Chi Epsilon, the national civil engineering honor society, held its national conference virtually this spring, and Missouri S&T earned recognition in each of the organization’s award categories. 
 
The honors included the Outstanding Chapter Award, Faculty Advisor Award, Pillars in Practice Award and the James and Sharon Weinel Fellowship.  
 
“To receive four Chi Epsilon awards, with no other university earning more than two, shows how our students and chapter continue to be among the very best in the nation,” says Dr. Joel G. Burken, a Curators’ Distinguished Professor and S&T’s Mathes Endowed Chair of environmental engineering.  “Our students always work hard and represent Missouri S&T exceptionally well on the national stage.” 
 
Founded in 1922, Chi Epsilon includes 149 university chapters and supports high-achieving students in civil engineering and closely related disciplines, including environmental, architectural and construction engineering. 
 
Missouri S&T’s Chi Epsilon chapter was one of three chapters to receive the Outstanding Chapter Award, recognizing excellence in leadership, member engagement and service.  

Burken was one of two recipients of the Faculty Advisor Award. His nomination, submitted by S&T’s chapter, cited his efforts as a role model, advocate and source of encouragement for students. 
 
Emma Eberhart, a senior in civil engineering from St. Louis and S&T’s 2025-26 chapter president, was one of five recipients of the Pillars in Practice Award, honoring undergraduate students whose achievements reflect the organization’s four pillars of scholarship, character, practicality and sociability. 
 
Mohammad Afsharmovahed, a Ph.D. student in civil engineering from Iran, was one of two students honored with the James and Sharon Weinel Fellowship award for graduate students for his AI-driven infrastructure research, academic achievements and service. 
 
Dr. Charles Chadwell, executive director of Chi Epsilon, says that S&T earning multiple awards demonstrates its sustained commitment to excellence. 
 
“To be represented across every national award category is a remarkable achievement and a strong reflection of the chapter’s impact within the society and the broader civil engineering profession,” he says.  
To learn more about Missouri S&T’s civil engineering programs, visit care.mst.edu. 

About Missouri S&T

Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students located in Rolla, Missouri. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T offers over 100 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top public universities for salary impact, according to the Wall Street Journal. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.