2025 ASHRAE David C.J. Peters Scholarship Winner: Angel Luna

David C.J. Peters left a lasting impact on Southland Industries, not only through his technical expertise and innovations, but also through his dedication to recruiting and mentoring promising engineering students. As Senior Vice President, his forward-looking vision for engineering served as an inspiration to many. 

After his passing in 2011, the ASHRAE David C.J. Peters Scholarship was established to honor his legacy and recognize his commitment to empowering young engineers. This scholarship has since been awarded to some of the most promising talents in the field, allowing them to carry forward Dave's vision for the future of engineering.  

Angel Luna, an architectural engineering student from Texas A&M University, was recently awarded the 2025–2026 scholarship. He reflected on the impact of this scholarship and shared his perspective on pursuing a career in engineering.

How do you plan to use your scholarship to further your academic and professional goals? 

I plan to use the David C.J. Peters Scholarship to fund my continued learning as a student. As a senior, I want to focus on my development as both a student and an engineer without financial worries. I see this award as an investment, and I will make great strides toward all my academic and personal goals. 

David C.J. Peters was passionate about recruiting talented engineering students. What or who inspired you to pursue engineering? 

It's said that your parents have the biggest influence on the kind of person you are. I've been blessed with a dad who has shown me that hard work pays off. Therefore, the tough challenge of pursuing engineering became that much easier. I saw engineering as a progressive pathway for my set of skills since freshman year of high school. Then came COVID-19. Seeing the huge impact of engineers during such a difficult time was incredibly inspiring! The culmination of these experiences is what inspired me to pursue architectural engineering and design with intent. 

What excites you most about pursuing a career in engineering? 

What excites me most about a career in engineering are the unique problems I will face. Every day will be an opportunity to tackle a new challenge, and it will be my job to find a solution. The continued advancements in technology, constant revisions in national and regional codes and standards, and ambitious sustainability goals mean that engineers are constantly adapting! 

Are there any specific projects or areas of focus that you are particularly excited to explore in your studies or career? 

There is definitely an area of focus that I am particularly interested in: healthcare. In the summer of 2025, I had the pleasure of interning at Certus Consulting Engineers, who focus on the MEP design of healthcare facilities. What captivates me most about this field is how critical design becomes — our work is literally helping save lives! To me, that is so rewarding. In addition, I am also interested in sustainable design that considers occupant comfort, specifically mental health. 

How have you applied your engineering degree to take innovative steps in your career, personal life, or education? 

Working toward my engineering degree has taught me the importance of networking. Early in my undergraduate career, I would have described myself as shy and intimidated when speaking with industry professionals. At the same time, I didn't yet understand how impactful one conversation could be. Being at Texas A&M University and pursuing an architectural engineering degree has exposed me to countless professional events, such as career fairs, ASHRAE lectures, and conferences. Each of these events provided opportunities to grow in self-confidence, sharpen my communication skills, and see the benefits of building a broad professional network. 

David C.J. Peters pioneered several engineering innovations during his career. In what ways do you aspire to contribute to the industry? 

I aspire to contribute to the industry by advocating for sustainable and occupant-focused design. In hospitals especially, there are many types of occupants: patients, doctors and nurses, visitors, retail workers, etc. Good design considers every person impacted by your work. This is the kind of thinking I want to promote in the industry. 

What does design-build mean to you? 

Design-build is a project delivery method in which the design and construction phases of a project are seamlessly handled by one firm under the same contract. This approach facilitates coordination and integration from design through construction, enhances communication between disciplines, and usually allows for faster schedules. Personally, I think it is a very effective way of designing and constructing a building. 

Once you're working in the industry full-time, do you plan to invest in younger generations pursuing an engineering career? If so, how? 

Once I am working full-time, I plan to invest in younger generations by mentoring students who are going through the same courses I took in college. A long-term goal of mine would be to set up a scholarship fund to help the next generation of engineers, like the David C.J. Peters Scholarship. It will be my way of giving back, because I have been so blessed by awards like this, which have helped me reach where I am today and will support me in becoming the best engineer I can be. I fully understand how much of an impact an award like this can have.

Angel's passion for engineering, combined with his dedication to sustainability, innovation, and mentorship, exemplifies the values that David C.J. Peters championed throughout his career. As the 2025 ASHRAE David C.J. Peters Scholarship winner, Angel is poised to make significant contributions to the AEC industry while continuing to honor Dave's legacy.