The Bridge_Spring 2025

Bridge The

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering

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FROM THE INTERIM CHAIR: Mohamed ElGawady, Ph.D.

Dear Alumni, Friends and Colleagues,

It is with great pride that I share the remarkable achievements of our Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering (CArEE) department over the past year. Missouri S&T has officially earned the prestigious Carnegie R1 Research University designation, recognizing our dedication to high-impact research and innovation. This milestone reflects the collective efforts of our exceptional faculty, staff and students, whose work continues to advance the frontiers of engineering and address critical societal challenges. (pg. 5)

Our department has celebrated numerous accomplishments. Dr. Genda Chen received the ASCE 2025 Charles Pankow Award for Innovation for his BIRDS robotic bridge inspection system, which demonstrates how our research is transforming infrastructure safety and resilience. I am also thrilled to announce that Dr. Yasser Darwish and I were recently granted a U.S. patent for an impact-protection system that enhances the resilience of bridges and critical structures. These achievements exemplify our department’s commitment to innovation with real-world impact. (pgs. 19 and 22)

Our alumni continue to inspire us through their leadership, service and professional excellence. This spring, we proudly inducted eight outstanding members into the Academy of Civil Engineers. Their engagement and support — through mentoring, philanthropy and advocacy — remain vital to our mission of providing a transformative educational experience. Initiatives like LEEP-4, which will enhance our lab capabilities with advanced contact-free strain testing technology, are made possible by this incredible network.

As I complete my service as interim chair, I am honored to have witnessed the resilience, dedication and vision that define our community. I am confident that under the leadership of Dr. Subhas “Karan” Venayagamoorthy, our inaugural Kummer Endowed Chair, the department will continue to achieve excellence in education, research and service. (pg. 4)

Thank you for your continued support in shaping the next generation of engineers and advancing the legacy

With gratitude and Miner pride, Mohamed ElGawady, Ph.D.

DE PARTMENT ADMINISTRATION

Interim Department Chair Mohamed ElGawady, Ph.D.

Assistant & Associate Chairs

Civil: Eric Showalter, Ph.D., P.E., LEED A.P.

Architectural: Stuart Baur, Ph.D., A.I.A.

Environmental: Joel Burken, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, F.AEESP

Graduate Programs: Magdy Abdelrahman, Ph.D.

RIPS THROUGH ROLLA

Missouri S&T students, faculty and staff stepped up to help with recovery efforts after a category EF2 tornado hit Rolla late Friday, March 14. It would be hard to list every single organization, team and individual who contributed, but remarkable efforts helped the city recover as quickly as possible.

More on the tornado: news.mst.edu/2025/03/ st-community-helps-with-recovery-efforts-aftertornadoes-rip-through-rolla/

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New chair named

Dr. Subhas “Karan” Venayagamoorthy has been named the inaugural Kummer Endowed Chair of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering at Missouri S&T.

6 Alumna talks about career in public service

Aruna Miller, CE’89, the 10th lieutenant governor of Maryland, spoke to a full house on campus in December about her public service and how her STEM foundation opened doors to a non-traditional engineering role.

19 Chen receives Pankow Award

Dr. Genda Chen invented an inspection robot deployment system, called BIRDS, which was selected for the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 2025 Charles Pankow Award for Innovation. This system was designed to make bridge inspections faster, safer and more comprehensive.

NEW KUMMER ENDOWED CHAIR OF CIVIL, ARCHITECTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

Photo by John Eisele/CSU

Dr. Subhas “Karan” Venayagamoorthy became the inaugural Kummer Endowed Chair of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering at Missouri S&T in August.

Venayagamoorthy comes to S&T from Colorado State University (CSU), where he has served on the faculty since 2008, most recently as the Borland Professor of Fluid Mechanics and founding director of the Environmental Fluid Mechanics Laboratory. From 2022 to 2023 he was CSU’s associate dean of academic and student affairs for the Walter Scott Jr. College of Engineering.

“I am honored to lead this department, which includes some of the world’s best civil, architectural and environmental engineering researchers,” Venayagamoorthy says. “S&T’s department is well known for providing a transformational education that prepares students for success beyond graduation.

