Contacts:
Julie Kuntz Matt Phelps
Communications Specialist II Communications Supervisor
Julie.Kuntz@snoco.org Matt.Phelps@snoco.org
425-388-6059 425-388-3126
Seattle University Students Win Fourth National Engineering Education Award for Snohomish County Sponsored Project
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Honors Educational Collaboration on County Traffic and Safety Improvement Project
EVERETT, Wash., July 21, 2023 – For more than 15 years, Snohomish County Public Works has been working with Seattle University to collaborate with graduating seniors on real-world engineering projects. The collaboration earned the University a 2023 National Engineering Education Award from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) for its submission Traffic and Safety Improvement for a Busy T-Intersection. This is the fourth award received for a project sponsored by Snohomish County Public Works.
“Students developed and evaluated design options to improve traffic operations and increase protection for trail users at a busy county intersection,” said Snohomish County Public Works Director Kelly Snyder. “The project was especially complex because students had to design a solution that would accommodate heavy vehicle traffic, surrounding wetlands and a well-traveled pedestrian and bike trail. The students did a fantastic job overcoming obstacles and creating three viable alternatives.”
Seattle University students Tyler Lam, Allyssa Manlapaz, Camryn Okada, Dorin Russu, and Andre Shigetomi worked on the project with Snohomish County engineer Oscar Fuentes and other county engineering and environmenal services staff. Seattle University instructor and advisor Mark Siegenthaler also guided the students. Nirmala Gnanapragasam worked as the project coordinator for the school.
The 2023 NCEES awards were chosen from a total of 24 blind entries nationawide. The award program honors the integration of engineering practice and education, and earned Seattle University $10,000 for its winning submission. Award winning submittals can be viewed at ncees.org/outreach/education-awards.
For more information about the Seattle University College of Science and Engineering, visit www.seattleu.edu/scieng.
About Snohomish County Public Works
Snohomish County Public Works is responsible for approximately 1,600 miles of county roads, more than 200 bridges and manages about 200 traffic control signals. The department also processes nearly 600,000 tons of garbage per year. Its mission is to focus on safety and mobility while practicing fiscal responsibility and preserving the environment. Public Works has won numerous state and national honors for its work and is the largest department within Snohomish County government with approximately 500 employees plus seasonal staff. Its main office is located at 3000 Rockefeller Ave, Everett, WA 98201. Visit www.snohomishcountywa.gov/PublicWorks or follow the department on Facebook and Twitter for more information about Snohomish County Public Works.