Each year, the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering recognizes its hard-working students for their achievements in the classroom and their contributions within the school.
Read on for more about this year’s outstanding civil and environmental engineering students:
Buck Stith Outstanding Junior Award in Civil and Environmental Engineering
The Buck Stith Outstanding Junior Award recognizes juniors in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering who have demonstrated both strong academic potential and a concern for the development of the School and the profession.
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Ronald Knezevich
- Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Major: Civil Engineering
Career Aspirations: “I am currently in the BS/MS program at Georgia Tech and will be pursuing a master’s degree in Transportation Systems Engineering beginning in January 2021. I plan on continuing my research throughout this degree and working for transportation agencies or civil engineering consulting firms after I graduate. I look forward to using my experience in transportation systems to continue a meaningful path.”
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Kristine Ferguson
- Hometown: Alpharetta, GA
- Major: Environmental Engineering
Why she chose Georgia Tech: “My older brother is an alumnus and after hearing about its rigorous but rewarding academic program and amazing organizations like Outdoor Recreation Georgia Tech, I had to apply. I was denied entry my freshman year, but my sophomore transfer was accepted, and I quickly regained my momentum. I’ve had a helluva time becoming a helluva’n engineer, and as I approach graduation, I feel extra grateful for the lessons GT has taught me.”
Buck Stith Outstanding Senior Award in Civil and Environmental Engineering
This endowed award recognizes the top graduating senior in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering who has demonstrated both strong academic performance and contributed to the development of the School and the profession.
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Casey Erb
- Hometown: Alpharetta, GA
- Major: Environmental Engineering
Career plans: “After graduation, I’ll be working as a Field Engineer for the Solar Design and Construction team at Mortenson Construction. I am ecstatic to have the opportunity to travel the U.S. and work on the largest utility-scale solar farms in the country. I see this position as placing me on the front lines of expanding our renewable energy infrastructure, and I am confident that I will be able to make a positive difference in my role. I came to Georgia Tech with the goal of working in the renewable energy industry, and I think that my education has qualified me for this role. “
School Chair’s Outstanding Senior Award in Civil Engineering
This award recognizes a senior civil engineering student who exhibits high academic performance, strong citizenship qualities, and leadership with a special emphasis on community service.
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Ben Weishaar
- Hometown: Clarksburg, MD
- Degree program: BS CE
Why he chose Georgia Tech: “I was very involved with environmental programs in high school and wanted to be able to solve problems that impact the environment. I felt that civil engineering would positively impact society. Tech appealed to me because of its unique combination of academics and culture. It has the best civil engineering program on the east coast, is located in a warm city and has ACC Athletics. I wanted a place I could develop my skills as an engineer, network and build connections with my peers, and still have an enjoyable college experience.”
School Chair’s Outstanding Senior Award in Environmental Engineering
This award recognizes a senior environmental engineering student who exhibits high academic performance, strong citizenship qualities, and leadership with a special emphasis on community service.
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Sarah Lowry
- Hometown: Dacula, GA
- Major: Environmental Engineering
Post-graduation plans: I plan on pursuing a PhD in Environmental Engineering with a focus in water, sanitation, and hygiene. I’ve spent the last four semesters researching in Dr. Joe Brown’s lab, and I absolutely love the work I’ve been a part of. My research has primarily focused on pathogen detection in drinking and recreational water via droplet digital PCR. I am also interested in quantitative microbial risk assessment and its applications in water and sanitation. I’m hoping to continue this work in graduate school
CoE Honors Day Awards
These awards are given annually to engineering students with the best academic records at the end of the third year of undergraduate study. Each major within the College of Engineering selects one winner for this award.
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Adair Garret
- Hometown: Atlanta, GA
- Major: Civil Engineering
Career goals: “I’m currently excited about a transportation engineering internship that I have this summer. My career goals include working for the city of Atlanta to make it a more walkable, livable city. Throughout my career, I want to work to make every part of Atlanta feel accessible to everyone and for public transportation to replace traffic as a symbol of Atlanta.”
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Matthew Falcone
- Hometown: Florham Park, NJ
- Major: Environmental Engineering
Why he chose Georgia Tech: “I decided to pursue my degree in environmental engineering because of my interest in climate resiliency and sustainable development. The field presents a number of growing challenges on how to best adapt to a changing climate while also working to optimally manage natural capital. I chose Georgia Tech because I knew it would provide me the opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation and research.”