LTU’s Capstone Project Earns National Award
What began as a senior capstone project grew into a community-shaping vision. A team of Lawrence Technological University’s civil engineering students designed an aquatic center after immersing themselves in Port Huron’s history, ecology, and future potential.
The students’ project, “Port Huron Aquatic Center” (PHAC), won a $10,000 2025 NCEES Engineering Education Award.
A Vision for Port Huron
The student team consisting of Kadia Kustarz, Ryan Hulke, Collin Walker, Karly Scharf, and Jacqueline Syegco, named Redwood Engineering (RE), designed the PHAC, an aquarium planned in Port Huron, Michigan. The structure has green roofs, photovoltaic systems, and a detention basin, along with a cafe, gift shop, auditorium, and walkways.
The project will provide:
- Economic revitalization by transforming a vacant lot to create jobs, boost tourism, and support local growth.
- Habitat preservation and conservation breeding programs to address invasive species in local waterways. During the research phase, RE discovered 10 new invasive species had entered the St. Clair River.
- Hands-on educational resources for schools and a tribute to Port Huron’s role in the Underground Railroad.
The students designed the structural framing and foundation; a wastewater management system; a site preparation plan; conducted traffic studies to improve traffic flow and accessibility; and created a detailed project schedule, performed safety evaluations, and managed costs.
Bridging Theory and Practice
When asked how working with professional engineers improved her experience, Kustarz said, “The participation allowed our team to get assistance and adapt our project [as it would] be done in the industry. The collaboration allowed our team to grow and connect the classroom experience with industry implementation.”
Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Kadia Kustarz, Jacqueline Syegco, and Karly Scharf
LTU faculty involved in the project were Nishantha Bandara, PhD, PE, director of Lawrence Tech Transportation Institute (LTTI) and Concrete Technology & Management Program (CTM) and associate professor of civil and architecture engineering; Edmund Yuen, PhD, PE, professor emeritus of civil and architectural engineering; Mena Bebway, PhD, PE, associate professor of civil and architectural engineering; Yifei Ma, PhD, PE, associate professor of civil and architectural engineering; and Ahmed Al-Bayati, PhD, PE, founding director of the construction safety research center (CSRC) and associate professor of civil and architectural engineering. Team advisor, Ma said, “Successful execution of the project required various skillsets obtained from their education, such as interdisciplinary teamwork, professional communication, critical thinking, problem solving, and technical presentation. Students applied classroom knowledge, managed constraints, and developed practical skills essential for careers in civil engineering.”
RE also collaborated with Jason Stoopos, PE, the industry mentor, a total of 16 licensed engineers, and the City of Port Huron for insight on code regulations and site conditions.
$8,000 from the award will be allocated to geotechnical lab improvements, and $2,000 will support the 2027 ASCE Eastern Great Lakes Student Symposium at Lawrence Tech.
Four Awards in Five Years
Elin Jensen, Ph.D., chair of civil and architectural engineering, said: “The NCEES Engineering Education Award is one of the most respected national recognitions for civil and architectural engineering programs. It is awarded by the organization overseeing engineering licensure and professional standards across the United States. Winning this award requires demonstrating authentic industry engagement, rigorous engineering design, strong ethical practice, and clear evidence of student readiness for professional licensure.”
Winning the NCEES Education Award multiple times is uncommon, but LTU’s department of civil and architectural engineering has received this award four times in the past five years. “It is a remarkable indicator of LTU’s quality, consistency, and reputation in professional engineering education.
The collaboration across multiple civil engineering disciplines strongly reflects the university’s mission of experiential learning and prepares students to fulfill the ultimate goal of engineering design: to serve and improve the community,” Jensen added.
By designing a project that prioritizes the health, safety, and welfare of the public, the award validates and further recognizes the college’s commitment to ethical and practical standards.
By: Nurzahan Rahman
