The Structural Engineers Foundation is an independent, non-profit charitable organization dedicated to one goal: the advancement of structural engineering. To attain this goal, and thus prepare for tomorrow's horizons, the SEF has committed itself to sponsoring and funding scholarships, lectures, awards, publications and research - all aimed at improving structural engineers and structural engineering.

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                            Thanks to our 2023 Corporate Partners

 

Donate to SEF

You can help SEF with their mission by donating through SEAOI. Visit the SEF Donation page to make your donation today.            

SEF Board of Directors

Stephanie Crain

 

SEF Research Grant

Congratulations to ​Keith Kowalkowski, the recipient of this year's SEF Research Grant. Keith Kowalkowski, PhD, PE, SE completed his BSCE at Michigan State University in 2002 and his PhD in structural engineering from Purdue University in 2005. He worked for Ruby and Associates, Inc., as a structural engineer until 2010, when he joined Lawrence Technological University as a full-time faculty member. He is currently a tenured faculty member, an Assistant Chair and the Director of the Master of Science in Architectural Engineering and other Graduate Programs. His prior research includes composite material testing, flammability, smoke and toxicity testing, and several applications in steel member and connection design.

An ongoing experimental research project is used to evaluate the bolt bearing and tearout limit states within the AISC 360-16 Specification for Structural Steel Buildings. Extensive research has been completed that evaluated the limit states within concentric and eccentric connections. However, for concentric tests, testing was limited to a single bolt. The current research evaluates the conclusions from the previous research but with bolt configurations of either 4 bolts or 6 bolts. Ten (10) experimental test specimens were fabricated and will be subjected to concentric load tests. Bolts are 5/8 in. diameter and parameters include bolt grade, plate thickness, plate grade and edge distance. This study also evaluates the user note in AISC 360-16, Section J3.6, that implies that the summative capacity of a bolt group is equal to the individual capacities at a bolt hole, which considers the individual limit states of bolt shear, bearing and tearout. 

SEF Scholarship Awards

The Foundation strongly believes that the future of structural engineering depends on today's students. Without them and their vision, there literally is no future for our profession. The Structural Engineers Foundation is privileged to provide merit-based tuition scholarships to encourage undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in structural engineering programs. 

Six scholarship categories are available:

  • Undergraduate engineering scholarship, for students who will be entering the third or above year of an undergraduate program during the 2021-2022 academic year.
  • Graduate engineering scholarship, intended for students who will be entering or continuing a graduate program during the 2021-2022 academic year.
  • Max Zar Scholarship, awarded to an outstanding student pursuing his or her engineering studies in the State of Illinois
  • Rubinos-Mesia Scholarship, named for Teresa Mesia Rubinos and Jacinto Rubinos, is awarded to an outstanding engineering student of Hispanic descent
  • The Fred Haas Scholarship, named for Fred Haas, is awarded to an outstanding graduate student who demonstrates interest in structural steel design and construction (launched 2020)
  • SEF Diversity Scholarship (Junior standing or above as of Fall 2021. Open to students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the profession, including students who identify as female, African American/Black, Indigenous, or Hispanic/Latinx.)

 

2023 - 2024 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

March 31, 2023 deadline

SEF is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022-2023 Scholarship Awards

The Structural Engineers Foundation is privileged to provide merit-based tuition scholarships to encourage undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in structural engineering programs. Congratulations to the Scholarship Winners!

The Undergraduate Scholarship is awarded to Charlotte Guyer, Oklahoma State University.

The Graduate Scholarship is awarded to Mohammad Syed, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York.

The Max Zar Scholarship (open to students attending Illinois universities) is awarded to Jamie Griggs, Illinois Institute of Technology.

The Rubinos and Mesia Scholarship (open to students of Hispanic descent) is awarded to Luan Barbosa, Missouri University of Science And Technology.

