Central Dauphin East High School 2022 Valedictorian Emily Calamia embarked on her professional journey as a Dawood intern over winter break. The second-year Shippensburg University civil engineering student excelled in our dynamic environment, soaking up knowledge from our transportation team (read more about Executive Vice President Nick Brien, PE, and Vice President and Transportation Market Lead Chad Decker, PE, PTOE).
We sat down with Emily to learn more about her dual role as an engineering major/mathematics minor and a dedicated student-athlete.
1. You maintain an active schedule—talk about campus life as a Shippensburg “Red Raider.”
From the moment I stepped onto Ship’s bustling campus, I knew I found my second home. It’s a smaller school, but there’s always something to do, and balancing track practice with my academics keeps me busy. I entered college through the Living Learning Community program—an initiative that pairs you in dorms with students in the same major. I befriended most of my civil engineering classmates this way.
2. Why did you choose Dawood for your internship?
I met the Dawood transportation team through an American Society of Highway Engineers-sponsored event on campus. During my interview, Chad Decker set the tone with a joke and showed me both Dawood’s fun and professional side. He introduced me to Nick Brien and gave me a glimpse of the projects where I would work. It felt like a great fit, and I saw a clear path for growth and opportunity. Plus, it’s close to home!
3. Describe your Dawood experience over winter break.
I shadowed Nick in the bridge design unit, reviewed and cross-checked plans for accuracy, and calculated skew angles, elevations, and curves for real-world projects. When I wasn’t working on a specific project, I studied engineering manuals and standard drawings related to bridge design and construction. Nick encouraged me to ask lots of questions and approach every problem differently. His supportive attitude enriched my learning experience and solidified my sense of belonging at Dawood.
4. As a tutor yourself on campus, how does his approach resonate?
Tutoring isn’t just about teaching concepts—it’s also about relationship-building. Learning communication skills such as active listening, patience, and flexibility are key to developing trust and rapport with someone. Every person is unique, and assessing each personality and supporting individual strengths sets my tutored students up for success.
5. Your biggest Dawood challenge/key takeaways were…
I’d say applying concepts from college to practical scenarios was my most challenging task. For example, there’s a big difference between college and bridge geometry. Although the learning curve could be steep, Nick guided me through the process by answering questions and providing important feedback. Knowing how relationships are core is helpful, since being personable is crucial when working with clients and coworkers.
6. What do you enjoy most in your spare time?
I’m active from dawn till dusk, balancing track practice and events with classes, coursework, and Civil Engineering club activities. However, I love to relax with friends after a long day. It’s refreshing and energizes me for tomorrow!
7. What are your plans this summer/where do you see yourself after graduation?
I’ll be back at Dawood this summer to pick up where I left off in my internship! I hope to grow in this role and better understand the engineering and relational side of the business. Short-term, I’ll take my Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam to earn my Engineering-in-Training (EIT) license by graduation next year. Long-term, I’ll pursue my Professional Engineering (PE) license and consider a master’s degree in the STEM field. One thing’s for certain—I see my future here at Dawood, growing with the company that gave me the first real taste of the civil engineering world.