December 10, 2024
Dec. 9, 2024
Contact: Janese Heavin, heavinj@missouri.edu
When Britney Oliver, a senior at the University of Missouri, met representatives from alumnus-owned ARCO Construction Company at a College of Engineering Career Fair, she didn’t just network — she found her future.
“We discussed my goals of seeing large construction projects come to life, and I realized ARCO exceeded everything I wanted in a job and a company,” said Oliver, who grew up in Springfield, Missouri. “They gave me an offer for a co-op just a week later.”
The co-op, short for cooperative education, allowed Oliver to alternate academic study with full-time employment for a semester to gain practical experience in the field. Later, she interned at the company, working on multi-family housing projects and other developments.
After graduating in December with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Oliver will join ARCO’s newest office in Rogers, Arkansas, as the location’s first project manager.
“I am extremely excited to join the company because the work is exactly what I want to do, but above all, they value each employee as an individual and want to see us grow professionally and personally,” she said.
Read on for a Q&A with Oliver about her Mizzou experience.
Why did you choose Mizzou?
I initially chose Mizzou because of an experience I had during a trip in high school. I remember walking through campus and sitting in Peace Park and realizing I needed to go to Mizzou — the atmosphere was peaceful, extremely productive and the perfect setting to continue my education. As I learned more about what Mizzou has to offer, I was excited about all of the opportunities available for students to discover their career paths and make those dreams come true.
What was your favorite class?
I could list all of my civil engineering classes as favorites for different reasons. The one that stood out was my Structural Analysis class. This was the first class that took concepts from all of the core math and physics classes and applied them directly to structures — real-life scenarios that were easy to imagine and understand. In this class, I became certain that I chose the right path with civil engineering.
Were you involved in any clubs/organizations?
Yes! The first organization I joined was the STEM sorority, Alpha Omega Epsilon. I was introduced to other women in engineering who would become my best friends and study buddies. From there, I learned about other clubs and organizations in the College of Engineering. Last year, I was a part of Engineers’ Club, which is in charge of Engineers’ Week events. I helped plan and host the Shamrock 5k/10k race for charity. I am also in Chi Epsilon, which is the civil engineering honors society, and held the position of president for one year.
How has Mizzou helped you achieve your goals?
Mizzou has helped me achieve my goals by giving me endless opportunities to succeed. Mizzou’s career fairs allowed me to find my dream job. The student organizations and events helped me build my own community. The professors have also made the large university feel small because they take individual notice of their students. They took notice of me, which gave me opportunities to hold leadership positions in student organizations, receive scholarships and attend networking events to further my professional and personal lives.
What would you tell someone interested in coming to Mizzou?
To anyone interested in coming to Mizzou, whether you know what you want to study or not, Mizzou will provide you with the opportunity to figure out what you want to do and how to make your dreams come true. You will also find the people who will change your life, whether that’s lifelong friends or impactful mentors.
This story was originally published on Show Me Mizzou.