Civil Engineering Student and Professor Honored by ASCE

Luis A. Garcia, photo left, who graduated in June with an associate degree in civil engineering technology, was recipient of the 2007 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Metropolitan Section Scholarship for $3,000, the highest amount the section awards, at the Met Section’s Annual Dinner Dance & Awards Ceremony on June 15 at Tavern on the Green. Luis was also named recipient of this year’s Michael N. Salgo Service Award. The award is given annually to a student who provides outstanding service to the ASCE Met Section.

Civil Engineering Student and Professor Honored by ASCE

“Luis’s service to both City Tech and ASCE has been truly exceptional,” said Professor Gerarda Shields, photo right. “He served as City Tech ASCE Club president for the 2006/2007 academic year. In addition to his duties as president, he also co-organized the regional ASCE Metro Student Conference and City Tech’s role as host to nine participating colleges and universities from throughout the New York/New Jersey area. Moreover, he served as captain of the City Tech 2007 Steel Bridge Competition team that placed second in the regional competition and went on to the national finals at the University of California at Northridge.”

Shields added that Garcia will be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and was recently hired by the Hunter Roberts Construction Group as an assistant project manager. “We are very grateful for the extraordinary effort Luis put forward on behalf of the College and its relationship with ASCE, and fully expect him to further distinguish himself in his future studies and career.”

Professor Shields was also honored at the June 15 awards ceremony. A recently licensed Professional Engineer and former recipient of an ASCE ExCEEd fellowship for teaching, she was honored with the society’s 2007 Young Government Civil Engineer of the Year Award, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the profession.

She has long been active in ASCE Met Section activities and serves as student outreach coordinator. In this role, Professor Shields visits local universities and high schools to promote civil engineering as a profession. For the past four years, she has been a speaker at the Manhattan College (her alma mater) Summer Program for Women and Minorities in Engineering. She is also an ASCE Met Section Scholarship Committee member and was co-chair of the section’s 2007 Dinner Dance Committee.