Marista Fraley is a Civil and Environmental Engineering U2G student who participated in a Spring 2026 capstone course project with IISC in Clinton, Iowa. Marista shared her reflections with us about her capstone course experience.

1. Tell us about the Bethel AME Church site capstone course project with IISC.

I’m a senior in civil engineering, and as part of our program we work on a community-engaged project. It’s an opportunity to apply our skills in a real-world design project. I’m worked on a team with two others to design a commemorative site for the Bethel AME Church in Clinton, Iowa. Unfortunately, the church has been through a lot and is in poor condition after storms, so the building will have to be dismantled. We’re designing a commemorative site to replace the building, something that captures the history of the church and provides something meaningful that the community can use for years to come.

2. How have you utilized what you have learned in your coursework to carry out this project?

This project has really been a combination of everything we’ve learned over the last four years. We’ve been able to apply things like structural design, for example, calculating loads for the stained glass structures. We’ve gone back into our textbooks and used what we’ve learned, and also developed site plans and professional drawings. It’s been a real-world application of everything we’ve studied. We’re designing the site layout and thinking about how to incorporate elements like the stained glass. We’re designing the foundations and columns that would support those features. We’re also recommending materials and different design aspects for the site. Overall, we’re creating site plans and professional engineering drawings that the client can use.

3. What have you learned about community engagement through this project?

We’ve tried to stay involved with the community and get their input throughout the project. The biggest thing I’ve learned is to meet the client where they’re at and establish goals and expectations early on. It’s important to make sure everyone is on the same page and understands what we’re working toward. That has been really important for making the project successful.

4. What was the most challenging part of the project?

The most challenging part has been trying to capture all of the history and stories of the church in the design. There are so many meaningful aspects and stories, and it’s difficult to represent all of that in a physical space. We’re doing our best to listen to those stories and incorporate them into the design. When our designs don’t fully capture everything, we make sure to communicate those ideas and keep listening to the client. One thing that surprised me was the amount of autonomy the client has given us. They trust us to incorporate our own ideas into the design, while still including their input.

5. What are your future plans?

I’m in the U2G program, so I’ll be staying for one more year for graduate school. This project has really confirmed that this is the career path I want to be on. I’ve really enjoyed working with the community and applying my skills in a real-world project. It has shown me that I’m on the right track and doing what I love.