UB ASCE recognized as an Outstanding Student Chapter

ASCE team posing around a blue sign that reads UB ASCE.

By Peter Murphy

Published March 27, 2018 This content is archived.

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) awarded UB’s student chapter a Certificate of Commendation for its outstanding activities, a distinction earned by just the top 5% of all ASCE student organizations.

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“Our ASCE club is one of the largest and most active on campus. The students are dedicated, and could not be more deserving of this recognition. ”
Todd Snyder, ASCE Faculty Advisor
Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering

ASCE has student chapters in all 50 states and 21 countries worldwide. UB ASCE encourages the development of professionalism among its students. Students work in teams on large projects, throughout the year. The concrete canoe and steel bridge projects begin at the start of the fall semester, while students do not compete with these projects until April. The club helps students learn how to work together, and it promotes a spirit of congeniality among them.

UB ASCE received this honor for its activities recorded in the Chapter’s 2017 annual report. The report highlights different events and activities, including information on ASCE’s participation with Habitat for Humanity and Bridging the Gap Africa, two nonprofit organizations who work in different ways to improve the lives of people in different communities. UB ASCE also provides several opportunities for members to meet different engineering professionals in industry. This past year, ASCE met with four professionals, and held a resume critique session.

“Our ASCE club is one of the largest and most active on campus,” says Todd Snyder, the faculty advisor to ASCE, “the students are dedicated, and they could not be more deserving of this recognition.” 

While the club itself was honored, three students received individual recognition from ASCE with different awards and scholarships. Zachary Vacek, a junior and UB ASCE president, received the Paul J. Koessler Scholarship, presented on behalf of ASCE and the Peace Bridge Authority. Vacek earned this scholarship based on his academic achievement and active participation in student organizations and activities while pursuing a civil engineering degree.

Madison Gross, a junior civil engineering student and UB ASCE’s community service chair received the Julian Snyder Endowment Fund Student Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to students for academic achievement, community service and involvement in the ASCE Student Chapter and on-campus activities.

The Student of the Year award went to UB ASCE vice president, Nicholas Belmonte. Student of the Year recipients demonstrate leadership in the student chapter, have worked on a notable academic civil engineering paper or project, and are heavily involved in ASCE Buffalo section activities.

UB ASCE has at least one more activity before the spring 2018 semester ends. The club will travel to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute next month to compete in concrete canoe, steel bridge and other competitions at the ASCE Upstate New York Student Conference.