Chico State Athletics

You can hear it in his voice. DiAngelo Gleaves is exceedingly proud of his family's history of community service in the Bayview–Hunters Point area of San Francisco. He's also proud to be carrying on that legacy.
 
The Chico State men's soccer player spent the summer (and will now spend the rest of 2020) as a project engineer intern for Charles Pankow Builders, Ltd. His main focus is on the brand new Southeast Community Center, which is going up at 1550 Evans Avenue, just down the street from where Gleaves was raised.
 
"My mother always educated me about our family's history in this area," Gleaves said. "My great grandmother (Moese Curry) was raised in the same area and she was a community advocate, and on down the line generation to generation.
 
"Being able to motivate others in my community to see that they can have positive outcomes is something I've really enjoyed."
 
Gleaves is a civil engineering major who has spent his last two summers as an intern through Opportunities for All, an initiative aimed at providing access to career exploration and workforce development for San Francisco's youth and young adults. Following his freshman year, Gleaves worked for Anvil Builders on a project at San Francisco International Airport's Harvey Milk Terminal 1. He almost returned this summer, having had a great experience, but instead broaden his horizons and experience a different workplace at his mothers' suggestion.
 
Gleaves is glad he did.
 
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to work on a project that's right where I was born and raised," he said.
 
Gleaves is involved in some heady stuff: reviewing documents, getting paperwork approval from the city engineer, working with sub-contractors, coordinating with the foreman, and putting together a daily journal that includes employee numbers, wind speed, weather, sub-contractor information, and more.
 
But one of his favorite aspects of this internship is talking to groups that come to get information about the construction site.
 
"I share with them how I got to this point and they ask me questions, ask me for my number, and call me. They want me to explain how to get into the construction industry."
 
On Thursday, Gleaves will also be taking over the Wildcats Gameday Instagram account as the first student-athlete in their Takeover Thursday campaign.

Do you know a Wildcat who deserves to be considered for a Wildcat of the Week honor? We're looking for current student-athletes who are making you proud athletically, academically, and/or in the community. If you have an idea, please take a moment to let us know by completing this five-question survey.