ASCE 2022 Thompson Award Winners
The Thompson Award is the superlative for each of the Virginia Section Schools. This is for the most outstanding ASCE student graduate from each of the four Virginia Section schools as selected by the school, including Virginia Tech, Virginia Military Institute, Old Dominion University, and University of Virginia. In 2023, Liberty University will be recognized for the first time. They established their student chapter on July 10, 2022. Below are each of the 2022 Thompson Award winners:
Virginia Tech – Narwas Zalzala
Narwas Zalzala represents an ideal aspiring engineer, one who is equally academically strong and also engaged within her professional community. She is currently a junior, and she has been an active member of the Virginia Tech Chapter of ASCE especially with the VT Concrete Canoe team for the past three years. She participated in both the regional and national Concrete Canoe Competitions in 2021, and she is currently one of the co-captains helping lead the Concrete Canoe team to the regional 2022 competition. She is also active with other departmental and university organizations including the VT Student Engineer’s Council, the Sustainable Land Development Club, and the VT Union where she is a rising officer. Her current plan is to become a practicing civil engineering likely working in the area of land development. When further considering her genuine and affable disposition, she is surely deserving of the Thompson Award because she characterizes engineering professionalism and excellence.
Virginia Military Institute – Cadet Samuel Moody
Samuel Moody has participated in all aspects of the VMI student chapter for the past two academic years. His leadership has helped return the chapter to in person events post pandemic including field trips, guest speakers, and weekly meetings. He has also helped plan and execute the student conference hosted by VMI this year. In addition, he has been a key member on the steel bridge team. His calm demeanor, can do attitude, and strong work ethic have made him an asset to the VMI ASCE student chapter. He was the ASCE Student Chapter President for the 2021-2022 school year at the Virginia Military Institute.
Old Dominion University – Jack Kidd
Jack Kidd has always been very deeply involved in ASCE Student Chapter and attended nearly all meetings. He has risen through the officer positions serving as Treasurer in 2019-2020, Vice-President in 2021, and President in 2022. He is also project manager for the chapter’s steel bridge team that will be competing here tomorrow. He has attended the national Workshop for Student Chapter Leaders and his faculty advisor has described him as always ready to lend a hand and always responsive to requests for assistance from the department.
University of Virginia – Gabrielle Jennings
Gabrielle (Gabi) Jennings is a member of the University of Virginia Civil Engineering Class of 2022. Gabi is a very active member of the UVA ASCE Student Chapter. She first served in a leadership position as Secretary, followed by Chapter President. Gabi is also very active in the greater University Community and leads a team of students in a Senior Capstone Design Project. On a personal level Gabi is kind, humble and always available to her classmates to help in any way asked. She is a natural leader, engaging, and inclusive. She has made a difference to all those she has touched here at the University of Virginia and will no doubt continue to do so in her career.