We are thrilled to report that momentum is building for the Industry Leadership Partnership (ILP)!
Thanks to the swift action of our initial Founding Partners, we have successfully secured sponsorship for the first group of Purdue engineering students to attend the Underground Infrastructure Conference (UIC) in San Antonio this January.
These students are now preparing for what will be their first major immersion into the underground infrastructure industry—an experience that turns classroom theory into “Day One” readiness.
⚠️ But the Mission Isn’t Over.
The interest from top-tier students in Purdue’s NASTT and UCA chapters has exceeded our expectations. We currently have a waitlist of highly qualified, leadership-ready students hoping to join the delegation.
We are calling on forward-thinking industry leaders to help us clear the waitlist and ensure no future engineer is left behind.
Why This Matters (The “Day One” Gap)
As Dr. Tom Iseley, President of BAMI-I, reminds us: “Even the strongest academic institution cannot prepare students to be fully productive on ‘Day One’ without strong partnerships with industry.”
The “aging infrastructure” crisis is well known, but the aging talent crisis is just as critical. The ILP was created to solve this by moving students out of the classroom and into the mud, the boardroom, and the expo floor.
A Proven Track Record
This initiative is the evolution of a multi-year effort that has already delivered results. Over the past four years, thanks to our partners CPM Pipelines, Midwest Mole, SAK, Bowen Engineering, Herrenknecht AG, Danby PVC Lining, SAERTEX multiCom, Waterline Renewal Technologies, QuakeWrap, InfoSense, Ace Pipe Cleaning, PICA Corp, National Water Main Cleaning, PVC Pipe Association, Plastics Pipe Institute, UCA of SME, NASTT, ASCE, Beavers we have:
Five-Year Progress
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- 2022: 25 Purdue students attended UCT (Fort Worth, TX)
- 2023: 32 students attended UCT (Orlando, FL)
- 2024: 11 students attended UIC (Oklahoma City)
- 2025: 14 students attended UIC (Oklahoma City), Houston, TX
- Annual deep tunnel tour: 3RPORT CSO Tunnel (220 ft)
- UIT (Underground Infrastructure Team) is established and growing
- AMUI course launched with strong enrollment and industry participation
- Over 70+ student reports, interviews, workshops, and company engagements
- Consistent positive feedback from students, sponsors, and employers
The result? Students who graduate with a deep passion for underground infrastructure and the connections to succeed immediately.
How to Help: Become a Founding Partner
We are inviting you to sponsor the remaining students on our roster.
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Role: Founding ILP Partner
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Investment: $5,000 (100% tax-deductible)
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Impact: Your contribution directly funds student travel, mentorship access, and leadership development for the San Antonio trip.
To secure your spot as a Founding Partner and help us finalize the 2026 Delegation:
Please contact Dr. Tom Iseley at [email protected].
Checks can be mailed to:
BAMI-I
1721 Northwestern Avenue
West Lafayette, IN 47906
Let’s strengthen the talent pipeline together.
