SIU student engineering team heads for finals after top place finish in regional contest

    Audrey Thompson
    • May 13, 2025
    Members of the SIU civil engineering team are, from left, Andy Ochiabutor, team captain Connor Walsh, Henrique Pacheco Januario and Peter Kallas. The team won first place in a regional surveying competition and will compete in the finals.  (Photo provided)

    A student civil engineering team from Southern Illinois University Carbondale won first place at a recent competition and will head for the finals in June.

    SIU’s team received the top ranking overall in the American Society of Civil Engineers/Utility Engineering & Surveying Institute (ASCE/UESI) Surveying Competition during the Mid-America ASCE Student Symposium, April 3-5, co-hosted by the University of Nebraska, Lincoln and the University of Nebraska, Omaha. Seventeen universities across Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota participated .

    Along with the surveying competition, the SIU team also took part in steel bridge, concrete canoe and concrete cornhole events. The four-member team is advised by Sean C. Henry, adjunct faculty member, School of Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering.

    “This is the first time our students participated in surveying and placed first, which is commendable,” said Prabir Kolay, professor and director of the school. “We are very proud of our student team and mentor. “

    The team next will participate in ASCE finals June 27-29 at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

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