What’s the most important leadership lesson you’ve learned?

To lead with compassion.

What do you consider to be your most important career achievement or milestone?

I joined Theta Tau Engineering Fraternity, and within my first few weeks led a fundraising effort that raised more in one week than some chapters raise in an entire year.

What do you aspire to accomplish in your career and why? What obstacles will you overcome?

I am drawn to civil engineering because it allows me to design buildings and roadways that shape how people live and move every day. Internships and field experience are competitive but essential. I will need to be proactive about networking and skill building in order to be successful.

Describe an amazing opportunity in your STEM career.

As a student at the University of Central Florida, I’m gaining hands-on civil engineering experience through design projects and applied coursework that replicate the real world. These experiences prepare me to design buildings and roadways that directly serve and improve communities.

How was AWIS helped you professionally and/or personally?

As a new member, I am very excited to start making connections.

What is your favorite word? (only one word)

Freedom.

How do you define it?:

Freedom is the ability to make your own choices, pursue your goals, and live with purpose without unnecessary limits, while taking responsibility for the outcomes of those choices.

How has this word influenced or inspired your career?

Freedom led to choose a path that allows independence, growth, and meaningful impact. Pursuing civil engineering gives me the freedom to build a future through skill, problem solving, and service.

How does AWIS impact your career journey?

Through AWIS, I can gain confidence, professional guidance, and opportunities that help me grow as a civil engineering student and future leader, while staying motivated in a field where representation matters.

What are you currently reading or listening to?

American singer-songwriter Noah Kahan

What do you consider the best professional or personal advice you’ve ever received?

Stay consistent, especially when the material feels overwhelming. In tough courses like physics and calculus, progress comes from showing up every day, practicing even when it’s frustrating, and trusting that steady effort adds up.

Jessica Kettelhut is a civil engineering student at the University of Central Florida from South Florida with a strong interest in building and roadway design. She is an A student who values discipline, consistency, and strong work ethic. As a first-generation college student, she strives to build a meaningful future through engineering. Jessica is active in leadership and service, including Theta Tau Engineering Fraternity, where she made an early impact in fundraising.