Awards | South Carolina Section

LeTellier Cup - for Outstanding Lifetime contribution to the profession of Civil Engineering

Charles O. Skipper, PhD, PE, PMP The Citadel School of Engineering Charleston, SC (Eastern Branch)

This year’s recipient has been an active member of ASCE for almost 60 years. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree (1971, The Citadel where he was President of the Student Chapter his last year) and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering (1972, USC). He was an active-duty Officer in the US Marine Corps (primarily as a Combat Engineer Officer) for the next 28 years and served in both OPERATION DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM (commanding the ~1260-member strong 8^th Engineer Support Battalion. During his career he published a number of peer-reviewed Engineering documents and received numerous awards, including the Bronze Star.

After retiring from the Military, he served as the Resident Maintenance Engineer for the Charleston County SCDOT (with responsibilities for over 3000 lane miles and 200+ staff). Next, he decided to earn his PhD in 2004, with his dissertation focusing on how to improve leadership in engineering and construction industries. After serving in a number of leadership positions, in 2009, he started teaching at The Citadel and MUSC, standing up The Citadel’s several Master’s in Engineering Programs (CE, ME, EE and Project Management). During all that time, he remained active in ASCE, especially the Eastern Branch, culminating with serving as Branch President in 2023-24.

SC Civil Engineer of the Year - Engineer that has demonstrated the most outstanding contribution to the profession in South Carolina.

Not Awarded

Government Civil Engineer of the Year Award - Outstanding Civil Engineer working for a Federal, State, or Local government service in the state.

Not Awarded

SC Young Civil Engineer of the Year – a member under the age of 35 who has demonstrated the most outstanding contribution to the profession of Civil Engineering in South Carolina in the past fiscal year

Katie Johnson, EIT, - Civil Design Engineer III -Thomas & Hutton (Midlands Branch)

For her outstanding contribution to the profession of Civil Engineering in South Carolina as the Midlands Younger Member Chair for last two years, managed the Branch LinkedIn page and secured speakers. She also developed a comprehensive Thomas & Hutton Civil Columbia Internship Program, while also pioneering innovative drainage system designs to address extreme weather events in the region.

Lisa Umutoni, EIT, Clemson University (Upstate Branch).

For her outstanding contribution to the profession of Civil Engineering in South Carolina as a graduate research assistant, Department of Agriculture Sciences, Clemson University, where she develops and applies irrigation modeling and decision-making tools. She primarily works with under-represented farmers (non-white, female, low-income) to help them succeed during changing climate patterns in South Carolina. She is an alumnus of the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education (Netherlands), and previously completed volunteer work in Africa to assist countries experiencing drought and water stress.

Section Leadership Award – Member of the ASCE South Carolina Section or Local Branch that has demonstrated outstanding leadership and/or service during the past fiscal year.

Chris Mack, PE, Associate Vice President, Johnson Mirmiran & Thompson, Inc. (JMT) (Eastern Branch).

For demonstrating outstanding leadership in support of the Eastern Branch, including re-energizing the Branch meetings, membership, and activities, and focusing on providing meaningful benefit for Section membership

Section Educators of the Year - Educator within the South Carolina Section Boundaries who has demonstrated excellence at developing the next generation of Civil Engineering Students.

Nicole Berge

Dr. Nicole Berge, PE University of South Carolina (Midlands Branch).

Dr. Dan Nale, The Citadel (Eastern Branch)

Technical Merit Award – Recognition for an outstanding project [does not need to have been completed in the year] or technical innovation toward the profession of Civil Engineering.

No technical project was awarded this year

Project of the Year - The most outstanding civil engineering project completed within the state of South Carolina in the past fiscal year.

Bamberg Storm Damage

On January 9, 2024, an EF-2 tornado (125 mph winds) struck Bamberg’s historic Downtown, severely damaging/destroying much of their downtown area. Johnson Laschobert & Associates PC (JLA) had a team on site early the next day and was contracted by Bamberg County to provide structural engineering evaluation services and recommendations as part of the response effort. They addressed initial evaluations, identifying structures that posed an immediate threat, what could be salvaged, stabilizing debris piles and steps to open the Main Highway. JLA needed to work with various legal teams, multiple owners (private and public) and develop a recovery plan. This plan is now being implemented.

President's Award – Person, group, or firm that has demonstrated significant contributions to the ASCE South Carolina Section by the ASCE SC Section President.

Grant Hollis, PE (Upstate Branch).

For his outstanding role as Treasurer of the Section, tenacity for getting our finances in improved shape (transferring moneys to higher earning CDs, tracking expenses, etc.).

Past Award Recipients