The Structural Engineers Association of Kentucky (SEAoK) has established a Young Members Group (YMG) with the help of a grant from the NCSEA Foundation. This initiative, the first of its kind for SEAoK, supports young structural engineers, as well as SEAoK while cultivating future leadership for the association.
The SEA Grant Program was vital to the group’s success, sponsoring Young Member volunteers at SEAoK’s Annual Conference and enabling a YMG chair to attend the SEA Leadership Retreat.
A significant challenge was overcoming inertia. The grant allowed SEAoK to launch dynamic events and increase visibility, generating momentum and attracting investment. Austin Norberg, P.E., S.E., who helped lead the initiative, noted, “When we proudly announced that our YMG was the recipient of the NCSEA Foundation Grant, it helped add legitimacy to our organization. It proved that what we were doing was something that mattered to the broader structural engineering community in KY and has helped stir up support, with more interest coming in after the announcement.”
The YMG has attracted interest from members across various firms and colleges, with SEAoK leadership committed to its growth. The group, co-chaired by George Stanley, EIT and Auburn Mattingly, EIT, aims to engage more with local colleges and inspire more students to choose structural engineering.
The application period for the SEA Grant Program is open through Sept. 13. For more information, click here.