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Catching Up With Young Alumni (cont.)Alanna and Gennelle Dedek ( ’14 B.S. CE) are pursuing graduate education at Stanford.BUILDING ON THEIR CIVIL ENGINEERING SKILLSfffffWhile most of their 15-year-old peers were negotiating the early years of high school, twin sisters Alanna and Gennelle Dedek (’14 B.S. CE) were starting their freshman year studying civil engineering in the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology at California State University, Los Angeles. Now 20 and pursuing graduate studies at Stanford, the twins are exploring separate career paths that intersect in engineering.“In my junior year at Cal State L.A, I visited a construction site and left that day knowing I wanted to pursue a career in construction management,” says Alanna, who is studying sustainable design and construction. “While I enjoy calculations and building analysis, I fell in love with the highly interactive organization and field aspects of construction management. Knowing a structure inside and out and watching it materialize, from the foundation being poured to the final window being placed, is so thrilling.”For her sister Gennelle, who is studying structural engineering, a desire to combine her love of math witha heart to help others inspires her studies. “Structural engineering allows me to explore aesthetics and work with architects, but still utilize mathematics and, above all, contribute to the safety of the general public with structurally sound buildings. It is the perfect combination of all my interests, and I couldn’t imagine pursuing anything else,” she says. “I cannot wait to see my designs implemented in real life.”Both women have a desire to excel and credit their undergraduate experience at Cal State L.A. with preparing them to meet the rigors of graduate work. “The internships, volunteer work, and involvement with the College created a solid base for us to do well at Stanford,” they agree.f18