Aggies Without Limits – Nicaragua

In Summer 2025, I joined Aggies Without Limits, a student organization at New Mexico State University dedicated to community engineering projects. Each year the group supports underserved communities abroad, and this time we traveled to El Potrero, Nicaragua, a rural community of just over 20 households with limited access to healthcare and infrastructure.

My contributions included calculating the amount of cement required to build a new health center, the first facility of its kind in the community. Once in Nicaragua, I assisted with the installation of the electrical system for a water pump, reinforced a bridge pillar damaged by flooding and fallen trees, and designed a drainage channel to redirect rainwater and protect the bridge structure from erosion. I also worked on replacing planks on a suspension bridge, mixing and pouring concrete, and helping with the wooden forms for the health center columns.

This experience provided valuable insight into applying engineering problem-solving in resource-limited environments. Working under challenging conditions—camping in remote terrain accessible only by 4x4 vehicles, motorcycles, or horseback—I developed resilience, adaptability, and teamwork. While I was a regular member and not part of the leadership, the project strengthened my skills in field engineering, construction practices, and community-focused design while contributing to long-term infrastructure improvements for El Potrero.