Western New England University’s Civil Engineering Surveying Team has once again earned top honors, capturing First Place at the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Regional Competition for the second consecutive year. With the win, the team advanced to the 2026 ASCE UESI Surveying Society-wide Finals Competition this June in West Virginia.

The six-member team—John Dafonseca, Sean Ebanks ’26, Jacob Lyons ’26 (captain), Michael Mason, Henry Ryczek, and Julien St. Jean—represents the strength of WNE’s hands-on approach to engineering education. Guided by faculty advisor Frank Blachly, the students demonstrated exceptional technical skill, teamwork, and professionalism throughout the competition.

Designed to mirror real-world engineering challenges, the competition includes both office-based and field components. Prior to the event, students analyzed more than 12,000 survey points to develop a detailed site plan, which they later presented to a panel of professional surveyors. In the field, they competed in timed events requiring precision, adaptability, and collaboration.

Their performance stood out for both accuracy and efficiency. Across all tasks, the team consistently matched or nearly matched judges’ values while completing the work ahead of schedule.

During the competition, one professional judge summed up the team’s performance: “I am going to hire this team.”

Surveying plays a critical role in civil engineering, ensuring that infrastructure projects—from roadways to utilities—are built accurately and safely. The team’s success highlights the importance of precision in translating design into reality.