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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- Webinar
The Hidden Cost: Why Schedule is the Biggest MILCON Premium
Military construction (MILCON) cost discussions often focus on dollars per square foot, but one of the most significant portion of the overall cost is time. Every month added to a project can increase costs through -
- Webinar
AI as Load Shock: Rethinking Energy Security and Mission Assurance
The rapid expansion of AI computing, electrification, and mission-critical digital infrastructure is fundamentally altering the energy security landscape. While AI is often discussed as a software capability or data challenge, its most immediate national security impact is physical: unprecedented, concentrated, and inflexible electrical demand that stresses grid infrastructure and traditional resilience assumptions.
Related TME Articles – College Outreach
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Missile Defense Activities in Alaska
For more than 70 years, Alaska’s geographically strategic location has served the United States as an ideal base for housing missile defense and radar sensing installations to protect the nation from missile threats. -
Designing a Submarine Testing Facility at China Lake
When planning a first of its kind land-based submarine launch test facility at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, considerations needed to assure that it would not only be able to withstand the repeated force of heavy test launches but meet environmental sustainability standards as well. -
Navigating the Air Force Sundown Policy for Fire Suppression Systems
The Department of the Air Force recently released a new sundown policy for foam fire suppression systems, which meant that two ongoing fire protection system upgrades required expedited redesigns to remain compliant. -
Preserving Historical Building 56 at Fort Sam Houston
Originally constructed more than 200 years ago, Building 56 at Fort Sam Houston recently underwent a detailed renovation to convert it into modern administrative space that also preserves its historical and cultural importance.
