The Peter Kiewit Institute

The Student Initiative-Mentoring Program matches volunteer mentors from professional Engineering and/or Architectural firms with teams of students and teachers from metropolitan area schools. The Program enables students to learn in a professional work environment, rather than just an academic one, as they participate in a "real-world" project led by actual practitioners.

Now in its ninth year, the Student Initiative-Mentoring Program continues to carry out SAME's vision of advancing the engineering and architectural professions by focusing on the youth of America. The experiences the students gained from participating in the program are renewing a spirit of confidence in the quality and often-untapped potential of America's youth.

This year, 13 middle and 21 high schools from the local area participated in the program supporting a total of 34 teams comprising 338 students. For them, a school year of hard work ended today with oral presentations of their projects; but the confidence, problem solving, and team-building skills they have gained by participating in this program will continue to work for them throughout their lives.

Through the efforts of many, the Student Initiative-Mentoring Program has had a positive impact on students, educators, and professionals throughout the Omaha metropolitan community. Many of the students continue on to college and into engineering and architectural careers. Several of their projects have been built.

Thank you teachers, mentors, parents, and SAME members for contributing to the success of tomorrow's leaders.

Keynote Speaker

Kenneth P. West AIA
Principal DLR Group
DLR Group - Omaha Office

We are honored to have as our keynote speaker, Mr. Kenneth P. West, the Omaha Office Leader and Principal in the DLR Group, a national firm originating in Omaha, Nebraska. He is a 1976 graduate of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln receiving a BS in Architecture. Mr. West is a registered architect in Nebraska as well as Iowa and is NCARB certified.

The DLR Group is an Architectural and Engineering firm with 17 offices throughout the United States. The Firm was established in 1966 in Omaha as Dana Larson Roubal and Associates. The DLR Group has consistently won many national awards over the past years from various organizations as well as being listed near the top time and again in the ENR Top 500 Design Firms, World Architecture Survey, and Building Design & Construction to name a few. The DLR Group specializes in designing facilities for corporate institutions, educational facilities, justice facilities, and sports & entertainment complexes.

Mr. West has come up through the ranks, working during college on construction and as an intern before graduation from UNL. After graduation he worked as a structural technician, staff architect, project architect, project manager, and finally project leader on many projects. Currently he is the primary leader for the higher education and sports/entertainment projects with DLR Group. Some of his recent projects include the Peter Kiewit Institute, the Scott Technology Center, the Creighton University Soccer Complex, and the Omaha Convention Center and Arena.

Mr. West and his wife, Valerie, have three sons; Matt their oldest is a second year Medical Student at Creighton, Jeff is a Junior at UNL, and Andy is a Junior at Westside High School.

Evaluation Panel

High School Division

Industry Members
Phillip C. Deakin, PE, SAIC
Daniel J. Dellovechio, PE, Leo A Daly
Matthew J. Harvey, PE, HDR, Inc.
Dezso Linbrunner, Cape Environmental Mgmt, Inc
Bryan S. Vulcan, PE, HDR, Inc

Education Members
Dr. Elizabeth G. Jones, Engr. & Tech. UNL @ Omaha
Dr. Ray Moore, Engr. & Tech. UNL @ Omaha

Government Members
Charles W. Paukert, PE, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Douglas A. Plack, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Robert F. Roumph, PE, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Sandra Zebrowski, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Military Members
Colonel Kurt F. Ubbelohde, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Middle School Division

Industry Members
Michael Baldino, PE, Kelly Klosure Systems
Brian Halsey, AIA, The Schemmer Associates
Robert Lechner, Batheja & Associates
Kathleen S. Willcuts, PE, HDR, Inc.

Education Members
Dr. Gregor Henze, Engr. & Tech. UNL @ Omaha

Government Members
Randall ElDorado, PE, Nebr. Dept. of Roads
Joseph F. Laird, PE, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
James McFaul, PE, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Thank you to the following for their sponsorship of the
2002-2003 SAME Student Initiative Program:

POST PRESIDENT'S AWARDS OF HONOR
SAME OMAHA POST

MERIT AWARD SPONSORS

Program Sponsors

SAME Omaha Post
The Peter Kiewit Institute
University of Nebraska Foundation
Batheja & Associates, Inc.

Mentor Sponsors

Albeck Gerken, Inc (1)*
Churchill Engineering, Inc. (1)
City Of Council Bluffs-Public Works (1)
DLR Group (3)
Drake-Williams Steel (1)
Eagle Eye (1)
HDR, Inc. (6)
HGM Associates, Inc. (3)
JEO Consulting Group, Inc. (1)
Kiewit Construction (2)
Kirkham Michael Consulting (2)
Lamp Rynearson & Assoc. (1)
Leo A Daly (2)
Metco Engineering (1)
Pacific Reality Group (1)
Schildberg Construction (1)
The Schemmer Associates (2)
Utility Engineering Corp (1)
Union Pacific Railroad (1)
UNO College of Information Science & Technology (1)
UNL at Omaha College of Engineering & Technology (1)
URS Corp (4)
US Air Force, Offutt AFB (2)
US Army Corps of Engineers (26)
Zenon Bringer Mabrey Partners (2)
*()=Number of Mentors from Company