SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS — ASPE CHAPTER 4

Meet our 2024 Scholarship Recipients!

ASPE San Diego Chapter 4 offers an annual scholarship to help aspiring estimators and scholars within the construction management field.

Tristen Montalvo-Benedetto is on track to graduate with his Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering and Management by May 2025 and has shown the effort he’s made to gain hands on experience through multiple internships. After graduation he plans to pursue an MBA, combining his study of construction with financial management, with his sights set on becoming a Project Manager and eventually establishing his own construction company.
We feel that Tristen’s participation and involvement with the AGC / CMAA Student Chapter at SDSU, not only in taking on the role of president this upcoming year but also with his experience as Special Events Coordinator organizing critical fundraising events, shows his willingness to network and continue to build the relationships necessary for our industry.

Mason was born and raised in Mission Viejo, California. After earning an associate’s degree from Saddleback College, with a gap year of learning about the construction industry, he is now entering his 2nd year at San Diego State University in the Construction Management program.

Mason balances being a full-time student and a part time Pre-Construction Manager for Graves Construction headquartered out of Foothill Ranch, California. There is a constant exchange of information, bringing his industry knowledge to the classroom and applying his studies to his work. The multiple recommendations we received confirms our belief that he is driven by his strong work ethic, will continue to practice the art of estimating with integrity, and communicate effectively as a successful member of his company’s team and our estimating community as a whole.

ASPE San Diego Chapter 4 offers an annual scholarship to help aspiring estimators and scholars within the construction management field.

A Construction Management student with a Minor in Architecture at the NewSchool of Architecture and Design. Born and raised in Colorado, with a passion for the construction industry. Gaining knowledge in project planning, cost estimation, resource management, and site supervision so I'm prepared to contribute to successful construction projects in the future.

My name is Diego Mendoza and I am currently a 5th year at San Diego State University. Coming into college I was originally a Kinesiology major with a future in medicine, but after two years I decided I no longer had any passion for it. That's when I decided to explore engineering and after taking a visual design and construction class I knew the construction industry was what I wanted to be in. Since then I have taken my fair share of difficult and fun courses and am looking forward to graduating and working for a general contracting firm. I eventually want to be a part of the team who closes deals.

My name is Ines Dacruz and I am an incoming sophomore at San Diego State University. I am in the process of earning my bachelor of science in Construction Management. I have really enjoyed my experience at SDSU, and I look forward to continuing my education and seeing what the vast world of construction has to offer me. Since beginning college, I have been able to actively participate and be involved in extracurriculars, while maintaining a 4.0 GPA.
I am a member of the Women in Business chapter, the non-profit Best Buddies club, as well as Run Club. This semester I will be re-starting the Women in Construction chapter as president at SDSU, and I also plan to join the AGC/CMAA chapter. I am currently taking three summer classes as well as working part-time. I am looking forward to obtaining my first internship next summer.

My name is Juliet Luevanos and I am a 22-year-old college student attending San Diego State University. In the 2022-2023 school year I will be a senior studying construction engineering, the president of the AGC/CMAA Student Chapter and working part-time as a project engineer intern. Once I graduate, I plan to continue working as a project engineer and eventually a project manager. I am heavily invested in this career because I truly enjoy the community and values that the industry upholds. As a student, I have experienced the outpouring of support from construction organizations such ASPE.
My education pursuits would not have been possible without the help of my professors and the construction engineering program. I greatly appreciate this opportunity because I can dedicate myself to my studies and extracurriculars. Through my involvement, I hope to one-day help students like myself. Thank you for supporting me in reaching my personal and professional potential.