Kevin Young, Assistant Professor of Practice in the Via Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering was honored with the 2016 College of Engineering Sporn Award. The winner of the Sporn award is selected by the Student Engineers’ Council from over 300 faculty members in the college. It is given annually to an engineering faculty member who has demonstrated excellence in undergraduate instruction.
Young is a popular professor among civil and environmental engineering students due to his thoroughness in class and willingness to help students succeed outside of the classroom. “He is always there to help his students, whether during office hours or via email,” noted senior Ryan Roman. “He is a great presenter, delivers clear lectures and makes an effort to explain any and all questions in class.” This was a common theme among student comments, as many noted his commitment to teaching excellence, but also his career guidance and mentoring.
Young is a Virginia Tech alumnus, earning his B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering in 2000 and an M.S. in Hydrosystems Engineering in 2006. Prior to joining the faculty at Virginia Tech, he was a Project Engineer at Anderson & Associates, Inc. He is also a Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Currently, he teaches Civil and Environmental Engineering Measurements, Land Development Design, and Introduction to Land Development Design.
He also serves alongside fellow CEE faculty member Dr. Randy Dymond as the Assistant Coordinator of Land Development Design Initiative (LDDI). LDDI is a collaborative effort of the Via Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and industry practitioners. Young has been an integral part of the growth LDDI has experienced over the past ten years, and his contributions to the program have helped to advance educational efforts inside and outside of the classroom.
This isn’t the first time that Young has received awards for his teaching excellence. In 2015, he was awarded with a College of Engineering Certificate of Teaching Excellence. In 2013, he was honored with the G.V. Loganathan Faculty Achievement Award.
The Sporn Awards are made possible by gifts from Dr. and Mrs. Philip J. Sporn and the alumni of the university. They are presented to a professor of undergraduate engineering subjects, as well as a college award, a teacher of introductory subjects award, and an overall university award.
Young will be honored at the annual Engineering Leadership Luncheon in Owens Banquet Hall on April 27, 2016.