Nicklaus Foster developed an eye for civil engineering early.

He grew up in Columbia, Maryland, and spent a lot of time working for his father’s construction business around Washington, D.C. It was there he learned the difference between design and labor in construction and found the path he wanted to pursue in life.

“I didn’t plan on shoveling rocks for the rest of my life; I wanted to look at the other side of construction, so that’s what got me into engineering,” said Foster, who will graduate with his civil engineering bachelor’s this fall. “My dad also guided me toward civil engineering because his construction practice focuses on concrete and masonry — things in the civil engineering realm. He gave me a little nudge and created that exposure, which was super important for me.”

Foster didn’t come to Georgia Tech immediately. In Fall 2018, he enrolled in Morehouse College’s Dual-Degree Engineering Program, which allows students to get two degrees over five years. Students spend three years at Morehouse before transferring to a partner institution to finish their engineering studies.

Foster quickly realized Atlanta was where he wanted to be, so Georgia Tech — with one of the best civil engineering programs in the country — became his clear first choice. He couldn’t wait to tap into the opportunities that awaited him.

Yet, like virtually all of his fellow graduates, the Covid-19 pandemic threw a wrench in his plans.

Get the full story on the College of Engineering website.