Savanna Arguijo grew up in a construction industry family in California’s Central Valley. The summer after finishing high school, she helped her father on a condo remodel that involved demolition and reconstruction of the entire unit—and also changed her life.
That project made her want to follow in her father’s footsteps. Although she wouldn’t be the first family member to work in construction, she would go on to become the first in her family to attend college.
Arguijo enrolled at Allan Hancock Community College and earned an associate’s degree in math and science. Transferring to CSULB and enrolling in the Construction Management program, she became interested in Heavy Civil Engineering while competing on that team at the Associated Schools of Construction Reno Competition.
Arguijo has always worked to support her studies, in addition to volunteering and taking part in extracurricular activities. While at community college, she coached high school basketball and talked to girls about the importance of attending college.
At CSULB, she participated in Associated General Contractors and National Association of Home Builders chapters, competed in the Association of Builders and Contractors competition, and attended the Beavers Field Trip to the Mid-Coast Trolley Project in San Diego.
Now, thanks to the Beavers Charitable Trust’s $25,000 Lamberson Scholarship, Arguijo will have some much-needed financial support as she completes her final year, freeing up her time for studies and additional extracurricular activities.
Completing a summer internship with Herzog Contracting Corp. at LAX, Arguijo previously worked 30 hours a week at Target, scheduling her work hours around classes.
“I have always worked to support my studies so the Lamberson Scholarship is particularly important to me as I enter my senior year, since program requirements will become substantially more demanding, and work outside school much more difficult,” Arguijo wrote in applying for the scholarship. “It is important to me that I finish school on schedule, maintain my 3.25 GPA, and still be financially stable as I enter the professional work force.”
The Beavers Charitable Trust, established in 1977, devotes a portion of its proceeds to assisting students entering the heavy construction industry. Its grants and scholarships are often matched by members of the Beavers.
“We are very grateful to the Beavers Trust, whose support has been instrumental in strengthening our civil engineering and construction management programs, for providing this and other scholarships that help our students succeed academically,” said CSULB College of Engineering Dean Forouzan Golshani.