Student of the Year

Brianne Salmons, M.P.M., Graduate Student of the Year

Brianne Salmons, who recently completed a Masters in Project Management from Western Carolina University, was selected as the Rahall Transportation Institute’s (RTI) 2011 Student of the Year. Her primary goal as a full-time graduate student and project manager at RTI focuses on assisting with the management of multi-modal transportation research programs and projects. From developing scopes of work to overseeing schedules and budgets, Salmons works closely with principle investigators to ensure transportation projects are delivered within the proper time frames. Salmons has been instrumental in developing RTI’s livable and sustainable transportation initiatives, most specifically with the creation of an extensive bicycle and pedestrian trail system in Huntington, W.Va. By using her experience with alternate transportation systems and the knowledge obtainedthrough her master’s degree, she has provided guidance for the development of a project management plan that is being used for the City of Hurricane to create a similar system to Huntington’s.

“Brie’s professionalism and leadership has been proven over and over. She has worked diligently to test and investigate existing project management software packages available on the market, and then to recommend and implement the chosen tool,” Kim Baker, Administrative Operations Officer, said. “She is highly motivated and very much a team player.”

Brandon Huffman, Undergraduate Student of the Year, Bluefield State University

Huffman was nominated by Bruce V. Mutter, CEO, Chair of the Center for Applied Research and Technology at Bluefield State. Huffman is a senior Civil Engineering Technology major who also earned a Bachelor of Science inNatural Science from Bluefield State. He is president of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is currently working as a CAD instructor for the Mercer County Technical Education Center, was recently selected as an intern for Consol Energy’s safety department and also works for Willis Engineering on a part-time basis.

“Brandon is an excellent Civil Engineering Technology student and leader,” Mutter said.

Joshua Cook, Undergraduate Student of the Year, WVU Institute of Technology

Cook was nominated by Steven Leftwich, Ph.D., P.E., who said Cook, “performed brilliantly in his classes.” He is president of the Student Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers and has worked as a research lab assistant for two years, performing research on the bioremediation of mercury polluted wastewater from coal mines. He has worked as a summer intern for the WV Department of Highways and ArchCoal. He was also a recipient of the RTI scholarship during his freshman year, and has received the Promise Scholarship and Massey Scholarship.

“Josh is indeed a student that WVU Institute of Technology can be proud of,” Leftwich said.

Each year, one Graduate Student of the Year is competitively selected to represent RTI at the Council of University Transportation Centers’ (CUTC) banquet, which takes place during the annual Transportation Research Board Conference in Washington, D.C., each January. The Graduate Student of the Year receives $1,000 plus the cost of attendance (conference registration and travel/lodging expenses) at the TRB Annual Meeting, two free registrations to the CUTC and a certificate from US Department of Transportation.

Eligible candidates must have completed with a grade of B or better at least 12 hours of graduate course work at the time the selection is made and have a graduate GPA in excess of 3.25 (out of 4.00). Eligible candidates must be a legal resident in the United States and enrolled in a transportation-related program or completed a degree in the current calendar year (2011). Selection is competitive and based upon accomplishments in three areas:

  • Technical Merit and Research – Evaluation of submitted written papers or reports;
  • Academic Performance – Evidence of professionalism and leadership in the form of presentations at professional society meetings and symposia; and
  • Professionalism and Leadership – Demonstrated leadership in student or professional activities.
In 2011, RTI recognized Undergraduate Students of the Year from each of its partner schools, WVU Institute of Technology and Bluefield State University. One student was competitively selected from each school and received a $500 award and the opportunity to serve as a Graduate Assistant at RTI if they enroll in a transportation related graduate program at Marshall University in FY13 (2012-2013).

Eligible candidates must be a graduating senior with a minimum GPA of 3.00 (out of 4.00), a legal resident in the United States and enrolled in a transportation-related program or completed a degree in 2011.

Selection is based upon accomplishments in three areas:

  • Technical Merit and Research – Evaluation of submitted written papers or reports;
  • Academic Performance – Evidence of professionalism and leadership in the form of presentations at professional society meetings and symposia; and
  • Professionalism and Leadership – Demonstrated leadership in student or professional activities.
Previous RTI Outstanding Students of the Year include:

2010 – Peter J. Dailey
2009 – Amy Blankenship
2006 – David Lawson
2005 – Chandra Inglis-Smith
2004 – Errin Jewell
2003 – Peter J. Dailey
2002 – Nathan Bowe
2001 – Sean Litteral
2000 – Kim Lewis