05/27/2026
When Tessa Smith looks back on her journey from high school student to structural designer, one thing is clear: her path wasn’t defined by a single moment—but by a series of opportunities sparked by one influential teacher, and a willingness to say “yes.”
A 2020 graduate of Benton Community High School, Tessa took all the shop classes she could in middle and high school. It wasn’t until a new shop teacher joined the school, that her perspective on careers began to shift. “He was really focused on getting us out into the community,” Tessa shared. “We went on field trips, learned about manufacturing, and he brought in more modern tools—like Revit—which introduced me to the technology side of drafting.”
That exposure was pivotal. For the first time, Tessa began to see a connection between what she was learning in the classroom and real-world careers in architecture and engineering. By her senior year, that same teacher required students to complete a job shadow or internship as part of the program—something Tessa admits she may not have pursued otherwise.
That requirement led her to participate in a job shadow at Shive-Hattery’s Architecture and Engineering Day through Workplace Learning Connection. “I didn’t know much about the industry at the time,” she said. “But it was a great experience. It gave me exposure to a company like Shive-Hattery and helped me start thinking more seriously about what I wanted to do after high school.”
While Tessa initially planned to attend Iowa State University, the COVID-19 pandemic shifted her plans. Instead, she chose to enroll in Kirkwood Community College’s Architectural Technology Program—a decision that allowed her to build on the skills she had already started developing in high school.
Her path came full circle when representatives from Shive-Hattery visited Kirkwood to speak with students about job opportunities. Tessa decided to apply. “I knew the company from my job shadow, and I liked what I saw, so I went for it,” she said.
That decision paid off. Today, Tessa has been working in structural design at Shive-Hattery for nearly four years, contributing to industrial projects and collaborating across disciplines.
Today, she helps host job shadow students at Shive-Hattery, the same experience that once helped shape her own future. “It’s definitely a full-circle moment,” she said. “I remember how intimidating it felt to walk in as a student, not knowing anyone. Now I get to be on the other side and help make that experience better for someone else, and help show them how something as seemingly as small as a job shadow can give you connections for down the road.”
Shive-Hattery Benton Community Schools
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