We are pleased to introduce our 2021 Student Steel Bridge Design Team!
We are all very excited to have the opportunity to represent both our university as well as our thriving Canadian steel industry. As UMSB members we aim to relate our course work to real-world applications through further exposure to the Canadian steel industry and the civil engineering industry as a whole.
Some information about each of our team leads can be found below!
Hazel Aguason – Team Captain
Hazel Aguason is a fifth-year civil engineering student at the University of Manitoba. This will be her third year on the UMSB Team and she has previously been a member of the Design and Analysis, Drafting, and Aesthetics sub-teams. This year, Hazel is excited to use her past experience on the team to take on the role of Team Captain and dive into the world of project management.
Hazel is a student member of the Co-op/IIP program at the U of M, Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba (EGM), the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE) U of M Chapter, and the U of M Sustainable Project Team (UMEarth).
Some of her personal interests include gardening, playing the piano and guitar, and musical analysis.
Renato Palma Jr. – Treasurer
Renato is in his fifth year of Civil Engineering, Minor in Management Program at the University of Manitoba. He is with UMSB for four years, where he was previously part of the design and analysis team and the treasurer of the previous year. This year will be his second year serving on the executive team as the treasurer.
Renato has most of this experience in the heavy civil construction industry. He recently worked at the Site C Clean Energy Project as part of the Spillways Civil Works Engineering Team. He also worked at the Keeyask Generating Infrastructure Project as a Field Engineer for the Generating Station Civil Contract. He also gained some consulting experience from JR Cousin Consultants Ltd.
Renato is CAPM®-certified with project management experience throughout his internship experience. He advocates for sustainable infrastructure, and leaning planning of construction methods. He is committed to supporting efficient and cost-effective private and public infrastructure solutions. He also advocates for embedding equity, diversity and inclusion considerations for any engineering projects and decision making.
Personal interests include canoeing, soccer and personal finance.
Israa Kanan – Design and Analysis Co-Lead
Israa Kanan is a 5th year Civil Engineering student at the University of Manitoba. This is her third year participating in the Steel Bridge Team and was previously a member of the design, analysis and drafting sub-teams. This is also her second year as a Design and Analysis lead. Her focus is structural engineering and has an interest in architecture. As well, she is completing a management minor and has project management experience from working with Ernst Hansch Construction Ltd.
Israa is also a member of the Co-op/IIP at the University of Manitoba, and a student member of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering and Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba.
In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, photography, learning languages, listening to music, working out and watching soccer.
Sukh Sawhney – Design and Analysis Co-Lead
Sukh Sawhney is a 4th year Civil Engineering student at the Price Faculty of Engineering. She joined the team last year and was a member of the Design and Analysis, Aesthetics and Drafting sub-teams. This year, Sukh is taking on the role of Design and Analysis Co-lead. She has an interest in structural engineering, project management and the construction industry. She has 4 months of hands-on experience working as an Engineering Student for PCL construction within their major projects division.
Sukh is a member of the Co-op/IIP program at the University of Manitoba, a student member of Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba and Canadian Society for Civil Engineers (CSCE). In addition, she is also the Aesthetics and Technical exhibition co-lead for the University of Manitoba Concrete Canoe (UMCC) team and a mix-design member of the University of Manitoba Concrete Toboggan Race (UMGNTCR) team.
Outside of school, Sukh has a passion for working with kids. She is an instructor for Career Trek, a non-profit program, where she encourages elementary students to pursue post-secondary education by teaching them about different career paths.
In her spare time, Sukh enjoys watching crime documentaries/thriller series, learning shadow boxing and boxing on heavy bags.
Gabrielle Pagcaliwagan – Aesthetics Co-Lead
Gabrielle is in her final year of Civil Engineering and just completed her Minor in Management at the University of Manitoba. In the previous years, she has been a member of the design, analysis and drafting sub-teams.
Gabrielle is a member of Co-op/IIP program at the University of Manitoba and a student member of Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba (EGM). She is primarily interested in structural and geotechnical engineering. Gabrielle plans to use her knowledge and experience that she obtained from her co-op terms at Manitoba Hydro as a Geotechnical Engineering Student and at the RM of East St Paul as an Engineering Student. She also spent one co-op term as an Engineering Aid at Manitoba Infrastructure.
In her spare time, Gabrielle enjoys spending time outdoors and eating out.
Jocelyne Dupas – Aesthetics Co-Lead
Jocelyne Dupas is a 4th year Civil Engineering student at the University of Manitoba. This year will be Jocelyne’s first year being a part of the UMSB team as she takes on the role of Co-Lead for the Aesthetics team. She is really excited to be part of the Aesthetics team and to bring her digital design knowledge and experience towards best representing the UMSB team with the logos, t-shirt and promo posters for the 2021 year. She is also looking forward to contributing her teamwork skills & structural engineering knowledge towards the team’s success at the competition this year.
