KENNESAW, Ga. | Jul 9, 2025

For civil engineering student Anthony Marteniuc, leading Kennesaw State University’s Steel Bridge Competition Team has been more than an extracurricular activity. It has been a year-long mission to rebuild a program with a proud legacy on the Marietta Campus.

In recognition of his efforts, Marteniuc recently earned the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Georgia Section Student of the Year award. The recognition, presented at the ASCE Georgia Section Annual Awards Gala last month, celebrates Marteniuc’s leadership, academic performance, and unwavering commitment to the civil engineering field.

“Anthony is a remarkable example of student leadership, commitment, and resilience,” said Lawrence Whitman, dean of the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology. “This award reflects the passion and integrity he brings to both his academics and his team. He is leaving his mark as a model graduate here at SPCEET, equipped to drive innovation and solve complex challenges.”

Originally from Alpharetta, Marteniuc has served as captain of the Steel Bridge Competition Team, where he spent nearly a year restructuring and guiding a group of mostly first-time members through regional and national competitions. Under his leadership, the team recently placed seventh nationally at the 2025 Student Steel Bridge Competition, hosted at Iowa State University.

“I gave everything I had to keep the team alive, and this award reflects that sacrifice,” Marteniuc said. “But for me, the real reward was making sure we qualified for nationals and ensuring the team’s future.”

When Marteniuc took over, the team was in a transition period. Their experienced members had graduated, and longtime faculty support had retired. Under his leadership, the team restructured, recruited new members, and trained from scratch while maintaining their national competition streak.

“What makes me happiest is knowing that the team will still be here when I graduate,” he said. “Now our new recruits can lead the way forward. We are building something that lasts.”

Marteniuc emphasizes that the credit belongs to more than just him. He highlighted the role of KSU alumnus Kushal Ankola, who returned after graduating to lead structural modeling and guide the team through a key rebuilding phase. Marteniuc insists the award is as much Ankola’s as his own, acknowledging Ankola’s support and ensuring his name was honored during the award presentation.

“I came in knowing nothing, and they taught me everything,” he said. “Now, I want to become a licensed structural engineer. It is intimidating. One small mistake can cause a building to fail, but I want to take that challenge head-on.”

Looking ahead, Marteniuc hopes to return to KSU one day and see the Steel Bridge Competition Team thriving.

“I told them I want to come back as an old man and say, ‘That was my team.’ That is the legacy I hope to leave behind,” he said.

– Story by Raynard Churchwell

Photo provided

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.