Designing his future: Student’s path leads to architectural engineering technology

This piece is sponsored by Southeast Technical College.

For Sioux Falls native Alex Welbig, attention to detail has always been second nature. Whether it’s perfecting a bodybuilding routine, designing a winning middle school T-shirt or envisioning a building from the ground up, Welbig has a knack for precision.

Now, as a student in Southeast Technical College’s architectural engineering technology program, he’s channeling that skill into a career with long-term potential.

“I’ve always had a keen eye for small details and perfecting design,” Welbig said. “I think architectural engineering is a great fit for me, and I know a few people in the industry who can help guide me as I grow in my career.”

Welbig admits that he came to the program without direct experience in architecture, but that hasn’t slowed him down. Drawn to the industry’s steady growth and opportunities, he’s committed to building a future where design meets practicality. His immediate goal after graduation is to land a job with TSP, a local architectural and engineering firm where a family connection has already paved the way for introductions.

For Welbig, Southeast Tech stood out for three main reasons: convenience, affordability and reputation.

“It’s close to home, reasonably priced, and everyone I know who has attended has had nothing but good things to say,” he explained.

What he has enjoyed most since enrolling is the sense of ease in the process.

“Everything has gone smoothly — whether it’s working with instructors or figuring out financial aid,” Welbig said. “It’s been a really positive experience.”

One pleasant surprise? The atmosphere in the classroom. “I was expecting college instructors to be extremely serious and maybe even a little intimidating,” Welbig said. “But they’re friendly, approachable and easy-going. It feels like the same supportive environment I had in K–12, just now it’s called college.”

Through Southeast Tech’s hands-on learning environment, industry-relevant training and supportive faculty, Welbig is gaining the skills and confidence to turn his vision into reality — designing not just buildings but also the life he has always imagined.