Corps of Engineers in Search of UPRM Students
Corps of Engineers in Search of UPRM Students
By
Azyadeth Vélez Candelario
yadeth@uprm.edu
Translated by Tia Gilson
UPRM Press

Friday, February 20th 2009                           [ versión español ]

Doctor David Pittman, director of the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, was the leader of the delegation.
Doctor David Pittman, director of the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, was the leader of the delegation.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers carried out their annual visit to the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM) with the mission of interviewing and hiring UPRM students for permanent jobs and summer internships.

As explained by professor Ismael Pagán Trinidad, director of Civil Engineering and Surveying, host Department of the activity, this initiative began in the 1970’s and since then has been carried out in an uninterrupted form, it has converted into an alliance, one of the most important for this Department, as well as one of its strategic associations.

“We were also developing a relationship to strengthen the academia, the teaching, and the exchange of professors and joint participation in research,” remarked Pagán Trinidad.

He added that the work opportunities for UPRM students don’t only arise in the district offices of the Corps of Engineers that are located in the United States and its territories, but also arise in the seven laboratories of the Engineer Research and Development Center of the aforementioned organization.

“This has placed us in a privileged position because from two students at the beginning of the association, today around 25 students participate each summer and that is how they familiarize themselves with systems, procedures and experience in research,” emphasized the Director of Civil Engineering.

The Delegation of 22 members of the Corps of Engineers, that according to Pagán Trinidad is the largest that the entity has sent to the University until this moment, carried out talks and interviews as well as other activities, with the purpose of recruiting students, not only in Engineering but also in the College of Sciences, to employ them in their installations.

Doctor David Pittman, director of the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, sustained that they were looking to contract 35 UPRM students as permanent employees while the number of opportunities for summer internships could pass 25.

“It’s an extremely productive relationship, one of the most important ones that we have with a University specializing in Engineering, in America,” said Pittman.

Pittman was the leader of the delegation of the Corps of Engineers, which also included eight UPRM alumni, among them were engineers José Sánchez, Juan Pérez Rodríguez, Carlos Ruiz and geologist Evelyn Villanueva.

Villanueva, who graduated with a degree in Geology in 1992, showed faith in the importance of realizing recruiting activities such as these.

“I was offered this job the same way I am participating in offering them today. That is why I am a strong believer of coming here and interviewing students,” commented Villanueva.

During the visit, the Corps of Engineers recognized the work of chancellor Jorge Iván Vélez Arocho, as well as professor Pagán Trinidad for initiating this type of agreement that benefits the students.

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The delegation of the Corps of Engineers that visited UPRM was the largest that has ever come, until this point, to recruit students.
The delegation of the Corps of Engineers that visited UPRM was the largest that has ever come, until this point, to recruit students.

The director of Civil Engineering, professor Ismael Pagán Trinidad, second from the left; and UPRM chancellor Jorge Iván Vélez Arocho, third with David Pittman and Colonel Gary Johnston, commander of the Corps of Engineers, while receiving recognition for their work.
The director of Civil Engineering, professor Ismael Pagán Trinidad, second from the left; and UPRM chancellor Jorge Iván Vélez Arocho, third with David Pittman and Colonel Gary Johnston, commander of the Corps of Engineers, while receiving recognition for their work.

Photographs by Carlos Díaz / UPRM Press