SIUE Engineering Students and Faculty Represent at Fall 2025 ACI Concrete Convention in Baltimore
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Department of Construction and the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Student Chapter proudly represented at the Fall 2025 ACI Concrete Convention, held Oct. 26–30 in Baltimore, Md.
The semiannual ACI Concrete Convention brings together professionals, researchers, and students from across the concrete industry to exchange knowledge and showcase innovation in design, materials, and construction. This fall’s event marked the 200th convention in ACI’s history and drew nearly 2,500 participants from more than 70 countries.
Five SIUE students — Lillian Waghorn, Brooke Rogers, Christian Dadia, Joshua Kratz, and Hannah Warner — attended the convention alongside Anne Werner,PhD, PE, associate professor in the Department of Construction. All participating students are pursuing degrees in either Civil Engineering or Construction Management and are active members of the University’s ACI student chapter.
SIUE students volunteered at the ACI Student Competition, which challenged teams from around the world to design an Egg Protection Device (EPD) — a high-impact, load-resistant structure made from ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). The competition, featuring 37 teams from more than 10 countries, encouraged sustainable, durable design while testing students’ technical and creative problem-solving abilities.
Waghorn, current president of the SIUE ACI Student Chapter explained how the opportunity to compete in and attend these competitions is really valuable to their learning.
“It gives our team the chance to get hands-on experience as we build our projects and apply concepts we’ve learned in class. And it's fun! At the conferences, we’re exposed to different parts of the concrete industry and learn things we might not learn about in a lecture. When we get back, we share our stories with other students or faculty, and people are always intrigued when you tell them about a concrete bowling ball!” said Waghorn.
In addition to supporting the competition, Werner presented during a special technical session titled “Documenting Concrete History: A Tribute to Luke and Billie Snell.” The session honored the lasting contributions of Professor Luke M. Snell, PE, SIUE’s first Construction Department head and namesake of the University’s ACI Student Chapter.
Snell, an emeritus professor and internationally recognized concrete consultant, has written more than 400 articles on construction materials and education, established certification programs across multiple countries, and received numerous awards from ACI and the global concrete industry.
Werner’s presentation, “The Erie Canal and Canvass White: America’s First Concrete Engineer,” highlighted the Erie Canal’s transformative role in American infrastructure and White’s pioneering use of natural cement — innovations that expanded the nation’s transportation capabilities and set the foundation for the modern concrete industry.
“It was a real honor to be able to participate in the ACI history session honoring Luke and Billie Snell. They both have done so much to promote education about all things concrete. They also were both very active members of the ACI history committee ensuring that we continue to learn about concrete's past so we can use that knowledge in the future,” said Werner.
Looking ahead, SIUE’s ACI Student Chapter is preparing for the Spring 2026 ACI FRP Composites Competition, to be held March 29–April 1 in Rosemont/Chicago, Ill. The upcoming challenge tasks teams with designing, constructing, and testing concrete structures reinforced with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) materials to achieve the best cost-load ratio.
With continued student engagement, industry collaboration, and a proud connection to its founding leadership, SIUE’s School of Engineering continues to strengthen its national presence in the ACI community and contribute to advancing concrete innovation and education.
PHOTOS: (left to right) Brooke Rogers, Joshua Kratz, Christian Dadia, Hannah Warner, Lillian Waghorn and Anne Werner, PhD, PE at the convention; Werner prepares to give her presentation.
