2025 ASCE Tennessee Section Award Winners
Roger W. Meier Student Chapter/Club Member Award: Robert Emerson
The Roger W. Meier Student Chapter Member Award was instituted by the TN Section of ASCE in 2000 and in 2022 was re-named to honor the legacy of it’s namesake. This year’s award is presented to a student from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and the Knoxville Branch. He has been an engaged student in the University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK) Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) Department and an active participant in the ASCE Student Chapter. He served as a member of the steel bridge team since his arrival on Rocky Top and continued to develop into a leader as he migrated through the years. This year, he recruited a team of students eager to compete rather than simply participate in the annual competition. He was an energetic character during regular general body meetings and promoted the social activities available to everyone in the ASCE club. While the steel bridge team did not earn the top performance during the Symposium, they were invited to Nationals as a wildcard team. This year’s winner motivated the team beyond the standard measure in order to take them to Iowa State’s campus and represent UTK’s CEE Department.
Garland P. Rose, Jr. Award for Outstanding Young Engineer: Evan Boulanger
The Garland P. Rose, Jr. Award for Outstanding Young Engineer has been an annual TN Section award since 1988 and in 2021was re-named to honor the legacy of it’s namesake. The winner of this years’ award was nominated by the West Tennessee Branch. He joined the West TN Branch board in 2013 and has been active in the Younger Member Group(YMG) ever since. In 2017, he became interim chair of a somewhat stagnant YMG and piloted its resurgence by pursuing social events and volunteer projects to attract and retain younger members. He has represented West Tennessee at three MRLC's, gaining insights to keep the YMG moving forward. Evan also served as West Tennessee Branch president from 2021-2022 and as Tennessee Section president from 2022-2023.Evan has represented the West Tennessee YMG well, winning the 2019 West Tennessee Branch Government Engineer Award, the 2020 Region 4 Daniel V Terrell Paper Award, and the 2022 P.E. In Government Award for the Memphis TSPE chapter. Evan also serves as a practitioner advisor for the Chirstian Brothers University Student Chapter and supports the other schools in the branch in various ways. During this past year, Evan demonstrated exceptional leadership and vision in bringing the ASCE Eastern Region Younger Member Conference (ERYMC) to Memphis. His efforts began with the creation of a dynamic and persuasive video proposal that showcased Memphis as an ideal host city and ultimately secured the bid. Once selected, Evan assembled a diverse and highly capable planning committee. Through his guidance, the team successfully managed the fundraising, planning, budgeting and scheduling of numerous events for the Memphis MRLC, ensuring a seamless and well-organized experience. The conference attracted nearly 400 attendees and concluded with an impressive surplus of sponsored funds, a testament to his effective planning and execution.
Government Engineer Award: No Award
The Govenment Engineer Award was instituted by the Tennessee Section of ASCE in 1999. The Award may be made annually to a government engineer member of the Tennessee Section of ASCE who has made definite contributions to the Society at the National, Section, and/or Branch levels.
Peter G. Hoadley Award for Outstanding Engineering Educator: Dr. Ryan Overton
The next award was instituted by the Tennessee Section of ASCE in 2004 with the designee being the first recipient. The winner of this year’s Award is from the Knoxville Branch, and is the Dean of Engineering at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN. He is a native of Speedwell, Tennessee, earned his Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Civil Engineering at the University of Tennessee—Knoxville. While at the University of Tennessee, he took an active role with the UTK ASCE Student Chapter. Although most of his experience has been in higher education, he is a licensed professional engineer in the states of Indiana and Tennessee. During his undergraduate and graduate studies, he interned and worked part-time at Vaughn & Melton Consulting Engineers in Middlesboro, Kentucky. After college, he joined Trine University in Angola, Indiana as an Assistant Professor in the Reiners Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, specializing in transportation engineering. He passionately supported the students serving as academic advisor and advocate for numerous student organizations such as American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), Chi Epsilon (civil engineering honor society), and Tau Beta Pi (engineering honor society). He progressed to Chair of the department and experienced record enrollment under his leadership. His most recent position at Trine was Dean of the Allen School of Engineering and Computing, in which he led the successful ABET accreditation for seven engineering programs. On September 1, 2021, he was named the Dean of Engineering of Lincoln Memorial University (LMU). As the founding Dean for the School of Engineering, he began establishing the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree program on the main campus in Harrogate, Tennessee. Additionally, he has guided students in forming LMU’s first ASCE Student Chapter
Outstanding Engineering Project: Covenant Park Health Project & the I-55 and Crump Blvd. Interchanges
