Community Mission
The College Outreach Community leads collaborative efforts between SAME and academia to identify and resolve national security infrastructure-related challenges and supports Post’s efforts to mentor and develop future STEM professionals at the collegiate-level. The community serves as a bridge between academia, Posts, government (military and civilian), and the private sector. The community provides guidance to the network of student chapters across the Society, promotes internship opportunities from SAME sustaining members, and will establish a new engineering competition for students designed to address the nation’s grand challenges.
Overview
The SAME College Outreach Community strives to organize programs and present opportunities to future military and civilian members of the A/E/C profession that will foster networking within their professional community, build leadership skills, and provide job opportunities to recent graduates. Additionally, students with an active membership within SAME have at their disposal a wealth of knowledge and experiences from professionals throughout the A/E/C community of practice.
Executive Community Structure
Vice Chairs
Danielle Hughes, Communications
Jeffrey Allen, Academia Engagement
Staff Liaison
Sarah Feighery, Program Manager
2026 SAME Undergraduate Innovation Design Challenge
Submissions for the 2025-26 SAME Undergraduate Innovation Design Challenge are due by February 6, 2026. This competition, led by the College Outreach COI, evaluates design projects that are being developed by student members as part of their degree curriculums and highlights the innovative thinking of the next generation of STEM professionals.
Learn more about the Innovation Design ChallengeUpcoming National Webinars
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How NAOC Powers and Facilitates the Next Era of Munitions Response
This webinar introduces attendees to the National Association of Ordnance Contractors (NAOC)—a nationally recognized organization representing companies engaged in all aspects of military munitions response. NAOC advocates for efficient, high quality project execution and promotes safety for both the workforce and the public, while serving as a central forum for government–industry collaboration across the munitions response community. -
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Brave New World: Bid Protests in 2026 and Beyond
Any industry insider can tell you that bid protests have become – for good or for ill – an inevitable feature of many procurements. For that reason, successful contractors know how to both successfully assert a protest challenging a competitor’s improper award, and successfully defend against baseless protests brought by their own disgruntled competitors. -
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Progressive Design Build: A New Delivery Method Now Available
Progressive Design Build – New NDAA language. This webinar will help explain the fundamental shift in federal construction delivery and clarify the meaning and application of qualifications-based selection processes for construction. Our expert presenters will address what this model means to acquisition teams and how industry evaluates and responds to these opportunities.
Related TME Articles – College Outreach
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Building Without Breaking the Mission
A complex renovation at Naval Air Station II Sigonella demonstrates how early integration, collaboration, and alternative delivery method-aligned practices can preserve mission readiness despite shifting requirements. -
Delivering Facility Design Best Practices for International Defense Partners
Successfully delivering engineering and design in support of Foreign Military Sales requires early alignment on codes, life safety, construction capabilities, and communication. -
Building for the Future: Completing the Transformation of Tyndall AFB
The recovery effort at Tyndall AFB following Hurricane Michael has served as a catalyst for innovation—where nontraditional acquisition, next-generation technologies, and integrated resilience strategies have reshaped how the military approaches installation planning and established a model for the future. -
The Indo-Pacific’s Strategic Advantage: Airmen in a Contested Theater
In the world’s largest theater, airmen with Pacific Air Forces are the difference-makers who enable Agile Combat Employment, leveraging highly trained specialists, multi-capable personnel, and integrated partnerships to overcome the tyranny of distance and advance prospects for a free and open region.
