The sky's the limit for former student Kyle Beishir ’24.
Kyle has received the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Region VIII Scholarship. This $3,000 scholarship is awarded to students enrolled in a four-year university who demonstrate excellence in HVAC-related studies and contributions to the field.
Kyle majored in architectural engineering in the Texas A&M University Department of Multidisciplinary Engineering and graduated with honors. He is now a Mechanical Engineer in Training (EIT) with Smith Seckman Reid (SSR), an engineering consulting firm and employee-owned company in Houston, Texas.
He has received the ASHRAE Region VIII Scholarship, awarded by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). This $3,000 scholarship is awarded to students enrolled in a four-year university who demonstrate excellence in HVAC-related studies and contributions to the field.
As a mechanical EIT at Smith Seckman Reid (SSR), Beishir’s role involves duct layout and design in a modeling software called Revit. He also performs heating and cooling load calculations to determine how much air needs to be supplied to each room for hospitals and medical office buildings projects in the Houston area.
“Kyle Beishir’s recognition by ASHRAE is a testament to the exceptional talent cultivated within our architectural engineering program at Texas A&M University,” said Dr. Mario Medina, director of the architectural engineering program. “His achievements not only highlight the importance of building mechanical systems studies in our curriculum but also exemplify the dedication and innovation our students bring to the field. We are proud to see our graduates making significant contributions to the industry and shaping the future of sustainable engineering.”
Kenneth Fulk ’79, a principal emeritus at RWB Consulting Engineers, is the current Industry Advisory Council chair for the architectural engineering (AREN) program. “I’ve served on multiple scholarship evaluation committees over the years, which included one year on the ASHRAE Scholarship Trustees,” Fulk said. “The competition is fierce only because there are so many submissions, but also because there are so many strong candidates that submit.”
Beishir’s previous internship with SSR as an undergraduate played a large part in receiving this scholarship.
“To my understanding, the panel believed that I had a promising future in engineering. As a professional, I’ve been a member of ASHRAE for nearly two years, which demonstrated my commitment to the industry. I believe interning with SSR was a major factor as the work we do for the healthcare providers in Houston is significant and invaluable.”
He also believes that graduating from Texas A&M with honors reflected the work he put into his degree and his level of preparation for the future.
“I had three distinguished individuals who wrote amazing letters of recommendations for me: Dr. Dale Cope, mechanical engineering professor of practice at Texas A&M; Michael Elliott, the principal/mechanical department head at SSR; and Brandon Cain, the vice-president of engineering for B&B Oilfield Services.”
From AREN to EIT
As a freshman, multidisciplinary engineering piqued Beishir’s interest because it offered a wider range of classes than other field-specific disciplines. Choosing a multidisciplinary route allowed him to expand his knowledge on various engineering disciplines. He focused on mechanical systems, which focuses on HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) equipment.
“The AREN program did an excellent job at preparing me for my current role at SSR,” Beishir said. “The program introduced the Revit modeling software which I use daily. It also helped me learn all the calculations that I use to calculate heating and cooling loads, as well as introducing the different phases of projects and what type of work we should expect to do in each phase.”
“Additionally, the AREN program is a much better fit for those that want to design mechanical, plumbing, or electrical equipment for buildings than a more traditional program,” he added, “because it covers the type of work that is done by mechanical, plumbing and electrical designers in greater detail.”
Beishir credits his senior capstone course as the most rewarding one he took at Texas A&M. His capstone team designed an environmentally sustainable building that met LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Standards by finding locally sourced building materials and using high-energy-efficient systems for heating and cooling occupants. “I was fortunate to work with an amazing team of hardworking and supportive classmates,” he added. “The project challenged us technically and pushed us to think creatively, but the teamwork and collaboration made it a truly rewarding experience.”
He encourages current students not to be afraid to ask questions — whether in class, internships, or networking events — and to take classes that genuinely interest them rather than ones that seem 'safe' or easy.
“Exploring different fields early on will help you find what you’re passionate about and set you up for success,” he said.
Beishir hopes to leave an impact at SSR by adding to their design specifications and taking on more projects involved in research. “The work I do with SSR requires multiple iterations before we submit anything to be built,” he said. “I am constantly working with engineers and project managers to find ways to speed up the process in finding the best solution in the least amount of time.”