Steve Field was among 62 Lyles College of Engineering students to participate in college’s graduation ceremony, 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 21 at the Satellite Student Union on the Fresno State campus.

A native of Silicon Valley, Field said he came to Fresno State because of the reputation of the college’s construction management program. “This program sets you up for success,” he said following the ceremony. “It has always been my dream to get my degree, it is the greatest certification I can achieve to help open new doors of opportunity.”

Field has accepted a position with Performance Contracting Incorporated and will soon return to the Bay Area to work as a Project Engineer out of the company’s offices in San Jose.

According to Dr. Ram Nunna, dean of the Lyles College of Engineering, Field is one of the college’s many students who enter the workforce right after graduation. He said it is the college’s tradition to hold a special ceremony each year for students who graduate in December. “These students are starting a new adventure in which they will take their learning and solve the world’s problems.”

Provost William Covino presided over the graduation ceremony. More than 600 friends and family were in attendance. Alumnus Rick Ransom, owner of the engineering firm Brooks Ransom Associates, gave the commencement speech. Ransom graduated in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.

Special guests also included the college’s emeritus dean Dr. Karl Longley. “Engineering is critical for our society as we rebuild infrastructure, protect the air, protect our water, construct highways and new buildings,” he said. “And these are all things our graduates will be doing.”

Dr. Longley also expressed his excitement about the growing number of women to enter the engineering field. Approximately 13 percent of the college’s December graduates were women; also the percentage reflective of the average number of female students enrolled in the Lyles College.

Engineering education has been a core academic program at Fresno State for nearly 90 years. The Lyles College of Engineering has more than 6,000 alumni, many of whom went on to achieve international success. The Lyles College offers the only accredited engineering programs from Merced to Bakersfield in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Geomatics Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.

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