The NCSEA Foundation is proud to announce it has received a grant from the NCEES Foundation to launch a new outreach program designed to inspire future structural engineers and to promote the importance of professional licensure.
The new initiative introduces K-12 students to the world of structural engineering through hands-on learning. At its core are educational toolkits featuring interactive, play-based materials like Play-Doh, LEGOs, and Mola kits. These activities are designed to spark curiosity, encourage problem-solving, and showcase the role structural engineers play in shaping safe, resilient communities.
In addition to the classroom-focused materials, the program provides Structural Engineers Associations (SEAs) with a comprehensive advocacy toolkit. This resource equips state associations to communicate the value of structural engineering and professional licensure to their communities and local policymakers. By highlighting how licensure protects public safety and upholds the quality of the built environment, the toolkit empowers SEAs to strengthen their existing outreach efforts.
This initiative builds on the momentum of NCSEA’s We SEE Above & Beyond campaign, which aims to elevate the visibility of structural engineers among architects, building owners and managers, and the broader AEC industry. Through this grant, the NCSEA Foundation extends that mission to the next generation, ensuring students not only learn what structural engineers do, but also understand the critical role licensure plays in protecting the public.
“This initiative represents an important step forward in elevating the visibility of structural engineers and the critical role we play in protecting the public,” said Foundation Board President Tom Grogan, P.E., S.E., F.ASCE. “By combining hands-on STEM education with advocacy resources that highlight the value of professional licensure, we’re equipping our SEAs to engage communities, inspire future engineers, and strengthen the profession as a whole.”
The NCSEA Foundation plans to roll out the pilot program with select SEAs later this year, gathering feedback before expanding the initiative nationwide.
For more information about the NCSEA Foundation and the We SEE Above & Beyond campaign, visit ncsea.com/foundation and weseeaboveandbeyond.com.