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Scott Thomas, a senior civil engineering student at ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University, has found a passion for marine structures and engineering challenges through his work with Collins Engineers, Inc.

Thomas’s passion began early, as his father and grandfather were both engineers. Though he knew he was interested in engineering, he was uncertain about which field to choose  until he heard about the Oroville Dam Spillway failure in 2017.

“The Oroville Spillway disaster highlighted the challenges engineers face when responding to rapid, large-scale structural failures, particularly when public safety is on the line and time is of the essence,” Thomas said.  “I always thought infrastructure projects were interesting, but this event is what sealed it for me.”

Throughout his time at ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University, he was able to intern with Collins during the fall of 2023. After three months, he was promoted to a full-time CAD technician.

“The Texas Office that I am a part of largely focuses on TXDOT routine bridge inspections, heavy commercial port structures, and various structures associated with them,” Thomas said. “There is an abundance of varied work, and no two projects are the same. I enjoy working with the engineers in my office and have found a lot of exposure to aspects of civil structural engineering you wouldn’t expect to find all in one office.”

“Since Scott's first day on the job, his willingness to learn, take on responsibilities, and harness his ingenuity makes him a vital asset and a great role model. He raises the bar on everything he does,” Michael Schneider, regional manager at Collins Engineers, Inc. said. “Scott is an excellent example and representation of our younger generations’ ability to accelerate our society as they move into the workforce. His professionalism, integrity, and generosity build the people and organizations around him. Our community is blessed to have him.”

Collins Engineers, Inc. is a company that does multiple different types of engineering, though they specialize with their unique certifications.

“While on the surface Collins might seem like a smaller firm, when you go searching for engineers who also have certifications required for contracts such as SPRAT (The Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians) training or ADCI (Association of Diving Contractors International) certification, Collins is going to be the one of the very few firms you will be working with,” Thomas said.

Scott had many mentors at Collins Engineers, Inc., including Tanner Harmon, Mike Koxlien, Alex Overeem, and Michael Schneider. These mentors shared their experience and expertise with Scott about bridges, construction management, and marine structures.

“While working with Scott Thomas, I have observed and seen him grow within the engineering field. Scott has a very good interpretation of logical, engineering thinking mixed with practical knowledge of how theoretical concepts convert into real world scenarios,” Tanner Harmon, project engineer at Collins Engineers, Inc. said. “Scott has a very ‘can do it’ attitude and is never shy from accepting both new challenges and/or new experiences. 

Along with working for Collins, Scott is also a part of student organizations such as the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and Chi Epsilon.

“Scott Thomas is an exceptional, dynamic, and driven student who radiates a genuine passion for civil engineering,” Dr. Nicholas A. Brake, department chair of civil engineering said. “He consistently embraces challenges and tackles complex tasks with confidence. As the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ student ASCE steel bridge competition lead designer, his leadership, combined with the talents of the rest of the team, sets the stage for an outstanding year. We have high expectations and are excited to see what they will achieve.”

Scott plans to obtain various licenses and certification for work pertaining to commercial and marine structures such as bridges, docks, and dams. With his dedication and skill, he’s driven to address the challenges of civil engineering head-on—and perhaps even prevent the next spillway disaster.

To learn more about Civil and Environmental engineering, visit www.lamar.edu/civilengineering.