Patricio Portillo Jr.
With ambition derived from a fierce background in sports, fifth year Construction Management student, Patricio Portillo, faces his academic studies with a competitive passion and the drive to always improve.
“My experience in the program is certainly one I am grateful for. Initially, I was an accounting major, but realized Construction Management was a better area of study due to my interest in construction and design, as well as business and leadership development. It’s basically half a business degree, and half an engineering degree.” Patricio said.
It’s these ideals that allowed Patricio to become a 2019-20 Student Life Award recipient for displaying proficiency in studies undertaken as well as participation in extracurricular activities. Most prominent were his efforts with the rebuilding of the Drexel University Construction Association (DUCA). When he was appointed Treasurer in Spring 2019, the organization was defunct and inactive. As a member of the organization’s Executive Board, he was able to take a lead on rebranding, creating an impact on the community of students and faculty involved. This meant engaging through networking events to discuss diversity in the construction industry, as well as holding workshops for students to build skills necessary for achievement in this field.
“Throughout my years here at Drexel, I kept in mind that my civic and community engagement efforts not only create impacts for myself, but for those around me.” Patricio explained. “I am appreciative of the various people I was able to meet and develop relationships with, as they created a lasting impact in my experience, and I hope I impacted theirs in some way as well.”
With the current COVID-19 pandemic, Patricio has remained an active member of his university communities. He’s currently working on his Senior Capstone, which has involved writing reports and presentations. He had to reteach himself old industry tools, like SketchUp, and has been using his studies from his last five years at Drexel to complete this course series. Though this tends to take up most of his time, he sets aside time to tend to his personal hobbies-- like investing in stocks, and collecting Michael Jordan Basketball shoes.
“Throughout my years here at Drexel, I kept in mind that my civic and community engagement efforts not only create impacts for myself, but for those around me.”
Patricio Portillo Jr.
Portillo’s unique perspective can be credited to his experiences and passions. Coming from a background in sports and business, he’s always looking for ways to show personal and academic growth through competition, to reach achievements like maintaining a high GPA, membership in the Construction Management Honor Society (Sigma Lambda Chi), and placing first in both the 2018 and 2019 Associated Schools of Construction Region 1 Student Competition.
“I look over everything I did and I can’t imagine how it got to the point it did. It’s something you can’t replicate.” Patricio said, reflecting on his time with the College of Engineering. “Although the time has called upon me to say my goodbyes, I am grateful for the memories.”