Michael Cuddy of Parsons Brinckerhoff was presented with the Metropolitan Section Civil Engineer of the Year Award, the Section's highest award for making substantial contributions to the Civil Engineering profession. The Roebling Award, presented to an individual who has demonstrated a lifetime of excellence in the structural engineering of bridges, was given to Thomas Spoth of Parsons. Arthur Wolek of Parsons received the Thomas C. Kavanagh Service Award for his contributions to the Civil Engineering profession through public service. The Herbert Howard Government Civil Engineer of the Year Award was presented to Dr. Sreenivas Alampalli of the New York State Department of Transportation.

The New York State Department of Transportation's realignment of Drury Lane and construction of a new access road to Stewart International Airport was selected as the 2009 Construction Achievement Project of the Year. Lancaster Development, Inc. served as the project's contractor, Berger Lehman Associates, P.C. served as the project's designer, and resident engineering services for the project were provided by a joint venture of HAKS and AECOM.

Following the awards ceremony, the 2008-09 Met Section officers, directors, and technical group and committee chairpersons were recognized for their service to the Section in the past year. ASCE Region 1 Governor Thomas A. Donnelly Jr., F.ASCE led the installation of the incoming Section officers and directors and past president Michael Lorczak presented the gavel and inkwell to Craig Ruyle, who officially began his term as the 92nd president of the Met Section.

The Met Section wishes to thank the following corporate sponsors for their support of the event: AECOM; HAKS; Hardesty & Hanover, LLP; HDR|Daniel Frankfurt; Moretrench; Michael Baker Engineering; Parsons Brinckerhoff, Sam Schwartz Engineering; STV Incorporated, TranSystems Architects & Engineers, P.C.; and Zetlin & DeChiara LLP.

See the Met Section photo gallery for more pictures from the event.