headshot of jason stith

June 12, 2016

Former student Jason Stith (PhD 2010) received the National Society of Professional Engineers 2016 Young Engineer of the Year Award. This award recognizes a young NSPE member who has made outstanding contributions to the engineering profession and community during the early years of one's career

Stith is a structural engineer at Michael Baker International in Louisville, KY.  Since joining the firm after graduation, he has made significant contributions to several major bridge projects throughout Kentucky touching on every stage of a bridge’s life cycle. He played an integral role in the design of twin arch bridges at Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, vastly improving traveling safety and convenience in tourism-rich western Kentucky.

aerial view of kentucky lake bridge

Kentucky Lake Bridge features a 550-foot-long basket-handle tied-arch main span.

Additionally, Stith helped design the replacement span for the Eggner’s Ferry Bridge, which was completed just four months after it was heavily damaged by a cargo ship.  He was also instrumental in the evaluation and the development of rehabilitation plans for the Sherman Minton Bridge, where a fracture critical member resulted in the closure of the structure that carries more than 80,000 vehicle per day.

Stith chairs the AASHTO/NSBA Steel Bridge Collaboration task group which provides best practice guidelines and industry standards. He also volunteered through Missionary Air Group to help design a retrofit for a suspension bridge across a river in Honduras so locals could cross safely and access the area hospital. He also contributes to continuing education and certification programs for Kentucky engineers and serves as a mentor and frequent speaker at local schools.