Getting Out of His Comfort Zone Helped Adam Graduate a Better Engineer

Ahead of graduation, Adam Algahimi sees that his journey through the Kiewit Scholars Program brought him more than just industry connections, hands-on experience and close friends. It helped Adam tap into a more outgoing side of himself that he didn’t realize he had. 

And, he says, it’ll make him an even better engineer.  
 
“My perception of how I should approach engineering has totally shifted,” Algahimi explained. “Four years ago, I was so focused on the theory, concepts and math. Today, I’m just as focused on getting to know people, building my network and making real connections.”  

Of course, the Kiewit Scholars Program made finding those connections a whole lot easier. As part of the second-ever graduating cohort, Adam took on fresh challenges that felt way outside his comfort zone and (literally) helped him get his feet wet.  

 “During my first internship with Kiewit, they sent me to Seattle to do equipment engineering in a marine yard — I’d never even been on a boat before,” he laughs. And while the hands-on work was just as informative as he’d hoped, it was the lessons learned from experienced professionals that lingered in his heart.  

“At the end of my summer, my supervisor sat me down and said, ‘You're a lifelong student. Just know that no matter where you go, it doesn't matter if you're good right away as long as you're willing to learn — that will change who you are as a person and as an engineer.’ That was a huge takeaway for me that I’ll always remember.” 

Adam continued his streak of trying out new approaches to his craft by teaching engineering to grade school students across the state with the College of Engineering’s Engineering Ambassador Network.  

“Engineering Ambassadors really helped me discover my passion for outreach. Being able to break concepts down to their bare bones not only helps me understand the ideas better but builds a clearer picture for everyone of why this work matters.” 

Adam will continue to draw from all these experiences as a graduate student performing research under Professor Jae Sung Park in the fall. It’s a big next step for him, and even more evidence of his growth — growth he sees across his cohort, as well.  

“Everyone is completely different than when we first started. Being able to grow together and make these lifelong connections is really neat.” 

Adam Algahimi is a May ‘26 mechanical engineering and mathematics grad from Lincoln, NE.