SAME Student Members
Student Members represent the next generation of innovative STEM thinkers ready to take on the engineering challenges facing our national security.
The Society is committed to recognizing the need to cultivate this valuable asset, and provide mentoring, occupational, and networking opportunities.
Joining SAME as a Student Member is a great way to learn more about the A/E/C industry, begin to build your professional network, and find and develop mentoring relationships, and connect with peers interested in similar career paths.
Student Members can participate in Student Chapters, which are located in colleges, universities, and service academies across the country. Because they are sponsored by an SAME Post, Student Chapters also provide an opportunity for deeper connections to local professionals and mentors in the A/E/C industry.
| State | Chapter | Mentor |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama |
Huntsville Alabama A&M University |
Agnes Pope |
| Alaska | Anchorage University of Alaska Anchorage |
Tim Gould & Kim Riggs |
| California | San Francisco, CA Fresno State University |
CDR Samuel Lee |
| Orange County Saddleback College |
Paige Fundament | |
| San Diego San Diego State University |
James Haughey | |
| Colorado | Denver Metro Post University of Colorado-Boulder |
Elizabeth Wessling |
| Florida | Jacksonville | Jessica Triolo |
| Panama City Gulf Coast State College-Florida State University |
Amabelle Paquia | |
| Georgia | Atlanta Georgia Tech |
Joseph Brejda |
| Savannah Georgia Southern University |
Maureen Warren | |
| Kentucky | Kentuckiana University of Louisville |
April Vance |
| Maryland | Mid-Maryland, MD University of Maryland College Park |
Matt Polley Duncan Simpson |
| Baltimore, MD United States Naval Academy |
Mychael Gaines | |
| Morgan State University | Bob Helkowski | |
| Massachusetts | Boston Worchester Polytechnic Institute |
Debra Beck |
| Mississippi | Vicksburg Jackson State University |
|
| University of Mississippi | Jeffrey Eckstein | |
| Missouri | University of Kansas | Erin Wheeler |
| Nebraska | Omaha, NE University of Nebraska-Lincoln |
David Packard Tony Roebuck |
| University of Nebraska-Omaha | Tony Roebuck | |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Rowan University |
Susan Thames |
| New York | New York City United States Military Academy |
Michael Scarano |
| Ohio | Cincinnati University of Cincinnati |
Clint Weekley Philip Tilly |
| Oregon | Portland Oregon State University |
Steve Miles |
| Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh Pennsylvania State University |
Steven Sattinger |
| Rhode Island | Narragansett Bay United States Coast Guard Academy |
|
| South Carolina | Charleston The Citadel |
James Righter |
| Texas | Fort Worth University of Texas Arlington |
Ethan Lux |
| Houston/Galveston | San Antonio Texas A&M Prairie View University |
John German Justin LaPorte Eric Potts |
|
| San Antonio University of Texas, Austin |
Lily Cartwright Richard Galloway Terry Watkins |
|
| Virginia | Northern Virginia, Ft. Belvoir, VA George Mason University |
|
| Hampton Roads Old Dominion University Virginia Technical Institute |
Scott Blossom | |
| Virginia Peninsula Virginia Military Institute |
||
| Washington | Seattle University of Washington |
Zachary Pesicka |
| Mount Tacoma University of Washington Tacoma |
Bill Fierst | |
| West Virginia | Huntington Marshall University |
Ken Woodard |
| State | Chapter | Mentor |
|---|---|---|
| Guam | Guam University of Guam |
Kenneth Wheeler |
SAME Student Chapters
| College/University | Supporting Post | Faculty Advisor | Chapter Mentor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama A&M University | Huntsville | Drabo Mebougna | Agnes Pope |
| California State University Long Beach | Orange County | ||
| George Mason University | Northern Virginia | ||
| Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta | Wayne Whiteman | Joe Brejda |
| Gulf Coast State College-Florida State University | Panama City | ||
| Jackson State University | Vicksburg | Dr. Wei Zheng | |
| Marshall University | Huntington | Dr. Sukjoon Na | Ken Woodard |
| Morgan State University | Baltimore | Dr. James Hunter | Bob Helkowski |
| Old Dominion | Hampton Roads | Paul Olsen | Scott Blossom |
| Oregon State University | Portland | ||
| Pennsylvania State University | Pittsburgh | Dr. Willian Stizabee | Steven Sattinger |
| Rowan University | New Jersey | Susan Thames | |
| Saddleback College | Orange County | ||
| San Diego State University | San Diego | James Haughey | James Haughey |
| Texas A&M University | Houston/Galveston; San Antonio | John Walewski | Buddy Barnes; John German |
| The Citadel | Charleston | Ron Welch | James Righter |
| U.S. Military Academy | New York City | Ben Wallen | Michael Scarano |
| University of Arizona/Pima Community College | Southern Arizona | Robert Thompson | |
| University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati | Dana Dalton | Clint Weekley; Phil Tilley |
| University of Colorado Boulder | Denver Metro | ||
| University of Guam | Guam | Dr. Ernesto Guades | Pete Diaz |
| University of Louisville | Kentuckiana | Dr. Mark French | April Vance |
| University of Maryland, College Park | Mid-Maryland | David Lovell | Duncan Simpson; Matt Polley |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | Boston | ||
| University of Mississippi | Vicksburg | Dr. Ned Mitchell | Jeff Eckstein |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Omaha | Mark Peer | Dave Packard |
| University of Nebraska-Omaha | Omaha | Mark Peer | Mark Peer |
