School of Computing and Engineering student Alex McCaskill wins National Dam Safety Scholarship

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) has selected Alexander McCaskill – a senior Civil Engineering student in the University of Missouri-Kansas City‘s (UMKC) School of Computing and Engineering – as the sole recipient of its 2011-2012 Senior Undergraduate Scholarship.

This is the 20th year of the ASDSO Scholarship Program, which awards as much as $10,000 to U.S. citizens enrolled in accredited programs in engineering or other fields related to the design, construction or operation of dams.

McCaskill’s application was chosen from about 40 submissions received from schools across the U.S. He will receive a $10,000 scholarship for the 2011-2012 academic year, as well as a travel stipend to attend ASDSO’s national conference in September in National Harbor, Md.

McCaskill is vice president of the UMKC student chapter of the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers, and also holds student memberships in ASDSO, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Institute of Steel Construction and the Association of Engineering Geologists. His honor society memberships include Chi Epsilon, Tau Beta Pi and Phi Kappa Phi.

For the past year and a half, McCaskill has been employed by The Judy Company, Inc., a geotechnical specialty contractor, where he has gained practical experience in dam safety engineering. After graduation, McCaskill intends to pursue a graduate degree in geotechnical engineering.

“The School of Computing and Engineering attracts many competent students, and Alex is the epitome of the caliber of students here,” said UMKC School of Computing and Engineering Dean Kevin Truman. “To land such a prize as this scholarship, a student must have a solid work ethic and an exemplary level of performance; and we are very proud of Alex for this achievement.”

“All of this year’s candidates were highly qualified, but we were especially impressed by Alex’s dam safety-related activities, as well as his impressive academic standing,” said John Moyle, ASDSO scholarship chairman.

Applications for ASDSO’s 2011-2012 dam safety scholarships will soon be available at www.damsafety.org. The deadline for applying is April 1, 2012.

About the Association of State Dam Safety Officials:

The Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) is a national, non-profit organization founded in 1984 and dedicated to improving dam safety through research, education and communication. For more information, visit www.damsafety.org.

About the UMKC School of Computing and Engineering:

Located in one of the nation’s largest engineering communities, the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Computing and Engineering is Kansas City’s only university with ABET-accredited engineering, computer science and information technology degree programs.

SCE’s internationally-recognized faculty prepare students for today’s competitive job market by providing a curriculum that includes the latest technology and business trends, as well as a comprehensive education in each field’s theory and fundamental practice. Our classes also build bridges to the professional world by partnering with local companies, organizations and engineers. To learn more about SCE, visit http://sce.umkc.edu/.

About the University of Missouri-Kansas City:

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 15,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience. For more information about UMKC, visit www.umkc.edu. You can also find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and watch us on YouTube.


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