April 28, 2009

Contact: Amy Hewes
College of Engineering
805-756-6402
ahewes@calpoly.edu

Society of Civil Engineers Wins National Award for Most Outstanding Chapter

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) deemed Cal Poly winner of the prestigious ASCE Robert Ridgway Award given to the most outstanding chapter out of the 280 student groups across the country.

Cal Poly has received this award twice before, in 1993 and 1999; it is based on evaluation of the group's annual report of activities.

Gregg Fiegel, faculty advisor, says the award is a tremendous honor: "The award is only given to those student chapters that go above and beyond in providing for their members, their university and their local community. The members of the Cal Poly ASCE Student Chapter work very hard and with tremendous enthusiasm."  

Cal Poly Engineering Dean Mohammad Noori, who is an ASCE member and holds a Ph.D. in the field, said, "The Ridgway is not a typical first place success, it is a huge accomplishment, on the order of a Pulitzer or an Academy Award. It means our students have truly distinguished themselves-we're very proud of them." 

The ASCE also recognized individual Cal Poly civil engineering students. Senior Sheila Shideh and spring graduate J.W. Mattina received student leadership awards; both have been club members for four years and have held three officer positions.

Mattina says, "In the last few years, each officer team has strived to improve the club. We have increased our community involvement, achieved our goals in terms of site visits and field trips, and we have had some of the best meeting attendance. This strong base has allowed the officers to add activities and make some improvement in order to earn the Ridgway Award."

Cal Poly's ASCE chapter also received a letter of recognition for community service. Chapter service activities include "Building Big," an outreach program for local middle and high schools, and the popular annual Popsicle Stick Bridge Contest, which allows local students to compete at Cal Poly's Open House.

In addition to the student awards, faculty advisor Gregg Fiegel was recognized as Outstanding Faculty Advisor in ASCE Region 9. President of SCE, Landon Kern, says Fiegel supports the students in everything they do, offering suggestions and encouragement for all events. "He makes sure things get done the right way," Kern says.

Recently, Cal Poly's ASCE chapter attended the Pacific Southwest Regional Conference in Hawaii. They won first overall in the competition, competing against 16 other universities in 12 events.

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