This year’s voting for outstanding project award was a tie, so we’re happy to recognize two winners. The first winner was nominated by the Knoxville Branch. The Covenant Health Park project. The Knoxville Multi-Use Stadium Development, known as: Covenant Health Park is a transformative public-private partnership aimed at revitalizing the eastern edge of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. This state-of-the-art, multi-purpose venue is designed to serve as a dynamic hub for sports, entertainment, and community engagement, while acting as a catalyst for economic development and urban renewal in the surrounding neighborhoods. Strategically located near the Old City and adjacent to the historic Jackson Avenue Corridor, the development includes mixed-use components such as retail, residential, office, and public spaces. These additions are expected to stimulate economic activity, create jobs, and enhance the vibrancy of the area. Components of the Knoxville Multi-Use Stadium Development include: Covenant Health Park a modern, multi-purpose stadium designed to host minor league baseball (home to the Tennessee Smokies), One Knoxville FC Professional Soccer Team, concerts, festivals, and community events. Delaney Condos -a high-end residential offering positioned adjacent to the stadium. Named after local civil rights leader Delaney Hall, this building aims to attract both local professionals and downtown newcomers. Yardley Flats, a mid-rise apartment complex situated within steps of Covenant Health Park. It provides much-needed rental housing in downtown Knoxville. Improvements to Knoxville Infrastructure which include new pedestrian walkways and bike lanes, enhanced utility services, stormwater management and green space integrations that all work together to enhance infrastructure around and leading into the development. Tennessee engineering companies that were reported to have worked on the project include: Design Innovation Architects, Arcadis, IC Thomasson Associates
The second winner of this year’s Outstanding Project was nominated by the West Tennessee Branch. The I-55 / Crump Interchange was finally constructed, completed and opened to traffic in May 2025 as the first major roundabout in the Memphis area and the first roundabout interchange. According to a former Memphis mayor, the previous interchange at I-55 & Crump Blvd. was called “malfunction junction.” A former TDOT commissioner labeled it the worst interchange in the state of Tennessee. The project converted the old cloverleaf interchange into flyover bridges for mainline I-55 and changed the interchange from the cloverleafs to the roundabout with Crump Blvd, Riverside Drive and Alston Avenue. Previously, I-55 NB traffic was required to go through a double lane loop ramp to continue north on I-55 and head into Arkansas. This ramp merged with WB Crump Blvd entering on the left, causing severe backups on I-55 and was very dangerous and contributed to routine crashes and delays. There was also a weave to take WB Crump to SB I-55 through the opposite loop ramp, further contributing to the congestion and safety issues. Coming SB on I-55 from Arkansas over the Mississippi River, there was an exit/entrance with Metal Museum Drive / Alston Avenue prior to the main interchange with I-55. This exit caused massive slowdowns and confusion for motorists who just wanted to continue on SB I-55. SB I-55 continued and had a single lane right exit ramp with two lanes going to EB I-55 Crump on the left as the thru movement. As EB Crump was the “thru” movement on the left after splitting with I-55, a left turn was introduced to turn onto Riverside Drive. Traffic with local streets was merging/diverging with interstate traffic and causing major issues on both the interstate and the local roads. The new configuration removed all the local roads merging with the interstate and put them into a roundabout and allowed I-55 to continue free flow through the area. The roundabout includes 5 legs – to Crump, Riverside, Alston, I-55 NB and I-55 SB. Separating these will clear up most of the crashes and allows traffic to function and not back up, either on the interstate of the local roads. Memphians, tourists, and passers-through will all benefit from the safer, simpler traffic patterns. Tennessee engineering companies that were reported to have worked on the project include: TDOT, Parsons, OGCB, and Burns Cooley Dennis.
Daniel B. Barge, Jr. Award for Distinguished Service: Ashley Smith
Our last award is the Daniel B. Barge, Jr. Award for Distinguished Service and was instituted by the Tennessee Section of ASCE in 1988 with Daniel B. Barge, Jr. being the first recipient. It represents the highest honor that the TN Section of ASCE can bestow upon a Member. Please add Ashley Smith from the Nashville Branch to this distinguished list. Ashley holds a BS in Civil Engineering from Vanderbilt University and is registered in the states of TN and IL. She has been an active member of the ASCE Nashville Branch and Tennessee section for over 15 years, serving in a variety of positions including most recently as the Section Secretary and Branch Board Member. On the Society level she currently serves as the TN Governor for Region 4 representing the members of our state across the Region. One of her longest standing positions is as the Practitioner Advisor for Vanderbilt University, a position she’s served in since 2008. According to Vanderbilt’s Dr. Lori Troxler, “She makes an effort to get to know all the Vanderbilt ASCE student chapter officers each year. I should say she actually does get to know the officers every year, and it takes effort.” “Whether she is serving as a Branch or Section or Region officer, she is always looking out for the students. She makes sure that the schools get their financial gifts. She makes sure they register for events. She makes sure that she speaks to the students about ASCE and the value it adds to their careers.” Her work with this Student Chapter resulted in her being awarded the 2020 ASCE Richard H Nettleton Outstanding Practitioner Advisor Award for her service and dedication. As a licensed professional engineer, she has established a stellar reputation in the site design and public transportation sectors with work at various consulting firms. Her most recent position with CDM Smith is Deputy Program Manager with NDOT’s Sidewalk and Bikeways program where she manages projects across the City of Nashville responsible for consultants’ work at CDM Smith and other companies throughout the city. Ms. Smith’s dedication to service extends beyond ASCE and into the community where she’s spent time volunteering with various Civic groups including Camp Nakanawa, Girl Scout Troop 1148, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. Ms. Smith’s heart of service and dedication to ASCE in Tennessee and beyond is unwavering. A long-time volunteer, she is truly the backbone of the ASCE Nashville Branch supporting every incoming Branch President since serving in that role in 2010-2011.