Engineering Senior Turns High School Drafting Class Into Full-Time Career

Engineering Senior Turns High School Drafting Class Into Full-Time Career

When Caleb Sutherin first stepped into a high school drafting class, he had no idea it would shape his future.

At the time, he was considering a very different path.

"I was thinking zoology at first," Sutherin said. "Then I took drafting and realized I actually really liked it."

That moment of discovery set him on the path to civil engineering - and ultimately to The University of Toledo - where he found both his career direction and a strong sense of belonging.

A native of Coldwater, Ohio, Sutherin was looking for a Division I experience that still felt manageable. After visiting several campuses, he found UToledo offered the right balance of size and community.

"This was the smallest-town feel I got at a Division I school," he said. "It felt like home."

That feeling was reinforced during a second visit focused on the College of Engineering, where he could better picture himself as a student.

Sutherin quickly immersed himself in hands-on learning, completing three co-op rotations with Choice One Engineering in Sidney, Ohio, beginning as early as the summer after his freshman year. By his third rotation, he was taking on projects independently, including designing a waterline project from start to finish.

The experience gave him early confidence and helped bridge the gap between coursework and real-world application. Concepts introduced later in the classroom already felt familiar, reinforcing that he was on the right path.

While academics and co-ops shaped his professional growth, Sutherin said the relationships he built were just as meaningful. He found a strong sense of community through friends, daily workouts at the Student Recreation Center and football games.

A competitive bowler in high school, Sutherin joined the University's bowling club during his freshman year, where practices often ran late into the night and competitions took him out of state. The experience was demanding but memorable, offering another way to connect with fellow students before he shifted his focus to academics and work.

Looking ahead, Sutherin said he knows those connections will continue to matter.

"In civil engineering, you're not going to know everything," he said. "Having people you can reach out to - that's huge."

Sutherin will graduate this spring and begin his full-time role with Choice One Engineering just days later. Having already built relationships within the company, including attending a company-sponsored trip, the transition feels seamless.

"These are my people," he said. "I'm excited to get started."

As he reflects on his time at UToledo, Sutherin points to both personal growth and the experiences that defined his college years.

"These are the prime years," he said. "Going to games, hanging out with friends - I'll remember that forever."

Sutherin said he leaves with confidence in his path and the foundation to build what comes next: "Everything just kind of reassured me that I'm meant to do this."