The Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineering met and welcomed 15 new members to their ranks during a ceremony at the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center on Friday, April 14.

The annual meeting of the 42-year-old group also provides an opportunity for civil engineering students to network with potential employers and gain insight from experienced professionals in the field.

Inductees

• Daniel J. Barnes — president, Fayetteville Office, McClelland Consulting Engineers Inc.; B.S.C.E.'02
• Steven R. Beam, Jr. — director/branch office manager, Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company Inc.; B.S.C.E.'02, M.S.C.E.'03, M.B.A.'10
• Jamey M. Bertram — vice president of international projects, Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company Inc.; B.S.C.E.'97
• Andy Brewer — technical leader-transportation, Olsson; B.S.C.E.'02, M.S.C.E.'04
• Mark D. Brightwell — retired; B.S.C.E.'84
• Jason Dupree — director of maintenance, Atlanta District, Texas Department of Transportation; B.S.C.E.'98, M.S.C.E.'00
• Thomas Gregory Fisher — alternative delivery program manager, Arkansas Department of Transportation; B.A. journalism '97, B.S.C.E.'02
• Cathy Funkhouser — hydraulic engineer technical specialist, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; B.S. biology 1994, B.S.C.E.'00
• William M. "Butch" Green — district pavements engineer, Military & Heavy Pavements Subject Matter Expert, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; B.S.C.E.'85
• Andrea Jobe — staff engineer, city of Bentonville, Arkansas; B.S.C.E.'99, M.B.A.'14
• Brian S. Maurer — vice president, director of public works & team leader, Halff Associates Inc.; B.S.C.E.'95
• Ellen Norvell — city engineer, city of Bentonville, Arkansas; B.S.C.E.'85
• Steven W. Peyton — assistant division head–bridge design, Arkansas Department of Transportation; B.S.C.E.'00, M.S.C.E.'06
• Mike Stengel — office executive/vice president, Michael Baker International Inc.; B.S.C.E.'95
• Michael J. Tarini — project civil engineer, Cromwell Architects/Engineers; B.S.C.E.'95, M.S.C.E.'97

Academic Achievements

The Arkansas Academy also honored three civil engineering undergraduate students for their academic achievements.

• Timothy Nunez — E. Walt Lefevre Outstanding Senior
• Samuel Kolar — Outstanding Junior
• Lauren Johnson — Outstanding Sophomore

The AACE is a hands-on supporter of civil engineering students at the U of A. Members will take on the roles of mentor to our students. They also host annual events such as "Evening with The Pros," during which students will hear first-hand from professionals in the industry and garner career networking contacts. This past academic year, 68 civil engineering students were awarded scholarships thanks to the Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineering. During this year's annual business meeting weekend, the membership of the AACE pledged almost $65,000 in scholarship funds. If you are interested in contributing to the success of our future civil engineers, please visit our online giving page.

New members in the Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineering are selected annually. Candidates are nominated by sitting academy members and must be granted a degree in civil engineering from the U of A or from an ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) accredited engineering program at least 20 years prior to election. Career accomplishments and professional activities are key factors for the voting membership to consider when electing new members. To learn more about the Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineering please visit their website.

About the Department of Civil Engineering: The Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Arkansas was established in 1897 when the College of Engineering made clear the separation of civil and mechanical engineering degrees. The department maintains an accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and ranks in the top 10 percent of civil engineering schools nationwide according to Best Engineering News. The department earned more than $7 million in research awards for the fiscal year 2022, while our graduates earn a starting salary averaging $68,000. To learn more about the Department of Civil Engineering, please visit our website.