From Classroom to Career: How Carla Vidrios Turned a Student Competition into a Full-Time Job
06/11/26
For students in our construction management program, success means more than mastering technical skills. It means learning how to collaborate under pressure, communicate ideas clearly, and solve real-world problems as a team.
This spring, those skills were put to the test during the 2026 Construction Management Challenge, a one-day competition hosted in partnership with Prime Electric, one of the West Coast’s leading electrical construction contractors.
The event brought together teams of students from colleges across the region to tackle a realistic electrical construction project. Guided by Prime Electric managers and assistant managers, students were challenged to analyze project plans, complete quantity take-offs, evaluate vendors, and build a professional project proposal—all culminating in a presentation to a panel of Prime Electric executives.
For Carla Vidrios, the experience became much more than a competition. It became the start of her career.
Finding Opportunity Through Challenge
Vidrios came to Edmonds College with a clear goal in mind. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of Washington in 2024, she enrolled in our construction management certificate program to gain hands-on industry experience and transition directly into the workforce.
When Prime Electric invited members of the Edmonds Construction Management Student Association to participate in the challenge, Vidrios saw an opportunity to apply her background in a new setting—even though the competition’s prize, a paid 2027 internship in the summer, did not align with her career timeline.
“I knew I wanted to begin working in the industry as soon as possible,” Vidrios said. “But the competition itself seemed like an incredible learning opportunity.”
Faculty and Chair of the Construction Management Program, Moni Mungin, helped Vidrios prepare for the challenge and urged her to consider the situation. “In a time-crunch scenario, one must think fast, build a team, and deal with unknowns,” she said. “I encouraged Carla to review core concepts of estimating and lean on her considerable emotional intelligence skills.”
On the morning of the event, students were randomly assigned into four-person teams, challenging participants to quickly build trust, establish roles, and collaborate under tight deadlines. Vidrios was paired with three students from other schools and mentored by a Prime Electric assistant project manager.
While some teammates focused on project management responsibilities, Vidrios served as the estimator, handling technical takeoffs and project data entry.
Throughout the competition, judges evaluated teams not only on technical accuracy but also on creativity, collaboration, and presentation skills.
During the final presentation, Vidrios’ team found a unique way to stand out.
As they explained their lighting take-off proposal, the team incorporated the conference room's atmosphere and lighting to demonstrate how technical planning directly impacts real-world environments. The presentation connected complex construction data to the human experience of a space—an approach that resonated strongly with the judges.
Mungin was not surprised Vidrios was on the winning team, saying, “It’s who she is. She leads, creates trust, solves problems, learns fast, and adapts.”
The victory quickly opened another door.
During lunch following the competition, Oliver Whitehead, Chief Operating Officer and Principal at Prime Electric—and an Edmonds College Foundation Board member—approached Vidrios after being impressed by both her presentation and her architectural background.
Rather than waiting to offer an internship opportunity, Whitehead encouraged her to interview for a full-time role with the company.
Vidrios has now been working at Prime Electric as a Project Engineer since May 4.
Today, her daily work in the field doubles as the capstone experience required to complete the construction management program at Edmonds College. She has gained industry experience while completing her education.
The Construction Management Challenge reflects Edmonds College’s focus on experiential learning and industry partnerships that prepare students for immediate career success.
For Vidrios, the experience reinforced how classroom knowledge, hands-on collaboration, and professional networking can come together to create unexpected opportunities.
“What started as a student competition became the pathway to my career,” she said.
By turning a one-day challenge into a full-time career, Carla’s journey stands as a powerful reminder for every student at Edmonds College: when you pair your preparation with passion, your classroom door will open directly into your future.