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
-
- Webinar
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. -
- Webinar
CMMC Pause: Compliance and Contract Risk Continue
The recent pause in CMMC Phase II delays the expansion of mandatory third-party assessments, but it does not eliminate applicable CMMC or underlying cybersecurity obligations, Phase I self-assessment requirements remain in force. -
- Webinar
Meeting the Growing Needs for Energy Supply & Energy Security
This webinar will provide a review of the electricity energy supply industry both globally and domestically. In the domestic analysis, the expert presenter will provide a detailed review of the evolution of the electricity energy supply and an analysis of recent trends at different time scales. -
- Webinar
Lessons Learned from Post-9/11 World Trade Center and Lower Manhattan Transportation Planning and Design
The events of 9/11 devastated critical Lower Manhattan transportation systems. In the early planning and rebuilding of the World Trade Center site, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s in-house planning and architectural leadership established a master plan framework which considered its impact far into the future.
Related TME Articles – College Outreach
-
Integrating Backup Generators as a Virtual Power Plant
Instead of building new power plants to strengthen mission assurance and energy security, many military installations may be positioned to uniquely leverage existing assets they have in surplus like standby generators in a new way. -
Leaning Into AI for Energy Systems Control
The integration of artificial intelligence is emerging as a powerful tool to help military installations manage their increasingly complex and more distributed energy systems. -
Addressing Knowledge Gaps on Advanced Lighting Controls
A recently developed training course on understanding advanced lighting controls for defense buildings aims to address knowledge gaps and deliver energy savings. -
Powering Resilience Across the U.S. Army
As electrical demands and threats to the grid from extreme weather and man-made events continue to grow, Prime Power operators with the 249th Engineer Battalion provide essential capability to respond to emergencies and strengthen national resilience.