Venayagamoorthy is an expert in environmental fluid mechanics and water resources engineering.

His projects have received support from agencies that include the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

A recipient of both the NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program Award and ONR Young Investigator Award, Venayagamoorthy

has received numerous teaching awards including the CSU Board of Governors Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award.

Venayagamoorthy earned a Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, where he later served as a visiting professor.

He is also an honorary professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, where he completed master’s and bachelor’s degrees in civil engineering.

Earlier in his career, Venayagamoorthy worked in industry roles as an engineer and surveyor in multiple locations in South Africa and China.

Venayagamoorthy will succeed Dr. Mohamed ElGawady, S&T’s Alard and Sheri Kaplan Faculty Scholar and a professor of civil engineering, who has served as interim chair since September 2024.

“This department has a strong tradition of leadership focused on student success and conducting research that will help solve society’s most pressing challenges,” says Dr. David Borrok, vice provost and dean of the College of Engineering and Computing. “It is clear Dr. Venayagamoorthy will continue this legacy and further elevate our national and international reputation.”

Venayagamoorthy will also hold a joint appointment as a professor in mechanical and aerospace engineering.

Tong Zhou,

a graduate student in environmental engineering, is studying PFAS plant uptake.

Photo by Michael Pierce/ Missouri S&T

Missouri S&T earns highest research designation from Carnegie Foundation

Missouri S&T has been classified as one of the nation’s top-tier research institutions and now has a Research 1 (R1) designation, according to the 2025 Carnegie Foundation classifications released on Feb. 13. S&T is one of 187 institutions out of more than 4,300 nationwide to receive this distinction.

“Earning R1 status affirms Missouri S&T’s excellence across disciplines and its high-impact research addressing global challenges,” says S&T Chancellor Mo Dehghani “S&T researchers are committed to driving innovation and addressing the world’s most critical challenges.”

To qualify for R1 status for this year’s Carnegie Foundation designations, institutions needed at least 70 conferred research doctoral degrees and research expenditures of at least $50 million.

“Achieving Carnegie Research 1 classification is an incredible honor for S&T and the entire UM System,” says University of Missouri President Mun Choi. “Chancellor Dehghani, along with dedicated faculty and staff at S&T, have worked hard to meet the requirements necessary for this remarkable accomplishment. We are proud to now have three R1 institutions within the UM System, which will transform our outreach and impact across the state.”

S&T’s research spending in fiscal year 2023 was almost $61.5 million, and an average of 107 Ph.D. degrees were conferred over the three-year timeframe.

One of S&T’s state-of-the-art research infrastructure projects is the Missouri Protoplex, a 116,000 square-foot manufacturing research and development hub set to open in 2026. The university is also on track to celebrate a 33,000-square-foot expansion and renovation of its Applied Research Center by the end of next year.

“With our new status, Missouri S&T will continue to attract top researchers, secure more funding and drive economic growth,” says Dr. Kamal Khayat, S&T vice chancellor for research and innovation and the Vernon and Maralee Jones Professor of Civil Engineering. “Our faculty, staff and students have worked hard to achieve this milestone, and with our ongoing and future infrastructure projects to support our research and student learning initiatives, it will be incredible to see what we will achieve in the coming years.”

The university’s research efforts cover advanced materials, artificial intelligence, electromagnetic compatibility, critical minerals, entrepreneurship, health care, infrastructure and nuclear materials, among many other topics.

S&T listed as a top engineering school in U.S. News rankings

The annual U.S. News & World Report rankings of the best universities for pursuing a graduate degree in engineering were released Tuesday, April 8, and Missouri S&T continued to be listed as the top public university in the state and among the nation’s best.

“Missouri S&T has long been known as a top destination for graduate students and faculty members because they understand we are dedicated to conducting research that will help solve the world’s most pressing challenges,” says Dr. David Borrok, vice provost and dean of S&T’s College of Engineering and Computing. “We recognize the importance of investing in our research infrastructure and providing the tools necessary to support innovation, and I appreciate our efforts being acknowledged.”

