Representatives of the Dordt College Engineering Department from Clemson, S.C., accept the grand prize for the 2017 NCEES Engineering Education Award at the annual convention in Miami Beach in August.

Last summer, Dordt College Engineering Department took the $25,000 grand prize in the 2017 NCEES Engineering Education Award for its Liberia Farm Bridge project. Undergraduate civil engineering students at the college in Clemson, S.C., worked closely with professional engineers, construction management professionals, and others to design and construct a bridge near Harbel, Liberia, to connect a farm and three communities to the market and civilization.

The NCEES Engineering Education Award recognizes college engineering programs for engaging their students in collaborative projects with licensed professional engineers. It was established to promote understanding of the value of licensure and to encourage partnerships between the engineering profession and education.

For the 2018 competition, NCEES has introduced new award categories and new award amounts to encourage a broad spectrum of engineering programs to enter and compete for a prize.

The 2018 NCEES Engineering Education Award categories are:

  • International projects
  • Community enhancement projects
  • Public welfare and health services/care projects
  • Energy and sustainability projects
  • Device/design/prototype projects
  • Freshman/sophomore design projects
  • Innovation projects.

Programs entering the competition will be able to select which category best fits the intent and spirit of their project. In addition to launching new award categories, NCEES is introducing new award amounts and an increased number of possible winners.

Eight cash awards — the $25,000 grand prize and seven $10,000 awards — will be presented and can be used at the discretion of the winning engineering departments/colleges. NCEES encourages the winners to use the funds for the advancement of projects connecting professional practice and education.

All EAC/ABET-accredited programs from all engineering disciplines are eligible to participate. Projects must be in progress or completed by March 12, 2018. All projects must be received electronically by May 1, 2018.

Visit the NCEES Engineering Education Award page for complete information.