The Civil Engineer of the Year award similarly focuses on contributions to the civil engineering profession, to the support of future engineers, and to the larger community. Awardee Bill MacNair, PE, has fulfilled all of these. Degrees from Drexel (BS Civil Engineering and MS Environmental Engineering) and Lehigh (MS in Civil Engineering) prepared him for his career, including decades at Air Products and Chemicals and, since 2011, at Bill MacNair Consulting LLC. A Past President of the Lehigh Valley Section of ASCE, Bill’s passion in recent years has been his work with Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Lehigh Valley Professional Chapter. He is currently serving as Team Leader for a project to design and construct new water supply for communities in the Dominican Republic, and he spoke about these projects to the audience at the banquet. Additional information about the Lehigh Valley Professional Chapter of Engineers Without Borders can be found at www.ewb-lvp.org . Congratulations, Bill, for this recognition of all your hard work!

The Young Civil Engineer of the Year award focuses on those who have distinguished themselves by outstanding achievements and contributions to the civil engineering profession, to the education and support of younger engineers and future engineers, and to the community at large. Awardee Maximilian Beedle, PE, has indeed distinguished himself in all of these. With degrees from the University of Pittsburgh (BS Civil Engineering) and Lehigh (MS Civil Engineering), Max leads the way for younger engineers. He is a stalwart of the LVASCE Board and has organized popular dinner meetings on transportation topics. His projects at Benesch include SR322 Section 103 and the Market Street Bridge project in Philadelphia, and he serves as Benesch’s Safety Chairperson. Max also finds time to volunteer at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Nazareth, My Sister’s Closet in Bethlehem, and Furry Feet Rescue in Walnutport. He is pictured here with his wife, Isabelle, and his proud parents David and Laura. Congratulations!

The Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement of the Year is awarded to a civil engineering project or academic research achievement that demonstrates superlative engineering thinking, skills, and application of engineering principles, and makes a significant contribution to civil engineering, the community, and the world. This year’s award is presented to the owner, Lehigh County, for their Historic Lehigh County Courthouse project. The Courthouse was constructed in 1817, with major additions in 1865 and 1914, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. The renovation project added courtrooms, overhauled the MEP system, and created an ADAcompliant entrance at the front façade. Accepting the award were President Judge J. Brian Johnson and Capital Projects and Facilities Director Brian Hartner, representing Lehigh County. Jim Pudleiner, PE, of Benesch served as Engineer for the project. Project Architect Lucienne Di Biase Dooley of Artefact was unable to attend but was represented by architect Christine Ussler. Jim spoke about the biggest engineering challenges of the project, including structurally reinforcing the heavy timber trusses and deteriorated roof framing, stabilizing the cupola, and meeting modern requirements of the International Building Code – all while preserving as much of the historic material as practicable.

Nominated by the faculty of King’s College, Jacob Sutton was selected as their Outstanding Senior Civil Engineering Student. Our thanks to Tabitha Sprau Coulter, PhD, CEM for preparing Jacob’s nomination, and for the guidance she provides to the Student Chapter at King’s. A leader among his peers both in and outside of the classroom, Jacob is a member of King’s baseball team, an officer of King’s ASCE Student Chapter, and an active member of the Engineering Club. He is a dedicated and focused student, displaying professionalism and producing high quality work. Jacob has already passed the FE exam and has accepted an Entry Level Structural (Bridge) Design position for Dewberry in the Mechanicsburg, PA office. Banquet attendees were keenly interested in the presentation of his Senior Design Project. Congratulations, Jacob!

The Civil Engineering faculty of Lafayette College selected Shana Peck as their Outstanding Senior Civil Engineering Student. Our thanks to Kristen Sanford, PhD, PE, for preparing the nomination. As President of the Lafayette Student Chapter of ASCE, Shana has continued traditions like bonfires and seismic gingerbread house testing, and has established Civil Engineering Day, a community-building event held each semester. She launched a Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) study program, where upperclassmen who have passed the exam assist other students through key topics and practice questions – and she has recently passed the exam herself. Beyond ASCE, she participated in the steel bridge team and serves as an engineering tour guide. She also is a director for the Lafayette Extended Orientation program and volunteers as a club coordinator, encouraging Easton Area Middle School students to consider higher education. Shana will be joining WSP in Pittsburgh’s highway division, designing pedestrian trails. Congratulations, Shana!

The Civil Engineering faculty of Lehigh University selected Jack Lambert as their Outstanding Senior Civil Engineering Student. Our thanks to Spencer Quiel, PhD, PE, F.SEI, for preparing the nomination. Jack has been a driving force behind Lehigh’s ASCE student chapter, having served as President for the past 2 years. In this role he has served as the lead student organizer for the Oct. 2024 Lehigh-Lafayette ASCE Career Fair on Lehigh's campus; organized ASCE-led study and tutoring sessions for foundational, sophomore-level CE courses (Statics, Strength of Materials); served as the lead student organizer for the 2023 and 2024 LeLaf Week Crushing Events; organized numerous info sessions, campus visits, and presentations by industry representatives and prospective employers; and increased membership and visibility of the Lehigh ASCE Student Chapter via social media and outreach. Jack’s presentation during the banquet highlighted the many activities of the Lehigh Student Chapter. Congratulations, Jack!