The university rose to No. 49 (tied) nationally among public universities for graduate engineering programs, up four spots from last year. Among both public and private universities, S&T moved up two places this year and tied for No. 81.

Five of S&T’s programs climbed in the overall national rankings when compared to last year, including:

• Aerospace engineering, which rose to No. 40 from No. 41

• Chemical engineering, which rose to No. 94 from No. 102

• Electrical engineering, which rose to No. 72 from No. 82

• Mechanical engineering, which rose to No. 60 from No. 63

• Systems engineering, which rose to No. 55 from No. 62.

Other S&T engineering programs with national rankings are civil engineering (43), computer engineering (85), environmental engineering (54), materials science and engineering (60), nuclear engineering (21) and petroleum engineering (16). The university’s new bioengineering program, which was launched in fall 2024, was ranked No. 114 in its first year.

These rankings come after S&T earned R-1 status from the Carnegie Foundation earlier this year – classifying S&T in the highest tier of research universities.

Aruna Miller, CE’89, the 10th lieutenant governor of Maryland, spoke to a full house on campus in December about her public service and how her STEM foundation opened doors to a non-traditional engineering role.

Reflecting upon her college days nearly 35 years ago, Miller said she could have never imagined running for office and being the first female of color elected to a statewide office in Maryland. She spoke of the influence people can have in setting a course for others and specifically to Dr. Shamsher Prakash’s teaching and mentoring impact on her career.

Miller emphasized how connecting people can’t happen without the proper infrastructure in an equitable environment. She encouraged all to be engaged and to be active in their communities.

“Progress is always under construction and takes time, and politics is everybody’s business,” she noted. “You’ve got to be tough and not let people push you around while striving to make things better.”

She gave students great advice on taking opportunities as they come and saying “yes” as often as they can, never knowing what life will bring.

Miller has devoted much of her life to public service as a transportation engineer. Her policy profile includes matters relating to transportation, mental health and STEM equity.

New Face honoree inspired to build community

Autumn Buesking has a photo of an old friend hanging up in her office cubicle. Well, maybe “friend” isn’t quite the right word.

It’s a lovely black-and-white photo she took of the old Washington Bridge, a rusty cantilever truss bridge that crosses the Missouri River in Buesking’s hometown of Washington, Missouri, on a hazy, foggy morning just before it was set to be demolished and replaced.

If not a friend to Buesking (she was pretty scared to drive over the bridge near the end of its life, because it had gotten so dilapidated), the Washington

Bridge was a constant civil engineering presence throughout her childhood. It was there when she was in kindergarten, competing with her classmates in Penny Wars to help raise money for its replacement.

And it was still there when she was in middle school, connecting spaghetti sticks with hot glue in a “Design the New Washington Bridge” contest.

And yes, it was still there when she was a senior in high school in 2017 and the Missouri River flooded into her hometown, and that caused a lightbulb to go off in her head.

“My school district was really unique in that half is on one side of the river, half is on the other side. The hospital is also right off the bridge,” Buesking said. “So this bridge is very functional. The roads to the bridge flooded, and no one could get across the river. Our school shut down. People couldn’t get to the hospital. People were driving 45 minutes out of their way just to get to work.”

“It really made me start to wonder why we didn’t have better flood protection, and why we didn’t have a new bridge. It makes you realize just how important that bridge actually is.”

Not long after, Buesking started working toward a civil engineering degree at Missouri S&T.

And not long after that, the city finally got the long-sought-after Washington Bridge replacement – an improvement for the people of Missouri and forever a symbol of Buesking’s origin story.

No wonder she still keeps the photo on her desk.

“Obviously, I didn’t engineer any part of that bridge, but it was integral to my childhood,” Buesking said. “Eighteen years of my childhood to get from where people were saying, ‘Hey, this is not passing inspection. It needs to be replaced,’ to finally opening the new bridge.”

“It was so cool to see from start to finish. I think that really put me on a path to civil engineering. I’m not sure that people realize how much work and time went into that bridge replacement process. But I was there every step of the way.”

