WTAMU’s Civil Engineering Society was founded by civil engineering students in October 2011.

Before being considered a chapter of The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the Civil Engineering Society must complete a year-long application process, due to be reviewed in October 2012.

The society welcomes goal-oriented students involved in WT’s campus, said Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering Dr. Kenneth Leitch.

“[The society] serves to help students with their career goals while here at WT,” Leitch said.  “[When considering new members], I’m not necessarily looking for a person with a 4.0 [GPA] that has never done anything, I’d rather have someone with a 3.0 that has been very active.”Robert Heinz, a junior Civil Engineering major and president of the Civil Engineering Society, said the purpose of the society goes beyond learning in a classroom.

“Our purpose is to give students a hands-on opportunity to take what they’ve learned in the classroom and apply it to other things, along with having fun in the process,” Heinz said.

The Civil Engineering Society has been invited to events such as the Steel Bridge Competition and the Concrete Canoe Competition.

The ASCE National Concrete Canoe Competition (NCCC) provides students with a practical application of the engineering principles they learn in the classroom, along with important team and project management skills they will need in their careers, according to ASCE’s official website.

Vice President of the Civil Engineering Society Chris Tyzrain, a senior Civil Engineering major, said the newfound union is a great opportunity.

“The society is great for the university, for the department, for the program,” Tyzrain said. “It shows there’s genuine interest in the program.”