From left to right: Andrea Padilla, Mason Martinez, Courtney Sigloh, Susana Carrizal, Emily Nelson

Meet the five students selected for Energy Trust of Oregon’s Net Zero Emerging Leaders internship for 2021, a program to help support Oregon’s commercial design industry’s transition to a more sustainable future. Through grants from Energy Trust, the students have been employed as interns for 12 weeks at local Oregon architecture and engineering firms. Their work has supported each firm’s steps toward their AIA 2030 Commitment—an industry pledge to transform architectural standards toward carbon neutral buildings by the end of the decade.

The students began their internships in January and will present their experiences learning about sustainable design during a special panel presentation. Join us for the presentation on Thursday, April 29 from 12:00–1:30 p.m. Registration can be found here.

Learn more about the interns, their educational history and their professional interests below.

	Andrea Padilla BRIC Architecture Andrea realized she wanted to pursue architecture after sight-seeing in San Francisco. Architecture allows Andrea to problem-solve and express her own ideas and she wants to design spaces that have a positive impact. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture with minors in Interior Architecture and Art History at the University of Oregon. Andrea is excited to learn more about sustainability and BRIC’s goals in relation to the AIA 2030 Commitment.
	Susana Carrizal Carleton Hart Architecture Susana is passionate about how buildings and communities connect and is interested in the role of sustainability in building design. She is currently working towards a Bachelor of Architecture at Portland State University. Susana is looking forward to learning and gaining skills at an internship that prioritizes sustainable development.
	Mason Martinez GBD Architects Mason was inspired to be an architect because of his father’s career as a builder. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture at Portland State University with the goal of continuing his education in graduate school and joining a firm. He’s drawn to architecture as an extension of culture and looks forward to learning from professionals in this field.
	Emily Nelson Green Hammer Emily has a passion for art, painting, and sketching, which drew her to deciding on architecture at the University of Oregon. Emily is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Architecture with two minors in Physics and Art History, with the goal of becoming a licensed green architect abroad. Emily looks forward to learning more about energy modeling, sustainability and software programming in her internship.
	Courtney Sigloh Salazar Architect While completing a design-build studio in Montana, Courtney decided she wanted to pursue architecture as her career. Courtney loves architecture because of its interconnectivity and its ability to restore places, build community and change lives. She has a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and a Global Sustainability minor from the University of Virginia and is currently in her final year of graduate school at the University of Oregon. She is excited to be working for a firm that values sustainability and is interested in learning more about how sustainability is integrated into the design process.
We look forward to having you attend the upcoming presentation.