Buesking now works as a structural engineering graduate for IMEG in Quad Cities, Iowa, where she’s also active with the ASCE Quad Cities Section, the ASCE Structural Engineering Institute Young Professional Engagement Committee, and several other volunteer organizations.

ASCE honored Buesking as a 2025 New Face of Civil Engineering. She recently talked with Civil Engineering Source about her career.

Civil Engineering Source: What is the accomplishment or aspect of your career you are most proud of so far?

Autumn Buesking: I think the thing I’m most proud of is seeing my work and the work of my co-workers helping the community.

I’m lucky enough to have been able to design a lot of really great projects, whether it’s schools, community buildings, or hospitals, that benefit the surrounding area.

Seeing those projects go from 2D on paper to 3D models to actually existing in the world is really awesome. I love those ribbon-cuttings and groundbreakings where you see how excited the community is for the project. Knowing that it really benefits people is something that I’m really proud of.

Source: What are some specific projects that come to mind?

Buesking: One that really stands out to me is called The Landing. It’s an ice rink and pool for the city of Bettendorf (Iowa), which is about 20 minutes away from me.

They had an existing pool and an ice rink they would put up temporarily. But they needed to upgrade the pool and add some water slides and make the ice rink permanent. So that was a really fun one.

It was a very challenging project engineering-wise, just with some different materials, but it turned out so great. They had the ribbon-cutting with a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony, and there were a lot of people out for that.

Another one I’ve done is an elementary school. That one is under construction now, and it’s a pretty big project. They brought all the students from the old elementary school out to the new one for the groundbreaking. They gave them all plastic hard hats, and they got to see where their new school is being built. A bunch of the students gave speeches. So, it’s rewarding to see the direct impact that the building is going to have on those students and future students.

(continued on page 24)

Academy of Civil Engineers inducts eight new members

Kevin Alexander

Eight professionals were inducted into the Missouri S&T Academy of Civil Engineers during a ceremony held Thursday, April 10, in Rolla.

The academy recognizes outstanding alumni who bring honor as engineering practitioners and leaders in community affairs.

Their goals are to:

• Provide organized assistance to the department.

• Improve the educational experience of the students.

• When called upon, to provide advisory guidance and counsel to the department chair, faculty or students.

• Strengthen the dedication to and understanding of students to civil engineering through personal and professional example.

• Advance the objectives of the development program by identifying, securing, and providing financial support for the department.

• Help the university achieve national prominence in civil engineering education.

Kevin Alexander of Carlsbad, California, deputy general manager of Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA), earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Missouri S&T in 1994. His career has exemplified continuous learning, growing and giving back to the engineering community. The projects he is most proud of include the City of Scottsdale Water Campus in Arizona, the Orange County Water District Groundwater Replenishment System in Fountain Valley, California, and the Western Corridor Program in Brisbane, Australia. Early in his career, Alexander was named vice president of SPI. In 2013, he was hired as the west region manager for Hazen and Sawyer, where he grew the region from five employees to over 260 employees and increased annual revenue from $300,000 to over $30 million. In 2024, he became deputy general manager for IEUA, an agency that provides water and wastewater services to 950,000 customers in San Bernardino County, California. Born in Clovis, New Mexico, Alexander was the first in his family to graduate from college. He was a member of S&T’s Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Tau Beta Pi and Chi Epsilon. He and his wife, Lanaya, have been married for over 11 years. Their daughter, Kendall, started college in 2023 at California Polytechnic State University. Alexander enjoys hiking, biking, fishing and hunting.

Amanda Derhake

Amanda Derhake of St. Clair, Missouri, principal engineer and senior partner with Rocksmith Geoengineering, earned a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences in 1999, a master’s degree in environmental engineering in 2002 and a Ph.D. in civil engineering in 2006, all from Missouri S&T. As a student, she excelled academically, played collegiate soccer for four years and was an active member of the Eta Kappa chapter of Chi Omega. Derhake has worked in environmental consulting for 18 years and is now part-owner of Rocksmith Geoengineering, an environmental and geological engineering consulting firm. She and her husband, Bob, are busy professionals raising a family with 7-, 9- and 11-year-old children. They play soccer, basketball, volleyball and football, and have the makings of budding engineers or scientists — three future Miners.

