Civil Engineering Senior Builds Foundation for Career and Family

Civil Engineering Senior Builds Foundation for Career and Family

Tyler Hespe is days away from graduation, but before he was preparing for a career in civil engineering, Hespe was busy in the kitchen.

In high school, the Defiance native ran his own baking business, making everything from cookies to buckeye bars. It was a creative outlet and a way to earn extra money.

At The University of Toledo, Hespe found a new outlet in engineering, drawn by the opportunity to gain real-world experience while earning his degree.

"I wanted a school that had the benefits of a larger university but still felt personal," he said. "UToledo stood out, especially with the co-op program. Being able to graduate debt-free and gain real experience made a big difference."

Hespe entered UToledo as a civil engineering student, interested in the construction field and the chance to work on projects that take shape in the real world. The program's flexibility allowed him to explore different paths within civil engineering while confirming his interest in construction and project management.

Outside the classroom, Hespe found community through student organizations and campus life. He was involved in groups that include the American Society of Civil Engineers and Chi Epsilon, and he credits those experiences with helping him build connections beyond his major.

That sense of connection extended into his personal life in a meaningful way.

As a Rocket, Hespe met his future wife, Jillian, in a chemistry class. She was also an engineering student, studying mechanical engineering, and the two married in August of 2025.

"Getting married is definitely one of the best experiences I've had in college," he said.

Jillian added that getting married during college, while not a traditional path for students, worked for she and Hespe because they knew early in their relationship that they were the other's missing piece.

"Tyler is an incredibly passionate and driven person who always maintains a positive attitude regardless of the challenge," Jillian said. "His ability to stay kind and supportive, even during the busiest parts of his degree, is a true testament to his character.

"Marrying my best friend has been the highlight of our college years, and I am so proud to have been by his side throughout his journey at UToledo," she added. "Next, he will be starting his full-time employment at the Lathrop Company, and I am so excited for him to begin this next chapter."

In the classroom, Tyler said he especially enjoyed learning from calculus professor Dr. David Gajewski, a senior lecturer in Mathematics.

"Calculus is one of the harder classes, but he made it approachable," Tyler said. "He explained things well and kept the class engaging. He was also funny, which made a difference."

Beyond the classroom, Tyler's co-op experiences played a major role in shaping his path. His first co-op took him to Cleveland, where he worked on a $1 billion construction project spanning 1.7 million square feet. It was also his first time living away from home.

"I kind of got thrown into the deep end," he said. "But I learned a lot very quickly. It was my first real experience being on my own, and that made a big impact."

He later completed additional co-ops with Lathrop Turner, where he gained insight into the business side of construction through pre-construction work. That experience helped solidify his career goals.

"I've always been interested in the business side of engineering," he said. "As a project manager, you're not just building. You're managing budgets, timelines and people."

After graduation, Tyler will return to Lathrop Turner as a full-time project engineer, with long-term goals of becoming a project manager and eventually a project executive.

As he reflected on his time at UToledo, it is the relationships - both personal and professional - that stand out the most.

"The people I've met, both on campus and through my co-ops, are what I'll carry with me," he said. "Those connections are important, and I know they'll continue to grow throughout my career."