Ruby+Associates’ Sarah Bednarcik Wins Young Engineer Award

The Structural Engineers Association of Michigan (SEAMi) has selected Sarah Bednarcik, P.E., Project Engineer with Ruby+Associates, as the recipient of the 2017 Young Structural Engineer of the Year award. The award was presented during SEAMi’s Spring Conference at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing on Thursday, May 11th. The award is presented each year to a structural engineer who has been practicing in the field for 12 years or less, in recognition of their outstanding achievements in engineering and contributions to improve the quality of life for people around them.

Sarah’s four-year tenure with Ruby has allowed her to make quite an impact on the firm. She quickly received her Engineer in Training status following graduation from the Pennsylvania State University in 2013, where she earned an integrated Bachelor and Master of Architectural Engineering degree with Structural Option. In 2016 she passed her exams and earned her Professional Engineering (PE) license. She has been an integral part of Ruby’s engineering team, specifically working on automotive projects for General Motors.

Sarah’s efforts outside of the office are perhaps even more impressive. As an avid swimmer since grade school and through her college years, Sarah is an assistant coach for a Special Olympics swim team. In 2016, she co-organized the Ruby office team that participated in the Life Remodeled program in Detroit. The nonprofit group organizes teams of volunteers to remodel schools and other community assets.

Sarah discovered how to utilize her strong engineering skills while serving the less fortunate in a global way while volunteering with Engineering Ministries International. For the last few years, Sarah has joined teams of volunteer engineers, architects and surveyors on trips to complete design projects in poor, developing countries. Sarah has traveled as far as Kenya and Nicaragua to assist in designing an orphanage and a campus master plan.