Challenge Accepted
LLCC student Alexis Bowman, of Palmyra, isn’t afraid to take on a challenge.
A state track champion in her senior year of high school, Bowman continued pushing herself after graduation. She enrolled in Lincoln Land Community College’s Construction Technology program, one of only a handful of women in the program, excelled in an ongoing internship with O’Shea Builders, and now, as she completes her degree, she’ll take on another role: 2026 Commencement student speaker.
While speaking in front of a large audience may fall outside of her comfort zone, Bowman welcomes the opportunity.
“I was honored to be nominated by my program director,” she explains. “I’m happy to tell my LLCC story and speak for the class of 2026.”
Bowman’s interest in construction started early. Growing up, she spent summers working alongside her father on construction projects, experiences that helped shape her career goals.
“Working with my dad in summers doing construction projects opened my eyes and showed me that I enjoy the construction process,” she said. “I wanted to be a part of watching projects grow in the future.”
That passion translated seamlessly into the classroom and job site. Bowman thrived both in LLCC’s hands-on learning environment and during her internship.
“Everything you learn in the construction management course is applied to the real world and what you will actually do in your career,” she explained. “The first year of the program being solely hands-on is a great experience especially for the students that have little to no experience with tools. The second year focusing more on the management side was a great way to see different processes and many programs that are used daily in the field.
She credits LLCC as a key steppingstone in her education and career.
“LLCC has helped me reach my next goal in so many different ways,” Bowman said. “The connections that the construction management program has with the professionals working in the field every day are very beneficial. I had the privilege of having an internship and learned so many different things in the field while attending class at night, learning even more from industry professionals my second year of school.”
After graduation Bowman will continue working for O’Shea Builders as a field engineer while pursuing her bachelor’s degree in applied management through online coursework at Franklin University.
As she prepares to address her classmates at commencement and takes her next steps in the construction industry — Bowman continues to embrace each challenge as an opportunity to grow. And in an industry built on leadership, her future is just beginning.