Connecting with Kiewit
Ostler was heavily involved in CMUâs Civil Engineering Club as activities coordinator and, later, as club president. She connected with a Kiewit employee who spoke at a club meeting, who then invited her to an interview. Kiewit subsequently hired her as a summer intern for the Connect Four Project in Grapevine, Texas.
Although Grand Junction is about a four-hour drive from the Front Range, participating in the Kiewit program kept Ostler connected to the CU Boulder campus, where she attended in-person events and joined CU Boulder students and faculty for site visits. It also led to a second civil engineering internship, and then to her current position with Kiewit.
Life as an engineer
Ostlerâs full-time role has her working on a redesign of several highways to improve traffic capacity, as well as pedestrian walkways. Through her work, 5-foot sidewalks have been transformed to 12-foot shared paths for bicyclists, walkers and joggers.
âI like transportation because itâs so impactful to communities,â she said. âThe shared paths inspire people to get out, take bike rides and go on walks. It connects people, as now they can easily get from place to place.â
Ostlerâs goal is to eventually move into a professional leadership role. Sheâs also involved with the Womenâs Transportation Seminar and Women in Kiewit, through which she hopes to get more women involved in STEM careers âÌęanother one of her passions.
âWhen I started college, I didnât know much about civil engineering, and now I canât imagine my life without it.â