On Nov. 7, 2025, Hanson proudly expanded our in-person mentoring program, Shadow Hanson, to Corpus Christi, Texas. The program’s goal is to give area high school students the opportunity to see the wonders of engineering up close by observing interactive exhibits and listening to engineers from a variety of disciplines who share their experiences on projects that have shaped their communities.
Expanding beyond Illinois
Hanson chose Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) for our first Shadow Hanson held outside Illinois because of the strong foundation we’ve built together in recent years. Hosting Shadow Hanson at TAMU-CC allows us to deepen that relationship and expand our pipeline — starting early with middle school and high school students who may one day become the next generation of engineers and innovators. TAMU-CC has been an excellent source of talent for Hanson, providing full-time employees who have become key contributors to our clients’ success.
Shadow Hanson Corpus Christi overview
The Shadow Hanson staff immersed Corpus Christi students in real-world engineering challenges through hands-on activities. The event kicked off with a keynote speech about servant leadership by Matthew Douglas, a construction project manager at the University of Houston Facilities Planning and Construction department, who set the tone for a day of collaboration and purpose-driven work. The students then explored demonstration stations, including floodplain modeling with Water Resources Specialist Paige Martinez, who used clay, straws, rocks and grass to design flood-mitigation strategies, simulate rainfall events and show how surface types affect runoff and why engineers plan for worst-case storms.
At the station run by Civil Engineer Michelle Alvarez, P.E., ENV SP, students discovered the science behind clean water by building small-scale filtration systems from everyday materials after watching a video on water sources in the Coastal Bend. Another exhibit featured Karen Kalter, a civil designer who demonstrated transportation design by helping students use the Streetmix platform on tablets to create “complete streets” that balance cars, pedestrians, bikes and buses by considering trade-offs, such as bus lanes versus green spaces.
The day also included a lively spaghetti bridge competition, led by Associate Roadway Discipline Manager Marcos Ybarra, P.E., and Senior Roadway Engineer Victor Murillo, P.E., that challenged teams to build the tallest structure using only marshmallows and dry noodles. From leadership lessons to creative problem-solving, Shadow Hanson gave students a dynamic glimpse into the world of engineering and infrastructure.
Shadow Hanson with Texas flair
By bringing our program to Texas, we tapped into the enthusiasm of our Corpus Christi team, which is passionate about supporting pipeline development through career fairs and our award-winning student internship program. Our employees’ energy and commitment helped create a memorable experience for students, showcasing the power of collaboration and the value of engaging talent across regions.
“I’m pleased to say our first Shadow Hanson event in Corpus Christi was a great success,” said Human Resources Coordinator Sophie Hirschvogel. “Overall, it provided an excellent experience, and we were thrilled to have nearly 74 students in attendance.”
If you’re an educator interested in bringing your students to next year’s Corpus Christi Shadow Hanson event, please submit this form.
