Riley’s construction career path powered by student awards and ambition

Published on January 26, 2026

For Riley Doyle, student awards have become a defining part of his journey at NAIT. They’ve provided meaningful recognition of his hard work in the classroom, created opportunities for connection with industry partners and validated that he’s on the right path as he seeks a career in construction.

Today, as he prepares to graduate in April 2026, Riley is already applying for jobs, excited for the possibilities ahead within the industry he has worked toward over the past 2 years.

Riley was drawn to the Construction Engineering Technology program’s structure, problem-solving, and real-world impact on the field. He’s thrived throughout his education and attributes that success, in part, to the support he’s received – including 4 student awards from Ledcor Group, Bird Construction, and the Edmonton Construction Association.

“Financially, receiving student awards helped cover living and educational expenses and relieved the need for a part-time job,” says Riley. “Thanks to these awards, my time wasn’t taken by work, and I was able to fully focus on my studies, projects and professional development.”

Building connections to industry 

Riley DoyleEqually important to Riley are the connections he was able to make with industry partners and donors at events. Networking opportunities have opened doors and strengthened his confidence as he prepares to enter the job market. 

Riley has also found success outside of his classes. In September 2025, he participated in – and won – the Gary Stoich Bridge Building Competition. Working with a team of second-year students from 3 NAIT cohorts, he helped break the record for the number of crossings achieved within the time limit. The experience reinforced the value of teamwork, applied learning and industry-relevant problem-solving skills. 

After he graduates, Riley hopes to begin his career as a project coordinator and work toward becoming a project manager, with the goal of eventually managing entire construction projects. That future is already taking shape, thanks to the skills gained through hands-on learning, and the donor support he’s received through student awards.

“To donors, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you. The support and encouragement I’ve received cannot be overstated. I can confidently say that a significant part of my success in this program is thanks to you.”