
SAME Student Members
Student Members represent the next generation of innovative STEM thinkers ready to take on the engineering challenges facing our national security. The Society is committed to recognizing the need to cultivate this valuable asset, and provide mentoring, occupational, and networking opportunities.
Joining SAME as a Student Member is a great way to learn more about the A/E/C industry, begin to build your professional network, and find and develop mentoring relationships, and connect with peers interested in similar career paths. Student Members can participate in Student Chapters, which are located in colleges, universities, and service academies across the country. Because they are sponsored by an SAME Post, Student Chapters also provide an opportunity for deeper connections to local professionals and mentors in the A/E/C industry.
SAME Student Chapters
State | Chapter | Mentor |
---|---|---|
Alabama |
Mobile University of South Alabama |
Cynthia Henderson |
Huntsville Alabama A&M |
Jason Cade | |
Alaska | Anchorage University of Alaska Anchorage |
Tim Gould & Kim Riggs |
California | Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles Trade Technical College |
Robert Blasberg |
Orange County, Cypress-Irvine Saddleback College |
Paige Fundament | |
Colorado | Denver Metro Post University of Colorado-Boulder |
Elizabeth Wessling |
Florida | Jacksonville | Jessica Triolo |
Panama City Gulf Coast State College-Florida State University |
Amabelle Paquia | |
Georgia | Atlanta Georgia Tech |
Kellie Sak |
Savannah Georgia Southern University |
Maureen Warren | |
Maryland | Mid-Maryland, MD University of Maryland College Park |
Dr. Lewis Link |
Baltimore, MD United States Naval Academy |
John Osborn | |
Massachusetts | Boston University of Massachusetts-Amherst |
Debra Beck |
Mississippi | Vicksburg University of MS |
Jeff Eckstein |
Jackson State University | Derek Starling, P.E. | |
Missouri | Greater Kansas City University of Missouri-Kansas City |
Christina Davis |
University of Kansas | Chad Neidig | |
Nebraska | Omaha, NE University of Nebraska-Lincoln |
David Packard |
University of Nebraska-Omaha | David Packard | |
New Jersey | Newark Area Rowan University |
Susan Thames |
New York | New York City United States Military Academy |
Michael Scarano |
Ohio | Cincinnati University of Cincinnati |
Philip Tilly |
Oregon | Portland Oregon State University |
Steve Miles |
Rhode Island | Narragansett Bay United States Coast Guard Academy |
Steve Blum |
South Carolina | Charleston The Citadel |
Christina Jettie |
Texas | Fort Worth University of Texas Arlington |
Ardita Dushi |
Houston/Galveston Texas A&M College Station |
Tristan Robles | |
San Antonio Texas A&M College Station University of Texas San Antonio The University of Texas Austin |
John German Terry Watkins Richard Galloway |
|
Virginia | Hampton Roads, Norfolk, VA Old Dominion University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University |
Scott Blossom Kevin M. Wills |
Northern Virginia, Ft. Belvoir, VA George Mason University |
Armando Alas | |
Virginia Peninsula, Langley AFB, VA Virginia Military Institute |
Jamie H. Weist | |
Washington | Seattle University of Washington |
LT Bohdon Wowtschuk, PE, USCG |
West Virginia | Huntington Marshall University |
Ken Woodard |
State | Chapter | Mentor |
---|---|---|
Guam | Guam University of Guam |
Kenneth Wheeler |

2023 SAME Undergraduate Innovation Design Challenge:
A Design Project Competition
SAME student members represent the next generation of innovative STEM thinkers ready to take on society’s challenges. The Society is excited to announce an undergraduate innovation challenge to help identify and recognize the next great ideas.

Introduction
The Innovation Design Challenge encourages students to submit projects that illustrate an innovative solution to an engineering problem. It is expected that projects submitted for consideration will be of the caliber used for a Senior Design or Capstone project.
Submissions in this competition will be evaluated on how well they convey the purpose of the project and its technical merit. Teams of 3-5 members will concisely communicate their design process and demonstrate that they have used sound analysis throughout and do so in a way that is easily understandable to technical and non-technical audiences. This document will outline the expectations for each team and submission as well as the grading rubric that will be used to evaluate the work.
First place teams will receive $600 per member
Second place teams will receive $500 per member
Third place teams will receive $400 per member
Team Requirements
All team members must be undergraduate-level students AND student members of SAME. Student membership in SAME is free to all students through the undergraduate level. For more information about joining SAME as a student member, go to: Student Membership – SAME.
Team can have between three and five members. Expected submission topics will be based on capstone or design projects. All submissions must include the names of each of the team members, emails, year, and SAME membership number.
Project Submissions
Phase 1 – Abstract Submission: 300-500 words
The abstract should summarize the key concepts, purpose, initial conclusions, and an overview of the science or engineering principles and results from your work. View the online submission. Abstracts will be evaluated and teams advancing to Phase 2 will receive notification.
Phase 2 – Video Presentation Submission
The presentation will consist of a 5–10-minute MP4 video with audio. It should discuss the progression of the design project from concept and design, to planning, to analysis, and finally to the project build itself (or calculated results if the capstone project does not involve any physical construction). Additional details on areas to expand on are included in the Submission Rubric section. Detailed instructions will be provided to teams advancing to Phase 2.
Timeline
23 February: Phase 1 Abstracts due
6 March: Teams advancing to Phase 2 notified
23 March: Phase 2 Video Presentations submitted
10 April: Results announced
Awards
1st Place: $600 per team member
2nd Place: $500 per team member
3rd Place: $400 per team member
Selection
The review committee will be composed of SAME industry and government members, and members of the College Outreach Community of Interest.
Questions
If you have any questions about the competition or how to submit, contact Jeannine Finton, SAME Senior Manager, at jfinton@same.org.
Submission Rubric
Category | PTS |
---|---|
The team described their design project well and concisely | 10 |
The team described their engineering analyses in an appropriate level of detail | 10 |
The team followed a systematic process for evaluating and selecting their final concept | 10 |
The team described their build process and project development well | 10 |
The team accurately described/presented their final project well | 10 |
The team provided an appropriate level of engineering analysis and technical detail | 10 |
The project provides an innovative solution to an engineering problem | 10 |
The project describes/resulted in a highly marketable product | 10 |
The structure and grammar of the submission was professional | 10 |
The team exhibits professionalism in appearance and communication | 10 |
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Post Best Practices: Mentoring the Engineering Leaders of Tomorrow in Omaha
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Fort Worth Post Day of Service
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Celebrating SAME Members for Hispanic Heritage Month
Though my career as an engineer has barely begun, I have had a relationship with SAME
Sophia Gull, engineering graduate, the ohio state university
since I was in 8th grade when I visited the Northern Virginia Post to present my model rocket.
I later received a scholarship to attend the SAME/U.S. Army Engineering & Construction
Camp in Vicksburg, Miss., and earned two Post scholarships for college. SAME has provided me
with many great connections and networking opportunities all along the way.