2025 ASHE NE Scholarship & Award Gala Highlights: Bringing Together Industry Professionals and Future Leaders

On February 17, 2026, the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE) New England Chapter proudly hosted its inaugural Annual Scholarship & Awards Gala at the The Row Hotel at Assembly Row. The evening brought together members, partners, and friends of the chapter to celebrate outstanding achievements across the transportation and infrastructure community.

The evening featured remarks from our distinguished guest speaker Luisa Paiewonsky, Exec. Dir. MassDOT Megaprojects, special guest Patricia Leavenworth, MassDOT District 2 Highway Director, as well as a brief address from Jim Shea, National President of ASHE. We are grateful for their insights and for joining us to celebrate this milestone event for our chapter.

Luisa Paiewonsky Exec. Dir. MassDOT Megaprojects	Patricia Leavenworth District 2 Highway Director, MBTA	Jim Shea National President of ASHE

During the event, We were honored to present the ASHE NE Scholarship to Brooke Burrows, recognizing her academic achievements and commitment to the future of the transportation profession. She is a sophomore at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (Class of 2028), majoring in environmental engineering, with a 3.9 GPA. Watch the video to know more about Brooke!
	Brooke Burrows Receipiant of ASHE NE 2025 Scholarship

We’re welcoming more individuals and teams to participate in next year’s Scholarship & Project of the Year Awards. Please see the links for the submission criteria.
2025 Individual Achievement Awards
	Person of the Year – A member whose impact of Massachusets trasnportation, and on the people who serve it, cannot be overstated. John Bechard, P.E. Deputy Chief Engineer, MassDOT
	Young Member of the Year – A member who has made outstanding constricutions to the highway and transportation industry, and whithon our community, during their early career. Monica Saideh, P.E. Transportation Engineer, Nitsch Engineering
	Member of the Year– A member who has notable achievements, made tremendous impact, brought their energy, committment, and passion within ASHE New England over the past year. Kristine Gorman, VP, Parsons Transportation Group
	Lifetime Achievement Award – A member who would always offer guidance, encouragement, and a help hand to everyone within the ASHE, and has shown genrosity and dedication from the start.  Rhonda Cardone, Director of Marketing and Client Services, Dewberry

2025 Project of The Year Awards
	North East Project of the Year Under $30M
	West Route Main Line over South Elm Street
	Owner: MBTA
	Lead Designer: WSP
	Contractor: MAS Building and Bridge

	Project of the Year Under $30M
	Rehabilitation of Devon Bridge over Housatonic River
	Owner: CDOT
	Lead Designer: M&J Engineering
	Contractor: Mohawk Northeast Inc.

	Project of the Year $30M - $100M
	Winchester Center Station Rehabilitation
	Owner: MBTA
	Lead Designer: Jacobs
	Contractor: Barletta Heavy

	Project of the Year Over $100M
	Route 79/ Davol Street Improvements
	Owner: MassDOT
	Lead Designer: HNTB
	Contractor: D.W. White/ SPS

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to our Platinum Event Sponsors, as well as our Drink Sponsors and Dessert Sponsors, whose generous support made this event possible. Check out the right sidebar to view our event sponsors and annual sponsors.

Thank you to our board members, committee directors, and volunteers who made this event possible, and to the rising professionals from Wentworth Institute of Technology and Northeastern University who joined us for the evening. We’re excited to welcome even more students and young professionals into the ASHE community in the years ahead. Special thanks to Mitch Cardone, our Website IT specialist, for training our team and always being so friendly and helpful.

Young Professionals/ Students - Vinitha Bhat, Vaishnaavi Tigulla, Meghana Tigulla, Lisa Peterson

Executive Board of Directors

President

Carrie Lavallee

Massachusetts Department of Transportation

 

Treasurer

Sarah Tanner

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

 

Secretary

Andrew Clarke

Stantec Consulting Services, Inc.

 

	Committee Directors & Volunteers Director of Marketing & Comminications Committee - Kristine Gorman (Front row, first from the left) Director of Mentoring/ Young Members & