The Daniel V. Terrell Paper Competition

 

The Region 4 Assembly of the American Society of Civil Engineers is proud to conduct the Daniel V. Terrell Paper Competition for Younger Members. This prestigious competition has been held for over 60 years and commemorates Dean Terrell's many years   of work and service to the Society and especially his leadership in the establishment of the District Council System, the predecessor of the Region 4 Assembly. All members, associate members or affiliates of ASCE (not including student members) who are 35 years of age or less on February 1, 2026, residing in Region 4, are eligible to submit papers in this competition. 

The Daniel V. Terrell competition topic (same as the topic for the society’s Daniel W. Mead Contest) must address professional ethics with respect to the following question or statement: 

Engineering the Public Welfare: How Civil Engineers Engage and Advance Communities Through Ethical Infrastructure 
Design in accordance with the ASCE Code of Ethics 

Civil engineering is not only about the design and construction of vertical and horizontal infrastructure. It is an essential part of 
shaping communities and building a better quality of life for all persons. In this essay, critically analyze the ethical responsibility of 
civil engineers to recognize the historical, cultural, and social needs of a community and to incorporate those considerations into 
their work. Discuss how civil engineers can engage with communities to develop solutions that protect historical and cultural 
resources, improve access and mobility, and expand economic and social opportunities. Use real-world examples and reflect on 
how emerging technologies and policies can support these objectives. 

 

 
The following rules apply to the Daniel V. Terrell Paper Competition:
 
  •  No individual may submit more than one paper in a given year.
  • Please include your ASCE member ID number, your name, and Section/Branch on the paper.
  • The paper shall be of such length that it can be presented orally in not more than fifteen minutes and contain no more than 2000 words.
  • Submit one electronic copy of the paper, preferably a PDF, with a cover letter to your Section President so that he/she can meet the March 1, 2026 submittal deadline. Entrants should coordinate with their respective Section well in advance of the submittal deadline, as the official submittal to the competition must come from the Section. Late submittals will not be accepted. Each Section is limited to two entries.
  • The paper must be presented orally, by the author, on April; 24, 2026, during the Region 4 Assembly at the Spring 2026 meeting, scheduled to be held  in Raleigh, NC. Confirm your presentation time prior to scheduling your travel to the event.  Virtual presentations are prohibited, and papers that are read verbatim, not presented, will be disqualified.
  • Contestants are encouraged to seek financial support from their Sections and Branches for associated travel expenses.
  • Reference citations of the papers should conform to official ASCE Journal Submission Guidelines, which can be found on the ASCE Publications website: http://ascelibrary.org/page/authorservicesjournals. Plagiarism is not acceptable and reference citations will be considered under scoring for Originality.
 
AWARDS:
• First Place - Bronze plaque (see picture on front) + $500 cash prize
• Second Place - $250 cash prize
 
COMPETITION SCORING:
Presentation of Paper - 50% (Delivery and Effectiveness - 30%, Choice of Words, Literary Style Pronunciation and Enunciation - 15%, Timing - 5%)
Content of Paper - 50% (Material - 25%, Acquaintance with subject - Scope - 15%, Originality - Independence - 5%, Arrangement - 5%) 
 

Click here for Past Terrell Paper Winners.

DV Terrell Paper Competition Rules