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Chapter YEOY Award Recipients

2026 Chapter Young Engineers of the Year

Bexar

Courtney Clark, P.E.

Dallas

Oscar Hernandez, P.E.

Dallas Chapter - Young Engineer of the Year

Inspired by early hands-on experience working in construction with his father, Oscar developed a passion for design, problem-solving, and turning concepts into reality. That curiosity led him to pursue engineering, drawn by its innovation and community impact. While he once dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player - or even a lawyer - engineering became his true path.

His most meaningful project is the Diamond Safety Interchange for the City of Plano, where he served as task lead and designed much of the project himself. It marked his first project as a Professional Engineer and a major career milestone. Oscar looks forward to what his engineering career will bring him next.

Oscar Hernandez, P.E.

El Paso

Diana Guerrero, P.E.

Greater Houston

Tania Acosta, EIT

Greater Houston Chapter - Young Engineer of the Year

Tania Acosta is a Graduate Engineer for the Geotechnical department at Raba Kistner, Inc.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from The University of Texas at Tyler and is currently pursuing her Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Oklahoma. Tania has made an impact in the engineering community, serving as Director 2 for TSPE, Mentorship Program Co-Chair for WTS, and Chair of the Volunteering and Fundraising Committees at Raba Kistner’s Houston office.

Outside of work, she enjoys hosting game nights, baking, volunteering, and knitting.

Tania Acosta, EIT

Preston Trail

Devan Ruiz, P.E.

Travis

Gaby Vasquez, M.S., EIT

Travis Chapter - Young Engineer of the Year

Gaby is a Geotechnical Engineer at Black & Veatch supporting power-sector projects and a standout leader in the engineering community. She currently serves as president of the Austin SWE chapter, a SWE senator, president of G‑I Austin of ASCE, and secretary for DFI’s Women in Deep Foundations Committee.

Gaby is also deeply committed to community service through the Junior League of Austin, volunteering with programs like Mother’s Milk Bank and Food‑in‑Tummies.

Gaby Vasquez, M.S., EIT

Congratulations to this year's 2026 chapter award winners! This page will continue to be updated as our award winners are announced.
Visit our Engineers Week page to learn more about upcoming chapter events in your area.

VIEW CHAPTER ENGINEER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS

2025 Chapter Award Winners

Bexar

Dane Wright, P.E.

Central Texas

Ryan Sexton, P.E.

Dallas

Julio Olvera, P.E.

DFW Mid-Cities

Christiana Noskin, P.E.

DFW Mid-Cities Chapter - Young Engineer of the Year

Christiana Noskin, P.E. is a project manager and design engineer at Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. With over eight years of experience, Christiana has been involved in the planning, design, and construction contract administration for various roadway projects primarily for local municipalities. These projects include reconstruction and rehabilitation of existing roadways, downtown revitalizations, park improvements, pedestrian facilities, and drainage and utility improvements. Christiana is a registered professional engineer in the state of Texas. She is an active member of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers - DFW Mid-Cities Chapter where she currently serves as a chapter coordinator for the annual MATHCOUNTS competition. She is a proud Buckeye, holding a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from The Ohio State University, alongside a Master of Business Administration from the University of Dallas. Christiana resides in the Lake Highlands neighborhood in Dallas with her husband, 8-month-old son, and rescue dog. In addition to wife and mom, she also holds the titles of yogi, needle pointer, pianist, sports-enthusiast, and baker.

Christiana Noskin, P.E.

El Paso

Troy Svede, P.E.

Fort Worth

Lindsay Lafferty, P.E.

Greater Houston

Kensley Cobb, P.E.

Greater Houston Chapter - Young Engineer of the Year

Kensley earned her Bachelors in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M in 2017. She began her career at CobbFendley where she is currently a project manager. Kensley is an active member of TSPE and has been volunteering for MATHCOUNTS for the last 7 years. She currently serves as the Greater Houston Chapter coordinator and is an at-large member on the Texas State MATHCOUNTS committee. When she is not at work, she enjoys gardening, doing puzzles, spending time in the mountains and playing board games with her husband.

Kensley Cobb, P.E.

Northeast Texas

Ike Bertels, EIT

Preston Trail

Jorge Gallosa, P.E.

South Plains

Tyler Krueger, P.E.

Panhandle Chapter - Young Engineer of the Year

Tyler Krueger, PE, has been named the 2025 TSPE South Plains Chapter Young Engineer of the Year, recognizing his technical excellence, leadership, and service in the field of environmental engineering.

As an associate and civil engineer in Parkhill’s Environmental Sector, Tyler has specialized in municipal solid waste (MSW) permitting, design, construction, and operations support for over a decade. His leadership has been instrumental in expanding the Environmental Sector team from six to 18 professionals, providing expertise in MSW regulations, groundwater monitoring, and compliance services across Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.

Click here to read more on the Parkhill website.

