How engineers can stand out in their next awards submission

Submitting work to be judged in an awards gala is a huge step for any full-time engineer. Although the process can be intimidating, this is the best way for engineers to show off and be honored for the great work they completed throughout the year.

If you’ve submitted your work in past years but haven’t had any luck, you’ll need an extra boost to stand out from the competition this year. The panel of judges sees hundreds of projects yearly, making it a feat to stand out. Follow these tips to ensure your project doesn’t get overlooked.

Write a convincing executive summary

When the judges are conducting their deliberation process, they’re looking at what you created and why your project will fail to stand out from the masses without a strong explanation of why.

To make the purpose of your project stand out, be sure to write a clean executive summary with an eye-catching introductory statement. Also, don’t be afraid to highlight your engineering niche and passion for your work. For example, if you’re a civil engineer, you could highlight your passion for infrastructure and helping make public spaces more accessible for civilians.

Practice your verbal presentation

You could have the most well-thought-out written project in the competition but you are unlikely to win if you cannot translate that information into a convincing verbal presentation. Practice your presentation before meeting with the judges and stick to a structure that highlights your key message.

One of the most traditional structures to stick is divided into three parts: an introduction detailing the purpose and what listeners can expect from the talk, a body covering the main points and a conclusion highlighting your key message. If you stick to this structure, your audience can better understand your viewpoints.

If you want to submit to the Engineering in Excellence Awards for 2024, the deadline is Friday, January 5, 2024. Participants must be available via phone on January 17 and attend the judging event on February 16 through 18. If the Engineering in Excellence Awards event doesn’t interest you right now but you want to become a member of ACEC Utah, visit our website to sign up and explore more membership benefits. You’ll gain access to weekly networking events in the Salt Lake City area and information on the ACEC Utah Scholarship for Utah Valley University students.