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 2021 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
Nihar Shah, President
Stephanie Hautzinger, Vice President
Jeremy Kirk, Treasurer
John Viise, Secretary
Derek Boeldt, SEAOI President-Elect
Eamonn Connelly
Andrew Keaschall
Jonathan Lewis
Chelsea Zdawczyk
Mehdi Modares
Stephanie Crain
SEF Research Grant
Congratulation to Michael R. Murphy, the recipient of this year's SEF Research Grant and a one-time, fixed sum of $2500 to fund his research for the 2020-2021 academic year. Michael is a Ph.D. student at the University at Buffalo (SUNY) in the department of Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering. Michael recently started his studies as Ph.D. student in the Fall of 2020, and is excited to produce research that will help shape the future of the structural engineering profession.
Michael studies wind engineering, a growing field within the structural engineering profession that focuses on the study of tall buildings and long span bridges and their response to wind loads, modeling of catastrophic events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and gales, and the probabilistic analysis of these events using principles of machine learning and data science. Right now, Michael is working on a project related to the Real Time Aerodynamic Hybrid Simulation (RTAHS) of a long span bridge deck. Results from this project will determine how this new type of long span bridge modeling will be valuable to structural engineers in the future.
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 2019-2020 academic year.
- Graduate engineering scholarship, intended for students who will be entering or continuing a graduate program during the 2019-2020 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, awarded to an outstanding engineering student of Hispanic descent
- The Fred Haas Scholarship, named for Fred Haas, awarded to an outstanding graduate student who demonstrates interest in structural steel design and construction (launched 2020)
- NEW FOR 2021-2022! 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.)
Apply here for the 2021-2022 SEF Scholarships. For all categories, applicants must be currently enrolled in good standing in a civil engineering program or architectural engineering program at a recognized university in the United States and plan to continue with a structural engineering specialization. You can find complete eligibility information here.
2021 Scholarship Sponsor
Special Thanks to
for their sponsorship of the
SEF Diversity Scholarship for 2021
SEF is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2020-2021 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 Peter J. Householter, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
The Graduate Scholarship is awarded to Edvard Brunn, Princeton University.
The Max Zar Scholarship (open to students attending Illinois universities) is awarded to Michael Desch, Illinois Institute of Technology.
The Rubinos and Mesia Scholarship (open to students of Hispanic descent) is awarded to Jaime Danies, Columbia University.
Fred Haas Scholarship (open to students that demonstrate an interest in Structural Steel Design and Construction) is awarded to Sean Buchner, University at Buffalo
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, Secretary
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
Derek Boeldt (SEAOI President-Elect)
Position: Deputy Chief Engineer, Infrastructure, Chicago Transit Authority
Education: Michigan Technological University, B.S., Civil Engineering
Licensure: SE, Illinois; PE, Illinois
Societies: SEAOI, ASCE, AISC, AREMA
Andrew J. Keaschall
Position: Vice President: Structural Group Manager, Alfred Benesch and Company
Education: University of Illinois, B.S. Civil Engineering, M.S. Civil Engineering
Licensure: S.E., Illinois; P.E., Illinois, IA, NE, IN
Societies: SEAOI, ASCE, SEI, PTI, 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
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
