Land surveying, civil engineering student charts future with hands-on experience

This piece is sponsored by Southeast Technical College.

From a curiosity sparked by his mother’s suggestion to a career path backed by a top industry employer, Noah Kieckhefer is proving that with the right direction and support, students can find success in careers they may have never imagined.

A first-year land survey science and civil engineering technology student at Southeast Technical College, Kieckhefer is already mapping out a future grounded in opportunity — and supported by the Build Dakota Scholarship.

Discovering a career in the field — literally

“I always knew I didn’t want a job where I’d be stuck behind a desk all day,” Kieckhefer said. “I wanted to be outside, doing something hands-on.”

That desire led this Brookings native to explore career paths that offered real-world, active work. At his mom’s suggestion and with a little internet research, he decided to learn more about land surveying — a profession that blends technology, math and fieldwork.

“I toured Southeast Tech and visited with second-year students, who shared their experiences,” he said.

“They said they were outside doing labs by the second day of class. That really stood out to me. I like to learn by doing, and this program felt like the right fit.”

Practical program, right support

Kieckhefer said his first year at STC has been “really, really good.” He has found the coursework to be manageable and meaningful, and he has been surprised — in a good way — by how supportive the environment is.

“In high school, we were told college would be incredibly strict with no room for mistakes. That scared me a little,” he said. “But here, the instructors are super-helpful. I’ve made a couple of mistakes, and they walked me through them. I’ve learned from it — and that’s the point.”

He also credits his instructors with creating a classroom where questions are welcomed and knowledge is shared with confidence.

“When you ask a question here, you get a clear, informed answer. At STC, they know what they’re doing.”

Real experience, real opportunity

Kieckhefer’s journey to the Build Dakota Scholarship and his future employer, Banner Associates, started with a single business card.

“During my STC tour, I was still on the fence about the program. The instructor gave me a contact at Banner Associates to talk to, I reached out, and that led to a job-shadowing experience. Then, during my senior year, I took an internship class at Brookings High School, where I got to work one period a day in the field I wanted to pursue. I called Banner, asked if I could intern, and they said yes.”

That internship turned into much more. On just his second day, while helping clean out a storage room, he struck up a conversation with a manager and mentioned his interest in the Build Dakota Scholarship.

“I just went for it. I told them I was hoping to earn the scholarship, and not long after, they offered to sponsor me,” he said. “That moment changed everything.”

Building toward the future

Thanks to his Build Dakota sponsorship through Banner Associates, Kieckhefer is on track to graduate in May 2026 without student debt and with a full-time job waiting for him.

“I want to go back to Brookings and work for Banner,” he said. “It’s a great workplace, and I really hope to be with them long-term. My goal is to eventually become a licensed land surveyor.”

When asked about the impact of the Build Dakota Scholarship, Kieckhefer doesn’t hesitate.

“I can’t even put it into words. It removed so many worries: how to pay for school, how to balance a job and how to manage stress. Now, I can focus on learning. More places around the country need programs like Build Dakota.”