Tyler Krueger, P.E.

Travis

Hope Newton, P.E.

Travis Chapter - Young Engineer of the Year

Hope M. Newton, P.E., is a water/wastewater engineer at Kimley-Horn, specializing in water and wastewater conveyance design, facility design, and master planning for cities, utility providers, and municipal entities across Central Texas. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Hope became involved with the Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) due to its strong advocacy for the profession and its opportunities for professional development and networking. She first joined the TSPE Travis Chapter board through the Engineers Week Banquet Planning Committee and later served as Membership Chair, Secretary, and Vice President. Currently, Hope serves as the MATHCOUNTS Coordinator for the Travis Chapter.

In recognition of her contributions to the profession and her leadership within TSPE, Hope was recently honored as the 2025 TSPE Travis Chapter Young Engineer of the Year and a 2025 MATHCOUNTS Coordinator of the Year.

Hope Newton, P.E.

2024 Chapter Award Winners

Bexar

Larry Picasso, P.E.

Dallas

Tyler Huynh, EIT, CFM

Dallas Chapter - Young Engineer of the Year

Mr. Tyler Huynh has over four years of extensive experience and knowledge of preparing project scopes, delivery plan sets and budgets, hydraulic/hydrologic design, H&H reports, managing cost estimates, and feasibilities studies for transportation drainage design and water resources development projects. He currently serves as lead design engineer for TRC Inc. and has actively taken assistant project management responsibilities. Tyler’s career began in Dallas, Texas after graduating from Southern Methodist University in May 2019 with an Environmental Engineering degree. He held numerous positions in the student chapters of TSPE and ASCE, respectively. He started at Lina T Ramey Associates (LTRA) as a project engineer working on various water resources projects. He attributes his growth to the project managers and designers along the way that set a great learning foundation. Currently, Tyler works on significant solar projects and floodplain studies around the nation providing great service to the clients for TRC Inc. Tyler participates in volunteer activities in Dallas TSPE and ASCE in addition to Greenspace Dallas. He held various positions such as ASCE Sustainability/EWRI Activities Coordinator and Technical Co-chair Student Activities. Volunteer events include Future Cities, MATHCOUNTS, and For the Love of the Lake.

Tyler Huynh, EIT, CFM

DFW Mid-Cities

Brian Lee, P.E., CFM

El Paso

Estefany Ramos, P.E.

Fort Worth

Mason Jones, P.E.

Fort Worth Chapter - Young Engineer of the Year

Mason has been involved with TSPE as a member and Scholarship Director since January 2023. Last year, the chapter’s Scholarship Committee gave $15,000 to local high school students entering the field of engineering.

Professionally, most of Mason’s work has been restoring streams and rivers across the DFW metroplex in projects that allow him to indulge his passion for design and commitment to environmental stewardship.

Mason is an active member of the community volunteering for initiatives like the Tarrant County Food Bank and MathCounts, and serving as a Sunday School Teacher at Stonewater Church in Granbury.

Mason Jones, P.E.

Greater Houston

Elizabeth Byrd, P.E.

Greater Houston Chapter - Young Engineer of the Year

Elizabeth Byrd, P.E. is a Project Manager at BGE, Inc. She has 10 years of experience in the water and wastewater industry. Elizabeth is a professional engineer in Texas and obtained her bachelor's degree from Universidad Rafael Urdaneta in Maracaibo Venezuela and her master's degree from Florida International University in Miami.

Elizabeth currently serves as the TSPE Greater Houston Director 4, Engineers Week Past Chair and Awards Chair, and Houston Hispanic Architects and Engineers (HHAE) Past President. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys to travel, cook, spend time and make memories with her husband and son.

Elizabeth Byrd, P.E.

Northeast TX

Brittany Rouse, P.E.

Panhandle

Auston Gonzalez, P.E.

Permian Basin

Kellie Ward Painter, P.E.

Preston Trail

Waqar Fatimah, P.E.

Preston Trail Chapter - Young Engineer of the Year

Waqar Fatimah received her Bachelor's in Civil Engineering (2012) from the NED University of Engineering & Technology (Pakistan) and Master's in Civil Engineering (2016) from Texas A&M University (College Station, TX). She maintains professional licensure in Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, and is a certified floodplain manager (CFM). She is an active member of the TSPE Preston Trail Chapter, serving as State Director- 1st year and Scholarship Chair. She is also an active member of Texas Floodplain Management Association too. Waqar joined Halff in 2016 and has demonstrated remarkable growth in her career. Starting as an Engineer-in-Training, she progressed to become a Project Manager and currently holds the position of Team Leader in the Water Resources practice. In this role, she currently oversees daily activities of her team, ensures effective collaborations among team members, maintains client relations, manages projects for federal, public, and private-sector clients. Waqar serves as Work Package 1 Task Lead Production Manager for all Compass Base Level Engineering within FEMA Region 6.