Dr. Kamal Khayat

Dr. Kamal Khayat of Rolla, Missouri, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Missouri S&T, is an honorary inductee. He earned five degrees in the areas of construction materials, structural engineering, and construction engineering and management from the University of California, Berkley, between 1982 and 1990. Khayat had a successful 21-year career at the Université de Sherbrooke in Quebec where he led substantial research projects, including serving as the industrial research chair of NSERC, a consortium of 17 industrial partners from Canada and the U.S. In 2011, Khayat joined Missouri S&T as the Vernon and Maralee Jones Professor of Civil Engineering and director of the Center for Infrastructure Engineering Studies. He currently serves as S&T’s vice chancellor for Research and Innovation. During his career, he has secured research grants of approximately $35 million as principal investigator (PI) and $14 million as co-PI. He has mentored 33 Ph.D. students, 44 master’s students and 21 postdoctoral fellows and visiting scholars. He has co-authored over 450 peer-reviewed publications and was recognized in the top 2% of cited scientists in his field by Stanford University and Elsevier from 2018 to 2024. Most recently, he was ranked 19 out of over 43,000 scientists in the building and construction sector. Khayat and his wife, Gina, have been married for 34 years, and they have two adult sons, Michael, who holds a bachelor’s degree in ceramic engineering from S&T, and Patrick.

Anne Lamitola

Anne Lamitola of Webster Groves, Missouri, senior director of public services for the city of Ladue, earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Missouri S&T in 2000. Currently senior director of public services for the city of Ladue, she previously served as director of public works. Lamitola oversees the departments of public works, building and zoning, administration, and finance, and she serves as the mayor’s liaison to various outside entities. Lamitola donates time and leadership to community and professional organizations including in her current role as the chair of the Webster Groves School District Building

Advisory Committee, and she has served as president of both the St. Louis and Missouri chapters of the American Public Works Association (APWA). She received the Missouri Chapter of APWA’s Professional Engineer of the Year award in 2015 and the D Squared award in 2023. When not busy with her career or volunteer positions, Lamitola enjoys hiking, reading, traveling and spending time with family and friends. She and her husband, Steve, who earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from S&T in 1999, have two daughters who are now freshmen in college.

Mariana Rodriguez

Mariana Rodriguez of Lima, Peru, founding member of the board of directors for the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Missouri S&T in 1980 and an MBA from the Boston School of Management in 1989. She received Missouri S&T’s highest honor in 2011 when she was named to the inaugural class of Alumni of Influence. Frank Benavides, a 1970 civil engineering graduate of S&T, nominated Rodriguez for the Academy of Civil Engineers. She co-founded two universities and two technical schools in Peru and has served as a member and leader of several Peruvian educational organizations. The Association of Private Enterprises of Peru named her Businessperson of the Year in 2022. Rodriguez and her husband, Juan Remar, have been married for over 30 years, and she has two adult stepdaughters, Daniella and Mellissa. Rodriguez is an avid equestrian and has competed in national championships. Her three brothers, Daniel, Diego and Gonzalo, are all Missouri S&T alumni.

Sondra Rotty

Sondra Rotty of Sunset Hills, Missouri, chief operating officer of St. Louis-based general contracting, construction management and design-build firm Tarlton Corp., earned a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering in 2004 and a master’s degree in engineering management in 2008, both from Missouri S&T. Rotty’s construction experience has centered around large, complicated projects completed in fast-track time frames. (continued on the next page)

Academy of Civil Engineers continued...

