The ASCE Metropolitan Section held their annual Scholarship Luncheon on April 10, 2008 at the Grand Hyatt New York Hotel. The event opened with a welcome by Section President Richard B. Cassin. Rich greeted the 160+ attendees by introducing honorees Frank Lombardi, Chief Engineer of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and Connie Crawford, Senior Vice President of MTA-New York City Transit as well as ASCE National Officers Andrew Herrmann and Thomas Donnelly. He thanked Neal Forshner and Michael Lorczak, co-chairs of the Scholarship Luncheon and the members of the Met Section’s Scholarship Committee.

Congratulations to Professor Andrew Smyth of Columbia University, a recipient of one of the prestigious 2008 Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prizes. ASCE presents this award to recognize notable achievements in research related to civil engineering. Preference is given to younger members of early accomplishment who can be expected to continue fruitful careers in research.

The Geotechnical Group’s Sixth Annual William Barclay Parsons Lecture was held at the CUNY Graduate Center Recital Hall in Manhattan on April 17, 2008 and was presented by Dr. Gerhard Sauer, a noted tunnel engineer. Dr. Sauer was introduced by Dr. George Munfakh of Parsons Brinckerhoff. The sponsor for this lecture was Allentown Shotcrete Equipment.

The Younger Member Forum joined over 5,500 volunteers across the city participating in Hands on New York Day on April 12, 2008. This is an annual event organized by New York Cares that helps revitalize local parks, gardens, playgrounds, and schools. The team of ASCE members traveled to PS 184 in Whitestone, Queens and helped to paint several classrooms and plant shrubs outside the school building. After the event, a celebration party was held for all of the Hands on New York Day volunteers at Stout in Midtown Manhattan.

Text and drawing by M.D. Morris, P.E., F. ASCE.

Worldwide recognition allows that the George Washington Bridge is an outstanding symbol of the City of New York. It is one of the Seven Engineering Wonders of Gotham, just as San Francisco boasts the Golden Gate Bridge; Australia, its Sydney Harbour Bridge; and London, its Tower Bridge.

On March 25, 2008, the Geotechnical Group held a lecture at the CUNY Graduate Center Recital Hall in Manhattan focusing on the reconstruction of the ancient library of Alexandria, which was destroyed more than 2,000 years ago and rebuilt in the late 1990s. Amr Ragy, currently chief engineer and estimator for Treviicos Corporation and formerly senior geotechnical engineer for the Alexandria Library project, gave the lecture to the group. The sponsor for this lecture was Treviicos Corporation.