One of my favorite annual work events has officially come and gone. The 2022 Simpson Strong-Tie Scholarship trip was the biggest yet! Fifty-six students from around the country flew out to Northern California to spend a whole week learning about the construction industry, Simpson Strong-Tie, and more.

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a group bond faster than these students. Fifty-six people who had never met became instant friends, and their professional network instantly expanded.

From jobsite visits, plan-reading exercises, and manufacturing and R&D lab tours to guest lectures from alumni of this program, a panel discussion with our Senior Leadership Team, and even some hands-on building to give back to the community, these students experienced a LOT this week.

Also, special thanks to Simpson Strong-Tie alumnus Henry Chu, who came by to talk to this year’s scholarship winners about his career, experiences, motivations, and managing it all while raising three children, giving back to his community, and more.

But I doubt anything tops their time getting to know each other at dinners, activities, and more. I couldn’t be prouder of the team that helped pull this off, or the students that went all-in and participated fully throughout the week.

Hear from some of the students about their experience on this year’s trip: 

“I am extremely thankful to have won the Simpson Strong-Tie Undergraduate Student Scholarship. The fellowship they offered alongside the scholarship was very generous. I got the opportunity to meet some amazing people from all over the country, go sightseeing in San Francisco for the first time, and attend a ton of instructive technical tours & talks! One of their founding principles, “Give Back,” deeply resonated with me, and I will strive to imitate them in that way throughout my personal and professional life. A huge thank-you to the Simpson employees for being amazing hosts and even better mentors!”  

• Mario Mazed, Civil Engineering Student at County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works 

“I’m so honored to have been a recipient of the Simpson Strong-Tie Scholarship and have so much gratitude for the opportunity to travel to California to the Simpson Strong-Tie Headquarters. My favorite part of the trip was the plant tour. I love manufacturing and watching raw materials being turned to finished goods and learning about the quality control processes. Sam Marcoux, employee at Simpson Strong-Tie, was our tour guide and was just as entertaining as he was informative. I also enjoyed the panel discussion involving the Simpson Strong-Tie leadership team. Their wisdom and encouragement inspire me. After the discussion, we were able to sit and have lunch with many of the leaders and pick their brains.” 

• Leah Helmer, Construction Professional  

“I had a great time meeting fellow Simpson Strong-Tie Fellowship recipients and company representatives last week! As part of the scholarship, we were treated with a visit to Pleasanton, CA, for a week to learn about the Simpson mission and core values, network with students and professionals, tour manufacturing facilities and jobsites, and also do a little bit of sightseeing along the way. Thanks again to the hosting team from Simpson Strong-Tie for bringing together a nationwide group of engineers, architects, and construction managers together under one roof and for investing in our success.” 

• Lelan Yung, Virginia Tech, Bachelor’s in Architecture 

“This past week I was lucky enough to be one of three UNLV College of Engineering students to attend Simpson Strong-Tie’s Undergraduate Fellowship trip hosted in Pleasanton, CA. I was able to take a tour of their warehouse, meet with leadership from their executive team, tour a jobsite, and also find time for some fun this past week! Being a two-time scholarship winner, I am incredibly grateful for Simpson Strong-Tie’s support of my education. Their value of giving back to the community and to young engineers is truly inspiring. Thank you to Simpson Strong-Tie for believing in students like me.” 

• Savanna Vacek, Civil Engineering Intern at Black & Veatch 

We hope their experience inspires even more students to apply for our scholarships in the future!

You can learn more about the  Strong-Tie Undergraduate Fellowship which provides awardees of the Simpson Strong-Tie Scholarship valuable resources and opportunities for their education and career. Find all the information you need to apply for a Strong-Tie Scholarship on our website.

Hear from Civil Engineering student, Robert Inman firsthand about his experience on this trip on our SE Blog.