CEE Honors Alumni Accomplishments in 2024 Alumni Awards
Every year during Carnegie Mellon’s iconic Spring Carnival, the civil and environmental engineering (CEE) department honors esteemed alumni who have made tremendous strides in their career and our field. This year, we recognize six awardees – Seth Pearlman, Amelia Harris, Todd Wilson, Natalie Pekney, Frank Frisby, and Daymanuel Sampson – who embody the spirit of excellence, resilience, and leadership that defines our alumni community.
Distinguished Alumni Award: Seth Pearlman
Seth Pearlman (B.S. 1978, M.S. 1979) is a highly accomplished figure in geotechnical engineering and construction, recognized for his innovative leadership at national and international levels. Notable achievements include introducing Controlled Modulus Columns (CMC) to the U.S. market, revolutionizing foundation schemes, and leading Menard USA as CEO to a dominant market share in CMC projects. Additionally, Pearlman has pioneered advanced techniques for installing pre-fabricated vertical drains, contributing significantly to the field of geotechnical construction.
His dedication extends beyond professional success through his support for education through scholarship initiatives and mentoring of students at Carnegie Mellon, where he has also served on the CEE Advisory Council for over a decade. Pearlman's impact on engineering and commitment to fostering future talent make him a deserving recipient of the CEE Distinguished Alumni Award.
Outstanding Alumni Service Award: Amelia Harris & Todd Wilson
Amelia Harris (M.S. 2007, Ph.D. 2009) is a project engineer at Alfred Benesch & Co. specializing in bridge design. Her extensive experience extends across multiple disciplines, including substructure design, steel and concrete superstructure design, and finite element modeling of complex structures. Her experience at CEE, combined with her years of technical industry experience, equips her with a deep understanding of structure dynamics and advanced engineering principles.
With a passion for pushing the boundaries of structure design and a commitment to delivering high-quality, sustainable solutions, Harris continues to make important contributions to the advancement of civil engineering and bridge infrastructure. Her accomplishments made her an ideal candidate for our Outstanding Alumni Service award.
Todd Wilson (B.S. 2006) is the recipient of our Alumni Service Award due in part to his instrumental role in the success of our undergraduate Traffic Engineering project. Wilson's contributions to the project were pivotal, as he mentored two groups, facilitated the kickoff event, recruited additional mentors, led the Craig Street tour, and attended final presentations. His dedication to the project extended beyond its implementation, as he remained actively involved in discussions to enhance future iterations. As a senior project manager at GAI Consultants, he specializes in traffic-related civil engineering for transportation projects.
Wilson's expertise and commitment to his work and community earned him a College of Engineering Recent Alumni Achievement award in 2011 and continue to exemplify outstanding alumni service and merit recognition for his contributions.
Lt. Col. Christopher K. Raible Distinguished Public Service Award: Frank Frisby & Natalie Pekney
Frank Frisby (M.S. 2011) discovered his passion for applying computer systems to civil engineering while studying at CEE. Now, in his professional role, he excels in leveraging machine learning to optimize program performance, and we are proud to honor him with the Distinguished Public Service Award. Frisby's proficiency extends to utilizing advanced tools like OpenAI and Azure Cloud functions, showcasing his expertise in API development. Additionally, he founded CofounderAI to provide AI-driven support for individuals navigating technological changes.
Frisby recently won the U.S. Army’s 2023 Deep Green Data Science and AI Challenge Phase II, underscoring his expertise in the field. Frisby maintains a strong connection to our department, currently serving on the CEE alumni board and crediting the university for equipping him with the skills to excel in his career.
Our second recipient of the Distinguished Public Service award, Dr. Natalie Pekney (M.S. 2001, Ph.D. 2004) is an environmental engineer recognized for her pioneering work in mitigating methane emissions from abandoned oil and gas wells. At the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Dr. Pekney leads initiatives utilizing innovative technologies to locate and address orphaned wells and other infrastructure emitting methane. She has spearheaded the application of aerial techniques, including magnetometers on helicopters and drones, to conduct efficient and cost-effective surveys. Dr. Pekney's current focus involves exploring the use of methane sensors on drones to detect emissions from abandoned wells. Her efforts have been recognized nationally through her 2022 Arthur S. Flemming Award, which acknowledges exceptional accomplishments from federal employees, and continues to work towards federal environmental goals, including those outlined in President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Dr. Pekney is also committed to promoting diversity in her field and has actively supported initiatives to encourage women's participation in science and engineering. She serves as a mentor for early-career researchers and students through programs like the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education and the Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship.
Recent Alumni Achievement Award: Daymanuel Sampson
Daymanuel Sampson (B.S. 2013) is a distinguished community and industry leader known for contributing to workforce development in construction-related fields. With a decade of experience at Turner Construction, he has served in many roles, from engineering to building information modeling and project management, but found his passion in advocacy and community engagement. He credits his time at CEE for fostering his philanthropic spirit, where he learned the importance of considering real-world and societal impact in his work. In his current role, Sampson focuses on assisting small and minority-owned businesses within Turner’s School of Construction Management to expand their access to business resources and opportunities.
His dedication to activism extends to his personal life, where Sampson volunteers with many local organizations, including serving on the Architecture, Construction, and Engineering Mentor Program board and fundraising committee. Through his dedication to creating a better, more inclusive future, Sampson embodies our CEE values of service and leadership.
Together, these stories exemplify the diverse and remarkable achievements of our CEE alumni. In their unwavering pursuit of innovation, service, and leadership, they left a lasting mark on our department, our field, and the world.