Following her graduation from ALA in 2022, Sophia Shelton has been attending the University of Texas at Austin, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, with a minor in Business. Sophia plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Structural Engineering. Sophia has begun working on applying for graduate schools as she approaches her senior year at UT Austin.
Over a year ago, Sophia started the UT Austin student branch of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE). This statewide organization is dedicated to supporting engineers and aspiring student engineers in the professional, ethical, economic, social, and political aspects of engineering. Earlier this summer, Sophia was the recipient of the Engineering Student of the Year Award from TSPE, one of her biggest accomplishments since becoming a CAST Alumna. Sophia shared that it has been super rewarding to be recognized for her work as a student member of the organization and she is looking forward to her continued participation in TSPE.
While she was a CAST Student at ALA, Sophia took dual credit classes through both the OnRamps program and through the University of Texas at San Antonio. This opportunity helped to prepare her to take on the more rigorous classes that she has taken during her time as a student at UT Austin. Furthermore, Sophia shared advice for our current CAST students, encouraging them to branch out and take advantage of new opportunities. “Join new clubs, try new electives, and talk to new people. High school (and college) are great opportunities to try new things!” Sophia’s experience and accomplishments exemplify the exciting opportunities that can arise when you try something new. The CAST Alumni Network is proud of Sophia, and we wish her the best of luck as she continues to work towards her engineering career.