NCSEA Special Awards

NCSEA Service Award
Ryan Kersting, S.E., FSEAOC 

Ryan Kersting is a Principal at Buehler Engineering with nearly three decades of experience and a long record of dedicated service to NCSEA and the profession. He has served as NCSEA President, Board member, SEAOC Delegate, and contributor to numerous committees, while also spearheading the NCSEA Media Spokesperson program and fostering collaboration between California SEAs and NCSEA. His leadership extends nationally through influential roles on FEMA, NIST, and NEHRP initiatives, helping elevate both NCSEA and the structural engineering profession. 

The Service Award is presented to an individual who has worked for the betterment of NCSEA, its member organizations, and the profession, to a degree that is beyond the norm of volunteerism. The award recognizes those who have made a clear and lasting contribution to the organization and, by extension, to the profession. 

Robert Cornforth Award
Scott Hargrove, M.S., P.E. 

Scott Hargrove, M.S., P.E., is the Director of Engineering at Knott Laboratory with more than 18 years of experience in structural and forensic engineering. A dedicated leader in SEAC, he has served on multiple committees and the Board of Directors, including as President, and now continues his service as Past President and NCSEA Delegate. He also contributes to NCSEA’s Existing Buildings Subcommittee. Through his involvement, Scott has fostered collaboration, professional growth, and stronger connections within the structural engineering community. 

The Robert Cornforth Award is presented to an individual for exceptional dedication and exemplary service to a member organization and to the profession. The award is named in honor of Robert Cornforth, a founding member of NCSEA, treasurer on its first Board of Directors, and member of OSEA. 

Susan M. Frey NCSEA Educator Award
John O’Brien, P.E., S.E. 

John O’Brien, P.E., S.E., is Senior Associate and Director of Structural Engineering at PES Structural Engineers. His passion for resilient design and educating engineers on wind forces has led him to deliver numerous educational sessions, AIA-accredited lectures, and practical guidance on evolving wind design standards. As chair of NCSEA’s Wind Engineering Committee and the ASCE 7-28 Chapter 29 Task Committee, he is dedicated to advancing understanding and mentoring the next generation of engineers, fostering curiosity and confidence in wind design. 

The Susan M. Frey NCSEA Educator Award is presented to an individual who has a genuine interest in, and extraordinary talent for, effectively instructing practicing structural engineers. The award was established to honor the memory of Sue Frey, one of NCSEA’s finest educators. 

James M. Delahay Memorial Award
Abbie Liel, Ph.D., P.E. 

Abbie Liel, Ph.D., P.E., is a Professor of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering at the University of Colorado, Boulder, where her research focuses on assessing risks from earthquakes, hurricanes, snow loads, and other hazards to improve building safety and functional recovery. She is currently Vice Chair of the Functional Recovery Task Committee of the Building Seismic Safety Council’s NEHRP Provisions Update Committee. She also chairs the ASCE 7-28 subcommittee addressing future conditions of environmental loads to account for climate change, and serves on both the ASCE 7 Main Committee and the ASCE 7 Snow and Rain Loads Subcommittee. Widely recognized for her contributions to codes and standards, she is a fellow of ASCE and SEI and has received honors including the EERI Shah Family Innovation Prize and the ATC Award of Excellence. 

The James M. Delahay Memorial Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions in the development of building codes and standards. Named in honor of James M. Delahay, a respected leader in structural engineering, this award celebrates those whose efforts have had a lasting impact on the advancement of building safety and performance. 

Susan Ann “Susie” Jorgensen Presidential Leadership Award
Jordan Jarrett, Ph.D., P.E. 

Jordan Jarrett, Ph.D., P.E., is a Teaching Assistant Professor at Colorado State University and the 2025 President of SEAC. Before entering academia, she worked for seven years as a structural engineering consultant, focusing on the design of steel and concrete structures. She has served on multiple committees for SEAC, NCSEA, AISC, and ASCE. Through her work on SEAC and NCSEA’s SE3 Committees, she has been a strong advocate for people-focused cultures and policies, including mental health awareness and support, flexible work environments, and equitable recruitment and retention procedures. 

The Susan Ann “Susie” Jorgensen Presidential Leadership Award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership potential through their activities within NCSEA and/or their local SEA, even if they have not served in a formal leadership role. This award was created to honor the late NCSEA Board President and advocate for the profession, Susan Ann “Susie” Jorgensen, who passed away in November 2020.