Her wide-ranging projects have included buildings on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis, buildings for the General Services Administration, the Saint Louis Art Museum East Building, the former Post-Dispatch building, and the Old Courthouse in St. Louis. Well-versed in sustainable construction, she has worked on numerous LEED projects, holds the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED AP BD+C accreditation and serves on the Missouri Gateway Green Building Council board of directors. Rotty is also board vice chair for the Building Division of the Associated General Contractors of Missouri and serves on the diversity committee for CREW-St. Louis (Commercial Real Estate Women). In 2024, she received CREW’s Economic Impact award for overseeing Tarlton’s construction at CityPark (now Energizer Park), home of St. Louis City SC. Rotty has received several commendations, including the “30 Under 30” and “40 Under 40” awards from the St. Louis Business Journal, and she was listed among Missouri S&T Magazine’s “30 Under 30” in 2010, and she received the Women in Construction Award from the St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers in 2023. At Missouri S&T, Rotty was named the Civil Engineering Exemplary Young Professional by the Academy of Civil Engineers in 2011, and she was inducted into both the Academy of Engineering Management and the Academy of Miner Athletics. A former runner at S&T, she is an enthusiastic participant in Tarlton athletic and philanthropic activities. Rotty and her husband, Bryan, enjoy watching their sons, Logan and Gavin, play soccer and swim competitively.

Matt Sander

Matt Sander of St. Louis, vice president of ARCO Construction Holdings Inc., has been with ARCO for 25 years, with nearly a decade as vice president. He joined the company as a project manager in 2000 after earning a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Missouri S&T. Beyond project management, Sander is a recruiter, mentor, and key contributor to ARCO’s growth and success. He volunteers with organizations such as the Ronald McDonald House of St. Louis and Places for People. Beyond his professional and philanthropic pursuits, Sander maintains strong ties to his alma mater and visits Missouri S&T multiple times a year to mentor students, provide career development guidance and recruit top talent for ARCO. He and his wife, Christina, an S&T alumna, live in Fenton, Missouri, with their children Olivia, Jake and Will. In his free time, Sander enjoys spending time with his family, hunting and golf.

Sabin Yañez

Sabin Yañez of Kansas City, Missouri, senior vice president of Cook, Flatt & Strobel Engineers, earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Missouri S&T in 1985. He began his professional career as a traffic studies engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation and progressed through many roles, ending with district engineer for Kansas City. Since 2004, Yañez has served as senior vice president for the civil engineering firm Cook, Flatt & Strobel Engineers. During his nearly 40-year career, Yañez has experienced an extensive array of projects but has also worked closely with a lengthy list of colleagues who would call him a friend and mentor. Yañez was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, and is a graduate of St. Pius X High School. He and his wife, Angel, have been married for 41 years. They have raised four children and currently have seven grandchildren and live north of the river in Kansas City, Missouri.

2025 ACADEMY AWARDEES

Joseph H. Senne Jr. Faculty

Scholarly Achievement Award

Islam El-adaway

Joseph H. Senne Jr. Faculty Teaching and Service Achievement Award

Magdy Abdelrahman

Sanjay Tewari

CArE Engineering Exemplary

Young Alumni Awards

Trevor Becherer, CE’14

Saki Urushidani, EnvE’16

Neil Stueck Outstanding Senior Awards

Garrett A. Coggin

Seth Filipsen

Anna LaMartina

Savannah McKay

Rachael Puls

CArE Engineering Outstanding Support Staff Award

Madison Keim

ACADEMY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS: MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENT LIVES

Since 1972 the Academy of Civil Engineers (ACE) has been contributing to the growth and careers of Missouri S&T students. Members are recognized for their contributions to the profession, leadership, community and involvement with Missouri S&T.

Their support has five strategic initiatives. One of those initiatives is advancing CArEE department objectives through financial support. Within that initiative is a campaign named “Laboratory Equipment Enhancement Program,” (LEEP) which was started in 2021. Last year we initiated LEEP-3 with a $180,000 goal to replace the Universal Testing Machine. It was a matter of weeks following ACE membership notification that the goal was reached! The equipment is working through the procurement channels and should be available to students soon.

This is a clear example of how ACE supports generations of students through attitude of their members and their devotion to the university and student body. One of our contributing members, Greg Junge, offers these thoughts:

“ I ’ve made donations over the years, and I wanted to fund something more substantial and lasting. Then LEEP-3 came along. What could be more substantial and lasting than that? I hope all students will benefit from the use of the equipment for generations to come.”