Jocelyne is part of the Co-op/IIP program with the University of Manitoba, a member of the Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba (EGM) since 2017, and most recently a member of the University of Manitoba International Transportation Engineers (ITE) Chapter.
In her spare time Jocelyne enjoys culinary arts, video games, & watching Studio Ghibli movies.
Cael Penner – Drafting Co-Lead
Cael Penner is a third-year Civil Engineering student at the University of Manitoba. He has been an active member of the team for three years starting as a member on construction and PR/Social. He now is a drafting co-lead alongside Karina Buckingham. Cael is passionate about project management and structural engineering and draws from his experience in the summer of 2021 where he worked as a field coordinator for Bockstael construction on the Centennial Concert Hall Envelope project.
In Cael’s free time he enjoys playing with friends online and around the basketball court as well as adventuring in the woods in the wintertime.
Karina Buckingham – Drafting Co-Lead
Karina Buckingham is starting her third year of Civil Engineering at the University of Manitoba. This is her second year on the Steel Bridge Team and her first being the co-lead of drafting. Karina has enjoyed learning how to use AutoCAD and became familiar with how to use it, she is excited to use these new skills to help the team. Karina wanted to pursue Civil Engineering and specifically wants to go the structural route because she has always been creative and wants to be able to do some sort of design work.
In her free time, she enjoys crocheting and whatever new hobby she has just picked up.
Jesse Adamson – Construction Lead
Jesse is currently in his fifth year of Civil Engineering at the University of Manitoba. This is his fourth year on the University of Manitoba Steel Bridge Team. Returning as the construction lead, he plans to keep the members of UMSB active throughout the year, Most importantly, Jesse will teach members the methodologies as to how to construct the bridge effectively, prior to competition in May, 2022. Jesse plans to use his previous experience from attending the 2019 CNSBC in Montreal, as well as being on the construction team for two years and being the lead for one year.
He is a student member of Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba (EGM), the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers (CSCE), and the Mix Design Lead for the University of Manitoba Concrete Canoe (UMCC) team.
In his spare time, Jesse enjoys fishing, playing badminton and chess.
Ayobami Runsewe – SPEB Representative
Ayobami Runsewe is a fourth year Civil Engineering student at the University of Manitoba. This is his third year as a member of the UMSB team. He was on the design and analysis team for his first year and this year is taking on the role of the SPED representative.
Ayobami wanted to pursue Civil Engineering because of his enthusiasm for the design and creation of infrastructure in the society with complex challenges and innovative solutions. He is a member of the Co-op/IIP program at the University of Manitoba and a student member of Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba. He has hands on experience working as an Engineering Intern with Pier-Solutions.
Some of his personal interests include painting, soccer, guitar, dancing, and graphic design.
Arshdeep Chauhan – Executive Assistant
Arshdeep is a third-year student in the Civil Engineering program at the University of Manitoba. This will be Arshdeep’s second year as a part of the University of Manitoba Steel Bridge Design Team and will be taking on the role as Executive Assistant for the year. In the previous years, Arshdeep was part of the PR/ Socials, Drafting, and Video teams. Arshdeep intends to be an all-around team member as the executive assistant, assisting wherever required to guarantee the team’s success. Arshdeep is also a member of the Engineering Society at the University of Manitoba, where he serves on the Socials Directorship.
Arshdeep’s interest in Civil Engineering began at an early age. He was always captivated by the concept of infrastructure design and had a strong desire to assist his father with building projects. Arshdeep has since opted to pursue a career in Civil Engineering, with a focus on structural design and project management.
Outside of University, Arshdeep is a Co-Founder and Co-Host of a Winnipeg based podcast called 204 Rise. Some of Arshdeep’s personal interest are playing soccer, running, being outdoors, and spending quality time with his family.
Saleem Baraty – PR/Social Lead
Saleem Baraty is a fifth year Civil Engineering student at the University of Manitoba. He has been a part of the UMSB team for four years as a member and three years as the PR/Social team lead. This is his fourth year on the team and is taking on the role of the PR/Social team lead once again.
Saleem wanted to pursue Civil Engineering because he was curious as to how the infrastructure of our society is built around us. Taking this into consideration, he was able to use this curiosity in his previous co-op work term as an Engineering Student in the Transmission Line and Civil Construction department at Manitoba Hydro. He was also introduced to the geotechnical and municipal sectors of Civil Engineering while working as a Geotechnical Assistant at Trek Geotechnical and as a Project Supervisor at JR Cousin Consultants Ltd.
Some of his personal interests include playing soccer, guitar and financial investing.