| University of New Orleans | Louisiana | Dr. Gianna Cothren | Charles Marinovic |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile | Dr. Stephanie Patch | Tom Nelson |
| University of Texas-Austin | San Antonio | Stephen Boyles | Lily Cartwright; Richard Galloway |
| University of Texas-San Antonio | San Antonio | Jeff Prevost | Terry Watkins |
| University of Texas-Arlington | Fort Worth | Dr. Nick Fang | Ardita Dushi |
| University of Washington | Seattle | Zach Pesicka | |
| U.S. Naval Academy | Baltimore | Sarah Mouring | Mychael Gaines |
| Virginia Military Institute | Virginia Peninsula | Robert McMasters | Jamie Weist |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Hampton Roads | ||
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Boston | Lawrence Lee | Debra Beck |
2025 SAME Undergraduate Innovation Design Challenge:
A Design Project Competition
SAME student members represent the next generation of innovative STEM thinkers ready to take on society’s challenges. The Society is excited to announce an undergraduate innovation challenge to help identify and recognize the next great ideas.
Introduction
The Innovation Design Challenge encourages students to submit projects that illustrate an innovative solution to an engineering problem. It is expected that projects submitted for consideration will be of the caliber used for a Senior Design or Capstone project.
Submissions in this competition will be evaluated on how well they convey the purpose of the project and its technical merit. Teams of 3-5 members will concisely communicate their design process and demonstrate that they have used sound analysis throughout and do so in a way that is easily understandable to technical and non-technical audiences. This document will outline the expectations for each team and submission as well as the grading rubric that will be used to evaluate the work.
First place teams will receive $600 per member
Second place teams will receive $500 per member
Third place teams will receive $400 per member
Team Requirements
All team members must be undergraduate-level students AND student members of SAME. Student membership in SAME is free to all students through the undergraduate level. For more information about joining SAME as a student member, go to: Student Membership – SAME.
Team can have between three and five members. Expected submission topics will be based on capstone or design projects. All submissions must include the names of each of the team members, emails, year, and SAME membership number.
Project Submissions
Phase 1 – Abstract Submission: 300-500 words
The abstract should summarize the key concepts, purpose, initial conclusions, and an overview of the science or engineering principles and results from your work. Abstracts will be evaluated and teams advancing to Phase 2 will receive notification.
Phase 2 – Video Presentation Submission
The presentation will consist of a 5–10-minute MP4 video with audio. It should discuss the progression of the design project from concept and design, to planning, to analysis, and finally to the project build itself (or calculated results if the capstone project does not involve any physical construction). Additional details on areas to expand on are included in the Submission Rubric section. Detailed instructions will be provided to teams advancing to Phase 2.
Timeline
23 February: Phase 1 Abstracts due
6 March: Teams advancing to Phase 2 notified
23 March: Phase 2 Video Presentations submitted
10 April: Results announced
Awards
1st Place: $600 per team member
2nd Place: $500 per team member
3rd Place: $400 per team member
Selection
The review committee will be composed of SAME industry and government members, and members of the College Outreach Community of Interest.
Questions
If you have any questions about the competition or how to submit, contact Jeannine Finton, SAME Senior Manager, at jfinton@same.org.
Submission Rubric
| Category | PTS |
|---|---|
| The team described their design project well and concisely | 10 |
| The team described their engineering analyses in an appropriate level of detail | 10 |
| The team followed a systematic process for evaluating and selecting their final concept | 10 |
| The team described their build process and project development well | 10 |
| The team accurately described/presented their final project well | 10 |
| The team provided an appropriate level of engineering analysis and technical detail | 10 |
| The project provides an innovative solution to an engineering problem | 10 |
| The project describes/resulted in a highly marketable product | 10 |
| The structure and grammar of the submission was professional | 10 |
| The team exhibits professionalism in appearance and communication | 10 |
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The Military Engineer | May-June 2025
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2025 JETC Regular Registration Fees End May 8
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SAME Perspectives: Collaborative Delivery Federal Policy Recommendation
Though my career as an engineer has barely begun, I have had a relationship with SAME
Sophia Gull, engineering graduate, the ohio state university
since I was in 8th grade when I visited the Northern Virginia Post to present my model rocket.
I later received a scholarship to attend the SAME/U.S. Army Engineering & Construction
Camp in Vicksburg, Miss., and earned two Post scholarships for college. SAME has provided me
with many great connections and networking opportunities all along the way.