The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) student chapter at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a student-run organization that strives to enhance the educational experience of students who are interested in the field of Civil Engineering. Components of the Chapter’s mission include the provision of job site tours, professional networking opportunities, and arrangement of job/intern opportunities. To keep students engaged, bi-monthly meetings with guest speakers are set, and social events are offered.
To give back to our community, the students volunteer with local organizations and conduct hands-on workshops with kids to inspire the next generation of engineers. Each year ASCE students attend the annual ASCE Student Conference where they compete in engineering based competitions. There are typically 15-20 competitive events at the ASCE Student Conference. Competitions include the Concrete Canoe and Steel Bridge Challenges. These competitions draw on students’ knowledge of different engineering disciplines.
One example of the hands-on approach the students take to their chosen discipline was their visit to the Chickamauga Dam site in December. The lock expansion project at Chickamauga Dam, under the direction of the US Army Corps of Engineers, has been underway for a number of years. While at the site, the students witnessed a controlled blast and learned about the technology demands of working in the Tennessee River’s channel and tributaries.
The 2018 ASCE Student Conference will be held from March 1st through March 4th in Gainesville, Florida. Students, under the mentorship of UC Foundation Professor of Civil Engineering Dr. Ignatius Fomunung, are raising funds to support the competition participation of the College’s team of approximately fifteen students. Chapter President and Senior Civil Engineering major Andy Lewis is leading the effort to raise the $14,000 needed to support the team’s travel, registration, construction materials, and other essential components of this year’s participation. You can help by contributing your tax deductible gift using their UTC LAUNCH site, or by contacting the College’s Development Officer Phil Bonfiglio at Phil-Bonfiglio@utc.edu or (423) 425 5940.
The College is always looking for opportunities to connect our students with local companies and professional engineers. Your referrals of guest speakers, possible job site tours, and volunteer opportunities for the ASCE chapter are most welcome. You can contact Chapter President Andy Lewis at ppd934@mocs.utc.edu or by calling the Civil and Chemical Engineering Department at (423) 425-4020.
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