Achievement and honors have always been a part of Sharon Lappin’s career. Though it’s nice to be recognized for a job well done, that’s not what drives Lappin (’94, B.S., civil engineering), the 2005 Alumni Achievement Award for the School of Computing and Engineering at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Lappin’s journey through college and now a professional career has been characterized by a desire to help others. A civil engineer, Lappin was named Young Engineer of the Year in 2003 by the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers. The award recognized Lappin for her exceptional volunteer efforts, educational achievements and career successes.

Lappin’s interest in engineering began with her family. Her older sister, and mentor, is assistant director for facilities for the Water Services Dept. of Kansas City, Mo. Lappin’s twin sister also is an engineer. The draw to a scientific profession for Lappin and her sisters no doubt came through the influence of their mother, a teacher.

“In my family, failure was not an option in math. My mom made sure we excelled. It may take a little bit more effort, but you’re going to learn it,” Lappin says. “I noticed that throughout my education, not only my mother, but my sister Mary, my father and several teachers never let me quit as far as math and science were concerned.”   

Lappin carries that same “no quit” attitude with her as she attempts to inspire others in the engineering profession. Currently a senior civil engineer with Boyle Engineering Corporation in Sarasota, Fla., Lappin continues the volunteer work she was heavily involved in as a student at UMKC.  Her efforts include participating in organizations and activities that teach others about the importance of engineering in daily life. She also has volunteered her time tutoring, working with adult-literacy programs and mentoring young girls.

Many Kansas Citians are familiar with one of Lappin’s large-scale engineering projects. For three years, as an engineer at HNTB in Kansas City, she worked on the redesign of the Grandview Triangle, where three major highways and 7 local routes converge in south Kansas City.

One of Lappin’s goals is to continue to have an impact as a mentor in her profession. She’s developing a mentoring program at her company and is actively mentoring employees who work for her. She knows first-hand the power of mentoring and relationships when it comes to career and life.

“I try to focus on the most important thing, which is not the accolades,” she says, “but how you treat people on your journey.”

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 14,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students.  UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a three-part mission: visual and performing arts, health sciences, and urban affairs.

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