SUU Student Innovators Win $15K Prize For Sustainable Stormwater Solutions

Southern Utah University's Student Innovators have achieved a significant milestone by winning the Community Energy Innovation CONCEPT Phase prize, a $15,000 award presented by the United States Department of Energy (US-DOE) Alliance for Sustainable Energy. The recognition comes as a result of their pioneering project, Smart Stormwater Infrastructure and Clean Energy, developed to address the recurring issue of severe flooding in Iron County, Utah, particularly affecting Cedar City and Enoch City residents.

The team, comprising student engineers Jeremy Matney, Andrew Larsen, and Edwin Cansaya Sanchez, under the guidance of Dr. Mohamed Askar, collaborated with Sunrise Engineering to devise a solution to the community's storm drain inadequacies. Their initiative aimed not only to mitigate the immediate dangers posed by flooding but also to introduce sustainable strategies for cleaner water and energy production.

Dr. Askar emphasized the importance of effective long-term control measures for stormwater infrastructures, especially in budget-limited and inconsistently managed scenarios. Leveraging skills honed in the classroom and with support from industry professionals, the team developed alternative stormwater management solutions, addressing both current flood drainage issues and the needs of economically disadvantaged rural communities.

Advancing as one of five schools in the collegiate track of the competition, the SUU team will utilize the prize money to fund the progress phase, focusing on project execution and evaluating its effectiveness. The winners of the $20,000 prize will be announced in March 2024.

This achievement underscores SUU's commitment to fostering innovation in its engineering programs, providing students with opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges. The Engineering and Technology Department at SUU continues to offer comprehensive programs in civil engineering and construction management, further solidifying its reputation as a leading institution in the field.