Civil Engineering student builds a career in service

Kaden Lemieux has always had a “passion for earthwork.” The Bonifay native was influenced by his father, a career civil engineer who introduced him to engineering concepts—and heavy machinery—at an early age.

“He would always explain the details of construction projects we passed on road trips,” said Lemieux, 20, who plans to complete his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in May 2026. “In my free time, I’m always eager to operate excavators or hop in the tractor to run a grain cart during harvest season on local farms when needed.”

Although he had the opportunity to attend distant universities, Lemieux’s father told him that “some of the best civil engineers I’ve hired have come out of the program” at FSU Panama City.

Civil engineering is considered one of the best jobs in the United States based on salary, prestige, growth and security. The Civil Engineering program at FSU Panama City is part of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. Many graduates of the program begin working locally before they finish their degree, and the program has a 100% employment rate within a year of graduation.

“Working at an engineering firm while in school has broadened my industry knowledge and taught me professionalism,” Lemieux said. “One of the great things about civil engineering in this area is that nearly all firms are eager to hire students and recent graduates, providing a strong sense of job security.”

Engineering graduates are in high demand within the regional workforce. The FSU PC program not only educates future civil and environmental engineers who are critical to the economic development of the area but also supports the continuing education needs of the area’s engineering community.

“I love how this program thrives on excellence and problem-solving,” Lemieux said. “In a sense, that’s what civil engineering is all about—solving problems and overcoming challenges with excellence.”

For Lemieux, however, the field wasn’t as much about future income as future impact. He’s involved in his community and wants to make a difference in the lives of his fellow Holmes County residents.

Lemieux is a member of the Bonifay Kiwanis Club, which presents the Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo every year during the first weekend of October. The proceeds from the rodeo raise funds for children in need and youth in Holmes County. His father is a Kiwanis Board member who recently oversaw the construction of a new pavilion for sponsors, as well as new livestock pens and bucking chutes at Memorial Field in Bonifay.

Lemieux assisted with oversight and coordination of the construction project, in addition to holding an active internship with a consulting engineering firm that provided experience in transportation and drainage engineering.

“While opportunities exist to move to larger cities across the country, I believe the best choice for me is to stay and work where I’ve already built a strong professional network in the civil engineering and construction industries,” he said.

For more information about the undergraduate Civil Engineering program, visit pc.fsu.edu/cee