The Fred Haas Scholarship (open to students that demonstrate an interest in Structural Steel Design and Construction) is awarded to Tyler Kleinsasser, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

The SEF Diversity Scholarship (open to students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the profession, including students who identify as female, African American/Black, Indigenous, or Hispanic/Latinx.)  is awarded to Destini James-Bryant, Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

SEF ACTIVITIES

Scholarships:

The Foundation strongly believes that the future of structural engineering depends on today's students. Without them and their vision, there literally is no future for our profession. The Structural Engineers Foundation is privileged to provide merit tuition scholarships to encourage undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in structural engineering programs. 

Sponsored Lectures

The Structural Engineers Foundation sponsors lectures in April and November designed to broaden the mind and heighten awareness of excellence in structural engineering. Foundation-sponsored lectures by prominent leaders in the field of structural engineering keep attendees informed with vital cutting-edge information.

Awards

SEF bestows awards and honors to recognize outstanding achievements. The John F. Parmer Award is presented annually by SEF and SEAOI. This award, in recognition of lifelong contributions in the field of structural engineering, is presented to an individual whose distinguished career is acknowledged by his or her peers to be an example of excellence.

Research

SEF understands the importance of research, knowing that it advances our profession by broadening its horizons and expanding our knowledge base. The Foundation offers grants to support graduate and post-graduate research projects. 

Nihar Shah, President

Position: Project Engineer, RME, Inc.

Education: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.S. Civil Engineering, M.S. Civil Engineering

Licensure: S.E., P.E., Illinois

Societies: SEAOI, ASCE

Stephanie Hautzinger, Vice President 

Position: Associate Vice President, CannonDesign

Education: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.S. Architectural Studies, M. Arch. (Structures Option)

Licensure: S.E., Illinois; Architect, Illinois; LEED AP

Societies: SEAOI, SEAOI WiSE, AIA, AISC

John Viise

Position: Managing Principal, DeSimone

Education: University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, M.S. Civil Engineering; Virginia Tech, B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Licensure: S.E., Illinois; P.E., Illinois, SCEng, MIStructE, LEED AP

Societies: SEAOI, ASCE, ACI, IStructE

Jeremy Kirk, Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

Position: Project Engineer, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLC.

Education: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, M.Eng.; Geneva College, B.S.E.

Licensure: S.E., Illinois; P.E., Illinois

Societies: SEAOI, ASCE


Jan Blok (SEAOI President-Elect)

Position: President, The Structural Group, Ltd.

Education: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.S, M.S., Structural Engineering

Licensure: SE, Illinois; PE., CT, IN, MI, MN, MS, MO, NY, OH, WI

Societies: SEAOI, SEPAC, AISC, M.ASCE, AWC, CFSEI, PCI

Scott Wojteczko

Position: Vice President: Structural Group Manager, Alfred Benesch and Company

Education: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.S. Civil Engineering; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, M.S. Civil Engineering

Licensure: S.E., Illinois; P.E., Illinois

Societies: SEAOI, ASCE, SEI, IRTBA

Chelsea Zdawczyk

Position: Senior Structural Engineer, Arup

Education: Cornell University, B.S. Civil Engineering; UCLA, M. Arch.; Princeton University, M.S. Structural Engineering

Licensure: P.E., Illinois

Societies: SEAOI, ASCE

Jonathan Lewis

Position: Principal and Unit Manager, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.

Education: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.S. Civil Engineering; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Master of Science, Structural Engineering

Licensure: S.E., Illinois

Societies: SEAOI, ASCE, AEI, IABSE, SEI

Eamonn Connolly, Secretary

Position: James McHugh Construction Co., Director of Engineering

Education: BS Civil Engineering Structures, Illinois Institute of Technology, MPhil Civil Engineering , University of Aberdeen

Licensure: SE, IL; PE , FL, IN, MN, OK, TN, TX, WI

Societies: ASCC, ASCE, ACI, PTI, SEAOI

Mehdi Modares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Position: Associate Professor and Director of Structural Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology

Education: Case Western Reserve University, Ph.D. Civil Engineering

Licensure: PhD

Society: ASCE

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