Our new initiative, LEEP-4, is focusing on expanding capabilities and strengthening leadership in the industry. Two pieces of equipment for contact-free strain testing are our targets. The fundraising goal is $220,000.

Giving is not limited to ACE members.

If you would like to be a part of the LEEP-4 campaign, go online to donate.mst.edu

Or mail a check to:

Academy of Civil Engineers

Attn. Madison Keim 211 Butler-Carlton Hall, 1401 N. Pine St. Rolla, MO 65409-0030.

Be sure to include “Account 717075” on your payment.

MSPE St. Louis Chapter Awards

The following alumni were honored at the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers (MSPE) St. Louis Chapter’s annual awards banquet:

• Jennifer Kuchinski, CE’95, MS CE’02 (WSP) Outstanding Professional Engineer in Private Practice

• Jon A. Jacobsmeyer, CE’88 (McCarthy Building Companies Inc.) – Outstanding Professional Engineer in Construction

• Marc Eshelman, CE’85, MS CE’91 (M3 Engineering Group) –Professional Engineer of the Year

• Jennifer Welsch, CE’99 (Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District) – Outstanding Professional Engineer.

ASCE leaders attend workshop

Great to see so many Missouri S&T alumni and friends representing ASCE St. Louis Section during the workshop for section, branch and institute leaders.

Pictured back L-R: Dakota Jarosz, Garrett Coggin, Tony Roth, Landon Winters and Brenan Pool. Pictured front L-R: Kelly Tuong, Shawnna Erter, ASCE 2025 President Feniosky Pena Mora, Nichole Witushunsky and Lena Mais.

Engineers Club of St. Louis spotlights Eisenbath

Kurtis Eisenbath, CE’00, MS CE’02, senior engineer at EDM Inc., was featured in a membership spotlight for the Engineers Club of St. Louis in January.

With over two decades of experience, Eisenbath has played a vital role in impactful engineering projects like the Timber Trail to Briar Ridge Channel Project, the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge, and MSD’s Deer Creek Sanitary Tunnel. His expertise in water resources has advanced infrastructure and improved lives across St. Louis.

As a member of the Engineers Club, Eisenbath has served on the board of directors, chaired committees, and actively supported the club’s mission of community and professional development. His contributions extend far beyond technical work — he’s a leader and mentor in the St. Louis community.

Eisenbath’s lifelong passion for water resources began on the banks of the Mississippi River, exploring creeks and building sandbars as a child. That passion continues to inspire his work today, as he drives innovation and excellence in engineering.

40 Under 40

As a professional engineer for the city of Springfield since 2017, Saki Urushidani, EnvE’16, experienced her pinnacle moment last year when she unveiled the city’s Fairgrounds Green Infrastructure Project.

Read the full story: http://bit.ly/3GXl09g

Building in KC

After graduating from Missouri S&T, Daniel Edwards, ArchE’11, and his wife, Ebony, returned to Kansas City. He never imagined he would one day own the very lumber yard that had shaped his youth. He hopes to create affordable homes for local residents.

Read the full story: http://bit.ly/473CzPr

ARCO hosts MO-CCI board meeting

Missouri Consortium for Construction Innovation (MO-CCI) is grateful to ARCO Construction Co. for hosting the fall 2024 board meeting, which brought together leading construction industry executives for an engaging afternoon of collaboration and strategic planning. Discussions included advancements in research and reflections on key professional development events. Group members are excited about the progress made and the innovative directions shaping the future of the construction industry.

Pictured are:

• Alberici Constructors: John Smith

• ARCO Construction Co.: John Komlos and Kristina Licklider

• Brinkmann Constructors: Brian Satterthwaite and Jeremy Dotson

• Clayco: Steve Sieckhaus and Trevor Becherer

• McCarthy Building Companies Inc.: Christopher Nisbet

• Missouri S&T: Islam El-adaway

• UB Greensfelder: Jennifer Therrien

• Good Developments Group: Greg Gleicher

• NorthPoint Development: Logan Fitch

• PARIC Corp.: Steve Emmons.