USU Civil Engineering Student Wins Prestigious National Scholarship
Civil engineering student Seth Thompson was one of 18 people nationwide to receive a major scholarship from the American Society of Civil Engineers.
A senior in USU’s Civil and Environmental Engineering department is one of 18 people nationwide to receive a major scholarship from the American Society of Civil Engineers, known as ASCE.
Seth Thompson received the Samuel Fletcher Tapman ASCE Student Chapter Scholarship valued at $2,300. He was the only student from Utah to receive the award. Other recipients represent Purdue University, MIT, Virginia Tech, Embry-Riddle and other prestigious schools.
“It’s a very competitive scholarship, and we haven’t had many students from USU win because it’s a national-level award,” said USU’s Laurie McNeill, a professor of civil and environmental engineering. “We’re proud of Seth for being selected for this prestigious scholarship.”
Thompson, a Payson, Utah native, serves as USU’s ASCE student chapter president. He says student involvement has been key to his success as an undergraduate.
“I wouldn’t have received the award if it weren’t for my involvement in extracurricular activities,” he said.
Thompson was named the 2018 Outstanding Senior for his department. He also works at the Utah Water Research Lab where he’s performing cutting-edge research in water resources engineering. Under the direction of Professor Blake Tullis, Thompson is studying the performance of weirs and spillways — structures that are critical to the safe and efficient operation of dams and reservoirs.
He says he plans to continue working at the Water Lab to earn a master's degree in civil engineering and is planning a career in water resources engineering.
“I want to work on projects related to water and flood control,” he added. “I’m choosing that career to ensure people have the water needed to live comfortably and to ensure they are protected from flooding.”
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