Students

UCF’s student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) competed alongside other aspiring engineers to solve complex civil engineering challenges at the ASCE National Championships in West Virginia. Led by Jacob Quiones, chapter president, and chapter member Gabbi Doherty, they took exceptional results back home to the CECS Knights. This year marks the…

One of the most persistent safety gaps in driving safety is blindspots – the hidden pedestrians or objects obscured by large trucks or buildings – that can lead to major accidents. But for autonomous vehicles equipped with state-of-the-art technology, blindspots could become a problem of the past. UCF researchers have created an award-winning AI-based modeling…

Growing up in Nepal, Krishna Pratap Sah learned firsthand the importance of water resource management as he watched monsoon floods affect the daily life of local communities. Now, as a UCF graduate research assistant for the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering, he’s been awarded the 2026 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)/Environmental and…

A deep appreciation for nature’s beauty has inspired an environmental engineering doctoral student to devote her work toward a more sustainable future. Her passion, perseverance and innovative research were recently recognized by a leading environmental group. Doctoral student Nimna Madurangi Manage ’25MS has won the Jaqueline Shields Memorial scholarship from the Air & Waste Management…

A civil engineering doctoral student working to develop sustainable landfill solutions was awarded for her environmental stewardship at this year’s Waste Management (WM) Symposium. Martha Santos was one of 87 students nationwide who received the Roy G. Post Foundation Scholarship. Geared toward future professionals working toward a career in the radioactive waste management and nuclear…

UCF civil engineering students sailed to the top of the Concrete Canoe Competition at this year’s American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Southeast Student Symposium. UCF’s ASCE student chapter clinched first place, defeating a field of 13 teams that included Georgia Tech and the University of Florida, which has placed first for 13 of the past…

The University of Central Florida student chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) hosted the 2026 Student Leadership Summit (SLS) on the UCF main campus for the first time in the history of the student organization. Earlier this month, students had the chance to explore numerous career prospects and meet professionals in transportation engineering.…

Pravin Maduwantha Gamage, a graduate student in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, has received the Florida Stormwater Association Educational Foundation (FSAEF) Scholarship, which recognizes students dedicated to advancing the field of stormwater management. The award was given to only four students in Florida and was presented during the Florida Stormwater Association’s winter conference,…

Civil engineering student Nafees Fuad Rafi has been awarded with the prestigious McGrath Transportation Scholarship for his doctoral research project. The esteemed scholarship has not been awarded to another University of Central Florida student since 1998. As a participant in the 2025 Institute Transportation Engineers (ITE) Annual Meeting, Rafi represented the UCF ITE Student chapter…

UCF civil engineering student Carlos Arteaga has been selected for the Department of Defense (DOD) Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service Program. Unlike a typical scholarship that only covers the cost of tuition and fees, the SMART scholarship also provides an annual stipend, a summer internship, an experienced mentor and guaranteed employment with…