AAMU Team Captures Top Honors in Regional Competition at Mississippi State

Alabama A&M University students recently demonstrated exceptional skill, technical knowledge, and teamwork at the 2025 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Gulf Coast Student Symposium at Mississippi State University.

The ASCE Bulldog Chapter earned first, second and third-place honors across several competitive categories. The symposium, which draws nearly 300 civil engineering students from 15 universities across Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, is designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world challenges.

Alabama A&M students earned first place for their outstanding problem-solving and presentation in the Construction Institute competition. The team included Bryce Howard, a sophomore from Detroit, Michigan; Kenneth “CJ” Fladger, a senior from Las Vegas, Nevada; Immanu’ul Coleman, a sophomore from Huntsville, Alabama; and Jackson Wannamaker, a freshman from Montgomery, Alabama. Howard also received special recognition as Best Speaker of the competition.

The Timber-Strong Design Build team also delivered an impressive performance, placing second in the Building Information Modeling (BIM) category and third for their project report. The team includes Natarcia Chisholm, Kenya Jones, Javioun Butler, Ka’lex Hayes, Keion Lacey, Albany Rios, and Damontae Borders.

In the Surveying competition, students placed third in the Differential Leveling category, demonstrating accuracy and precision in the field. The team featured Nehemiah Ibi-Eletta, Shaniya Pettway, Danielle Palmore, Aliya Khanthavong, and Kamori Parker.

Additional student participants included Charleston Walker, Makari Cornelius, and Makaiyah Cornelius. Each student played a valuable role in team preparation, logistics, and support throughout the symposium.

Advisors include Dr. Pooja Preetha, who traveled with the team and provided on-site mentorship, and Dr. Mohamed Ashour, who offered critical insight throughout the team’s preparation.

The symposium also included competitions such as the Sustainable Solutions challenge and GeoWall, which tested students on sustainability practices and geotechnical design. Participants had the opportunity to collaborate with peers, engage with industry professionals, and strengthen their readiness for careers in civil engineering.

For more information, visit https://studentsymposium.asce.org/gulf-coast/