Architectural Engineering Student Organizes Volunteer Project for Habitat for Humanity

Fifteen architectural engineering students from CU-Boulder spent their 2005 spring break in Oakley, Calif., but they didn’t while away the hours lying on the beach or hanging out on Fisherman’s Wharf. Instead, they built homes for low-income families. 

The service project was spearheaded by Megan Christen, a junior in architectural engineering and vice president of the Architectural Engineering Institute student chapter at CU-Boulder. She was pleased when more than a dozen other students wanted to go along.

"It was a goal of mine to get involved with a humanitarian organization that relates to the building profession," says Megan. "We (were) helping people in the San Francisco Bay Area where there is a huge need for affordable housing, and it (was) also good hands-on experience for students."

The spring break service trip was part of Habitat for Humanity's nationwide Collegiate Challenge program, which encourages college students to do community service by providing a list of local chapters looking for help.

It wasn’t the first service project Christen has been involved in, and it certainly won’t be the last.  Megan says she is strongly considering signing up with Teach for America or the Peace Corps after she completes her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in building systems.

“At some point after school, I would really like to go to developing countries to help in building infrastructure and educating the people on basic engineering principles,” Megan says. “Regardless of what I do, I know that my engineering knowledge will go towards serving those that are less fortunate—it is where my education can be a huge benefit, both to myself and to others.”

Having been involved in undergraduate research on indoor air quality at CU as well, Megan says she may be able to apply some of that knowledge in developing countries where poor air quality is an unregulated problem.

As she works toward her master’s degree, Megan also serves as program manager for Engineering Career Day for Women, an annual event sponsored by CU’s Women in Engineering Program. Career Day introduces high school women to CU and the College of Engineering and Applied Science through hands-on activities and informative panels, in the hopes that some of the girls will choose to pursue an engineering degree at CU-Boulder.

Megan Christen ArchE Habitat Volunteer Evan Thomas Engineers Without Borders Vanessa Aponte Bio- astronautics Adeel Baig Satellite Design Melissa Straten K-12 Teaching Fellow Paul Miller Biomedical Engineering