Welcoming Cyanna Iñiguez to Our Team
Cyanna Iñiguez didn’t always know she wanted to be a civil engineer. In fact, as a first-
generation college student from the rural town of McArthur, CA (population 678), college itself
once felt out of reach.
Growing up, higher education wasn’t part of dinner table conversations. In fact, her family
initially discouraged it. “If anything, my parents weren’t going to let me go,” she recalls.
Extended family pressures made it even more difficult, but Cyanna fought for every opportunity
she could—from excelling as a three-sport athlete to participating in Future Farmers of America.
With each achievement, her ambitions grew.
By her senior year of high school, Cyanna was determined to go to college, tackling applications
on her own and earning an impressive $50,000 in scholarships—funding that ultimately made
her education at Chico State possible. Still, finding her path wasn’t easy. Without clear
guidance, she switched majors seven times, searching for the right fit.
Clarity finally came in 2020 during a job shadowing opportunity at PACE Engineering. Taking the
opportunity to visit each department at PACE, it was in the Water/Wastewater Department that
she saw firsthand how infrastructure directly impacts communities—especially rural ones like
McArthur. The experience ignited her passion and set her on the path to make a difference in
civil engineering.
Now, with her degree in hand and a 2024 summer internship at PACE under her belt, Iñiguez’s
journey has come full circle. We’re thrilled to welcome her back—this time as a full-time team
member. Her first project: designing a wastewater system for her hometown.
At PACE Engineering, we believe in hiring people who bring both technical expertise and a deep
commitment to creating meaningful change. Cyanna Iñiguez embodies both, and we’re excited
to see the impact she’ll have on the communities that need it most.
Read more about Cyanna’s educational journey at Chico State here: Relentless Alumna
Pursues Dream, Advocates for Rural Students – Chico State Today
