Young Alumnus of the Year Award

Adeola G. Giwa, Eng ’09, Grad ’13
Port Washington, Wis.

Adeola Giwa is more likely to be found coaching his daughter or the neighbor kids in various sports these days than participating in events himself, but he views that shift as a natural progression. He uses his experiences to impart valuable life lessons about perseverance to the students he coaches. He finds great joy and fulfillment in watching his students grow, learn, and overcome challenges they initially thought were insurmountable.

Adeola attributes his own sense of perseverance to his Marquette experience. He recalls navigating the academic rigor of his engineering program. Adeola experienced times of self-doubt and considered changing his major. However, his professors and friends persuaded him to keep trying, and he achieved his goal. Now, Adeola finds himself in a leadership role with the capacity to give back and influence the next generation.

In his professional career, Adeola is a superintendent for CG Schmidt and oversees every facet of the construction process from planning to completion. Adeola finds fulfillment in working with his colleagues to bring their clients’ dreams to fruition.

Adeola values the opportunity to serve as a teacher and mentor for others through his involvement in the ACE Mentorship program, which inspires high school students about various careers in the integrated construction industry, including architecture, engineering, construction management, and related skilled trades.

Adeola says, “This award holds significant meaning for me as it reinforces my purpose and my family's legacy of helping others. With my mother being a nurse, my father a social worker, and both my brothers working in the medical field, it was crucial for me to find a way to contribute to helping, mentoring, and teaching others.”

Fun Facts:

Name someone (past or present) with whom you'd like to have dinner.
Having an adult conversation with my late mother, Tina, also known as Big T, would be truly meaningful to me. I yearn to share updates about my life with her, seek her advice from a parental perspective, and reminisce about the cherished moments from my childhood.

Name a Marquette faculty or staff member who had an impact on you, and how.
Dr. Drakopoulos, also known as Dr. D, served as my professor in transportation engineering. His dedication to teaching and ensuring student success has consistently left a lasting impression on me. I fondly recall participating in his annual luncheons as a student, providing us with the chance to network with Marquette alumni in the engineering sector. His commitment to community involvement was evident in his continuous efforts to generate opportunities for both growth and meaningful experiences.