Coming from a low-income family, Sony Thao is determined to better his socioeconomic status and the lives of his family. When Sony decided to go to college, he felt a loss of familial and community connection. The close-knit Concrete Industry Management program offered him the support and guidance he needed to thrive.

As a junior at California State University, Chico, Sony is a research assistant in the concrete testing lab, acquiring new skills to work with sustainable concrete. Outside of the lab, he has volunteered on numerous projects for CSU Chico and the city of Chico that have allowed him to build hands-on experience while bettering the community. He is a member of the International Concrete Repair Institute and the Women in Construction and Concrete student organization.

Sony plans to complete his bachelor’s degree and become a reliable, hardworking concrete industry professional.