USI Engineers in Action to build bridge in Eswatini in summer 2023

In June, five University of Southern Indiana students from the USI Engineers in Action (EIA) chapter, led by Dr. Jason Hill, Associate Professor of Engineering, will depart on a trip to Emkhiweni, Eswatini, to develop a pedestrian bridge as a part of an EIA project to connect two isolated communities.  

Among the students participating is Koby Linder '23, a mechanical engineering major from Evansville. He traveled with USI’s EIA chapter in 2019 to build a 100-meter-long footbridge in Eswatini. 

"EmaSwati are hard-working people—they share what they have with everyone,” Linder says of the community that will greatly benefit from the bridge project. He says the previous project in Eswatini has shown signs of success. “Satellite images show the walking paths veering from their initial paths and merging to the bridge. These bridges give people safe, reliable, easy, and quick access to schools, hospitals, towns and more.” 

Linder has also experienced first-hand how much experience can be gained by participating in EIA bridge projects. “These trips teach real-world construction skills. I've seen the EIA experience directly translate into the U.S. construction and project industry.” 

USI students and staff will join EIA teams from McGill University and Oregon State University in designing and building the Eswatini bridge. The bridge will serve the Kalashabane and Esphumlweni communities and will directly benefit over 4,000 residents, including 3,000 children, and will help to boost the local economy. 

Miguel Pinto '25, Project Manager and electrical engineering major, and team members, Josiah Hollis '25, mechanical engineering major; Lisa Botello '24, civil engineering major; and Melanie Cedeno '24, electrical engineering major, will comprise the rest of the USI student team traveling to Eswatini this summer. 

USI’s EIA chapter is a part of the national EIA organization which improves the lives of thousands of people every year by building critical infrastructure in their communities including bridges and access to clean water. USI has sent student teams to Bolivia in 2022, West Virginia in 2021 and Eswatini in 2019.  

Hill has worked with each of these teams and has seen the benefits—for USI students and the communities they assist—in every single project. “The EIA bridge program at USI offers a unique experience to our engineering students. Not only do students gain knowledge in technical design and project management, but also get a unique cultural and bridge building experience.” 

Students of all majors are invited to participate in EIA and bridge project events. For more information about EIA, contact Hill at ajhill3@usi.edu. For more information about USI’s accredited Engineering Department, visit USI.edu/engineering.