LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Texas Tech architecture students had an opportunity to connect with industry professionals during an event called “WreckShop,” aimed at networking and planned by students for students.
Portfolio reviews and interviews
Andrew Castilleja said the event included portfolio reviews where professionals evaluated students’ work, offered advice and had the opportunity to sign students up for interviews later in the day.
“We had portfolio reviews where professionals can kind of evaluate, you know, the student’s work, give them advice, but also maybe sign them up for interviews later this afternoon as well,” Castilleja said.
Alumna returns to offer advice
Samantha Pollmiller, an architect from Denver and a Texas Tech alumna, was one of the professionals at the event. She said she returns to her alma mater each year to share advice with students in a competitive industry.
“And they’re not going to seek you out, but if you seek them out, it shows initiative. And I think a lot of people, it would be hard for them to say no to a student that said, can you help me? I don’t think anyone would say no to that,” Pollmiller said.
Students apply classroom work
Students used work from their architecture classes to show prospective employers during the event.
Allison Akin, a third-year landscape architecture student, helped plan the event.
“My favorite class was my urban planning studio,” Akin said.
Akin said students worked on a project involving Broadway, a historical site in Lubbock.
“We got to work on Broadway, which is a historical place in Lubbock. And so getting to work on something that you can actually go visit and see was really nice. And it gave students the opportunity to interview people on Broadway and get to actually connect with people that actually use the site,” Akin said.
Akin said the event led to an internship for her this past summer, which helped her explore where she wants to settle after graduation.
“I think it’s really helpful for students to get to meet the company instead of maybe just sending an email or getting to talk over a phone call. It makes more of a personal and meaningful relationship,” Akin said.
The event featured 70 professionals.
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