The Colorado School of Mines SEI Graduate Student Chapter, in collaboration with the ASCE SEI Colorado Chapter, hosted a student and engineer networking event centered around a pickleball tournament on March 1, 2026, in Thornton, Colorado. Designed to strengthen connections between structural engineering students and industry professionals, the event reflects a growing emphasis on hands-on, informal engagement opportunities that complement traditional academic and professional development pathways.
Held at Chicken ‘n’ Pickle, the event brought together 28 students and 12 practicing engineers, forming 20 mixed teams that competed in a bracket-style tournament. Pairing students directly with professionals created a structured but relaxed environment for conversation, allowing participants to discuss career paths, technical interests, and industry expectations while actively collaborating in gameplay. This format supported meaningful interaction beyond what is typically achieved in classroom or conference settings.
The three-hour event extended beyond competition, with continued discussions and networking after matches concluded. Students gained direct insight into the structural engineering profession, while professionals had the opportunity to connect with emerging talent and share practical perspectives. Funding support from SEI Future Funds enabled facility reservations and catering, helping make the event accessible and well attended.
As demand grows for effective engineering networking events and student industry engagement, initiatives like this highlight scalable approaches to building professional connections early in a structural engineering career. The Mines SEI Graduate Student Chapter plans to expand similar efforts, with the goal of establishing this tournament as an annual event and strengthening collaboration with local SEI leadership to support ongoing workforce development in the field.