Awards and Honors

Latest awards news

• ESSIE student receives Ronald G. Burg Leadership FellowshipOctober 13, 2026
  University of Florida civil engineering graduate student Noah Breder has received the prestigious 2026–27 Ronald G. Burg Leadership Fellowship, awarded by the American Concrete Institute, known as ACI.
• ESSIE’s Altieri named Hearne Rising Star ProfessorAugust 25, 2026
  Andrew Altieri has been named the Scott and Lindy Hearne Rising Star Professor in ESSIE. 
• ‘An opportunity to honor’: How a lifelong friendship sealed an ESSIE endowed professorshipAugust 21, 2026
  The Robert Thieke Endowed Professorship was established in 2025 to honor Thieke upon his retirement after 35 years at UF.
• A career highlight: ESSIE’s Ferraro receives award named for his heroApril 20, 2026
  In what he describes as a major highlight of his career, Christopher Ferraro, Ph.D., has been awarded the 2025 Jean-Claude Roumain Innovation in Concrete Award by the American Concrete Institute (ACI).  
• ESSIE’s Behdad honored for doctoral dissertation advisingApril 20, 2026
  The Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering awarded Sara Behdad, Ph.D., the Doctoral Dissertation Advisor/Mentoring Award for the 2025–26 academic year.  

UF Distinguished Alumnus Award recipients

• Robert (Bob) O. Powell (2004):  Received UF College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award. Powell Brothers Barge Terminal, Inc.
• Dr. R. Bruce Taylor (2000):  Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Taylor Engineering, Inc. Received UF College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award.
• John W. Vogt (1989):  Received UF College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award.
• Dr. Paul Zung-Teh Zia (1983):  Received UF College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award , Retired from NC State Dept. of Civil Engineering & formerly of Becton Dickinson.
• Dr. Michael Durham (2013): An environmental engineer with both master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Florida, Durham is a serial entrepreneur as well as a recognized leader in energy and environmental policy. He has been involved in the measurement and control of emissions from the coal-fired power industry for over 40 years. He currently invests his time and resources empowering the next generation of engineers to continue exploring innovative sustainable solutions.
• Charles (Chick) W. Gregg (1999):  Received UF College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award. President & CEO, Greater Construction Corp. & Retired Ex. Vice President & CEO of Reynolds, Smith & Hills.
• George Kirkland (2014): – Created the George Kirkland Professorship in Engineering Leadership. It was the first endowed faculty position with a component dedicated to leadership education at the college.
• Arthur W. Saarinen (2001) (deceased):  After retiring professionally and returning to Alachua County, he was invited to teach in the UF Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences. He also served for 8 years on the Alachua County Planning and Zoning Commission and the board of the Alachua Conservation Trust.
  
• Ernest Hendricks (1972) (deceased): Received UF College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award
• James F. Shivler, Jr. (1972) (deceased): Received UF College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award
• Leon B. Thrasher (1981) (deceased): Received UF College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award