The 28thandnbsp;Annual ASCE Bridge Competition hosted 44 bridges from 7 different 5thandnbsp;through 8thandnbsp;Grade groups in Central Illinois.andnbsp; The objective of the competition to design and construct a bridge using standard 3” x 5” (176 mm x 127 mm) index cards. The winning team was judged based on team participation, conformance to the design and construction requirements, a written report, and finally, the performance of the bridge under a dead load.

Curtis Lynn and Keith Plavec of Maurer-Stutz, Inc. are the Bridge Competition Co-Chairs for Illinois Valley Branch coordinating delivery of registration packets to schools in Central Illinois, organizing and attending schools requesting an engineer to discuss the competition to their students, raising funds for the bridge competition, raising funds for underwriting admission to the Peoria Riverfront Museum for Engineering Day, and organizing volunteers for pre-judging and the bridge break.andnbsp; Bryan Swanson was one of the judges that reviewed bridges and reports on Saturday prior to the bridge break on Sunday.

This event was part of the Engineering Day 2019 at Peoria Riverfront Museum which also included exciting andamp; engaging engineering activities will be provided throughout the museum by local engineering groups, who are also sponsoring general admission for this free day at the museum.

Young Surveyor of the Year is awarded by the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association. IPLSA. This award recognizes “A young member who has made outstanding contributions to the land surveying profession and their communities during the early years of their career.” Areas considered for the award are educational and collegiate achievements, professional society activities, civic and humanitarian activities, continuing competence, land surveying achievements, and professional experience.

Scott Perry of Maurer-Stutz was presented with this award last week during the IPLSA Annual Conference. Congratulations Scott on your achievement!

Scott Perry grew up in the land surveying business, starting with working part time in his father’s surveying practice. While working at Dennis A. Perry Land Surveying, Scott learned how to interpret plats, find evidence, measure, operate the instruments, and set property corners. He was an avid learner and, when he was just a junior in high school, he told his father he too wanted to be a surveyor. Scott set out on a plan that would help him achieve that dream. He attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and graduated Cum Laude in the class of 2011 with a Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering and the required 24 semester hours of surveying under Professor Roy Frank. Scott was immediately employed by Maurer-Stutz, Inc. in Peoria, Illinois where he has continued to grow professionally. Scott earned his Professional Land Surveying license in 2018 and implemented an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) program and currently serves as Project Surveyor and UAV pilot and program coordinator.

Some of Scott’s Civic and Humanitarian Activities include:

• Illinois Air National Guard 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria, IL. March 2006

• Airport firefighter from March 2006 to May 2012

• Achieved rank of Lieutenant and was appointed Operations Officer from May 2012 to Sept. 2017

• Achieved rank of Captain and appointed Civil Engineer Squadron Commander Sept. 2017 to present.

• Deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom Sept. 2008 – Jan. 2009

• Deployed to Middle East in support of Operation Inherent Resolve July 2015 to Feb. 2016.

• Volunteer firefighter with the Spring Bay Fire Protection District May 2006 – present.

• Achieved rank of Lieutenant 2011 – present