Student Awards
ASCE William J. Thomas Award Winners
The Thompson Award is selected from the most outstanding ASCE student graduates from each of the six Virginia Section schools.
Each award winner is chosen by their school which includes Virginia Tech (VT), Virginia Military Institute (VMI), Old Dominion University (ODU), Liberty University (LU), University of Virginia (UVA), and the most recent chapter, James Madison University (JMU).
Congratulations to the 2024 William J. Thomas Winners
Leon Crawford
University of Virginia
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Leon Crawford is a senior Civil Engineering student at the University of Virginia, specializing in Structural Engineering. He has held several leadership roles in the UVA ASCE Student Chapter, including President for the 2023-2024 academic year. Leon also leads a team in a Senior Capstone Design Project focused on designing and constructing a concrete canoe, which he revived and led to a second-place finish at the Spring 2023 Virginia Section Meeting.
Leon has earned Intermediate Honors and made the Dean’s List every semester at UVA. He will graduate with “highest distinction” for maintaining a GPA of 3.8 or higher. Known for his kindness and humility, Leon is a natural leader who actively supports his classmates and fosters inclusivity. His impact at UVA has been significant, and he will continue to make a difference in his career.
Ricky Wohlrab
Virginia Tech
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Ricky Wohlrab, a senior graduating in May 2024 with a 3.98 GPA, is from Freehold, NJ. He chose Virginia Tech for its strong engineering program and welcoming campus community. Focused on structural engineering, Ricky has been highly involved with the Virginia Tech Steel Bridge team, participating in three national competitions and currently serving as a co-captain.
He will stay at Virginia Tech for his Master’s in Structural Engineering and Materials. A professor describes Ricky as “brilliant, hard-working, affable, and a leader.”
In his free time, he enjoys running, baking, and playing intramural sports.
Connor Gallini
Old Dominion University
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Connor Gallini, a third-year civil engineering student at Old Dominion University, has been actively involved in the ODU ASCE Student Chapter since his freshman year, serving as secretary, vice-president, and president.
Known for engaging students and generating excitement about civil engineering, Connor played a key role in ODU’s first concrete canoe in five years and welded the steel bridge for the chapter. In 2024, ODU ASCE took 19 students to the ASCE Student Symposium for further involvement.
Connor is also returning for his second summer internship with the Virginia Department of Transportation, thanks to opportunities provided by ASCE.
Grace Wagner
Virginia Military Institute
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Grace Wagner is the current Vice President of the ASCE Student Chapter at VMI. She co-led the steel bridge team in 2022-2023 and has been a highly active member, contributing to the 2024 end-of-year report, planning events, managing social media, recruiting members, and organizing field trips and guest speakers.
Grace has also volunteered for middle school outreach and helped design the VMI ASCE logo.
She is involved in the Women’s Soccer Team, SWE, FCA, and SAAC, and has interned at the VMI Alumni Association and worked in public relations.
After graduating in May 2024, Grace plans to pursue an MBA at Emory and Henry University, play NCAA soccer with her sister, and eventually work in sustainable agriculture.
Robert Tee Davis
Liberty University
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Robert Tee Davis is a senior civil engineering student at Liberty University. Born in Winston-Salem, NC, he attended Calvary Day School.
He currently works as a student research assistant in pavement research and serves as treasurer for Liberty’s ASCE Student Chapter.
Robert has also contributed to the Concrete Canoe and Steel Bridge teams in concrete testing and construction. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career in geotechnical engineering, construction materials, or QA/QC.
Ryan Dehler
James Madison University
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Ryan Dehler is the inaugural winner for our newest chapter! A third-year engineering major and math minor at James Madison University, Ryan grew up in Purcellville, VA, with a fascination for how things work. He chose JMU for its project-based learning and civil engineering opportunities.
In his second year, Ryan joined the ASCE Student Chapter, bringing three peers with him. As the club’s Vice President in AY2022-2023 and President in AY2023-24, he’s played a key role in its growth and success, recruiting five new members and developing valuable skills in planning, public speaking, and management.
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Congratulations to the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) ASCE Student Chapter
Under Professor Swenty’s guidance they were selected for a 2024 Certificate of Commendation for outstanding activities in 2023. This is a distinction earned by only the top 5% of all student chapters. Well done for positively contributing to the development of the future of civil engineering.
Congratulations to JMU and VMI Teams
Ten universities participated in the KEEN Bridge Design Competition on February 6, 2024, held remotely via Zoom. Teams showcased their beam’s load-carrying capacity, using a limited amount of pink or blue Styrofoam sheets (½” x 18” x 36”) and hot glue. The goal was to maximize the center-point load with a strap and weights at each university.
Among the teams were ASCE Virginia Section Student Chapters from James Madison University (JMU) and Virginia Military Institute (VMI). JMU placed 4th, with their design holding 60 lbs, while VMI ranked 9th with a design that held 19.6 lbs. The South Dakota School of Mines won with a bridge holding 87 lbs.
