take more advantage of ASCE competitions, such as a new event called the Timber-Strong Design BuildSM (TSDBSM) Competition (sponsored by Simpson!).
