Isabella Camarota: Grace Under Pressure

For Isabella Camarota, success in civil engineering is about more than just structural integrity; it is about leading through the unexpected.

The graduating senior from Holland, Michigan, was recently named the Outstanding Senior of Civil Engineering for 2026. Dean Jennifer Shepherd, Ph.D. also chose her as the Outstanding Senior for the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

As expected of an Outstanding SEAS Senior, Camarota has maintained a high GPA and earned induction into the Tau Beta Pi honors society. She manages to balance the rigorous academic demands of civil engineering and the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership program. But it was leadership in the face of a major setback that made her stand out to the civil engineering department.

Camarota led the team that constructed a floating canoe made of concrete for an annual ASCE competition. She brought a new level of organization to the project.

“Isabella demonstrated exceptional independence, organization, and problem‑solving skills by coordinating materials, schedules, and personnel, enabling the team to complete construction before winter break for the first time,” read the nomination form from the Department of Civil Engineering.

Composure Under Pressure

When the Gonzaga team arrived at the ASCE Pacific Northwest Student Symposium, their prototype canoe suffered some damage. Faculty said Camarota calmly guided the team through the competition without repairs, earning them second place overall and in the physical canoe category. In 2026, the team took the top prize in the physical canoe category. The team’s presentation of their technical processes also earned a first-place category win in both years.

Throughout the canoe team’s process, ASCE faculty advisor Sue Niezgoda, Ph.D., says she admired Camarota. “Isabella exemplifies what it means to be an Outstanding Senior. She leads with calm confidence, earning the trust of her peers through clear communication, thoughtful delegation, and genuine motivation. Her willingness to step forward early, take on intimidating challenges, and consistently deliver excellence makes her a role model for her peers and a truly deserving recipient of this honor.”

"I am most proud of the progress of the concrete canoe team, placing second overall for two years in a row and winning first in final product prototype this year," Camarota said. "The friendships and memories from this journey will last a lifetime. I am so proud of the way the club members across all years came together to work towards a common goal."

Beyond the concrete canoe team, Camarota dedicated significant time to peer tutoring, adapting her communication style to help fellow students master complex engineering concepts. Mark Muszynski, the civil engineering department chair, described her as a “highly motivated, engaged, and analytically strong " student who exemplifies the work ethic expected of a top graduate.

A Gonzaga Foundation

Camarota credits Gonzaga’s opportunities in ASCE, senior design, and Hogan program with giving her the practice in speaking and engagement, building up the confidence to engage effectively with the public and industry professionals.

"My long-term goal is to have a career where my work provides direct positive impacts to the communities being served," Camarota said.

Her next step takes her to Redmond, Oregon, where she will begin work as an engineering technician for Anderson Perry & Associates. Her role will focus on water resources engineering, a specialty area focused on watershed health, flood control, and distributing one of the world’s most vital resources.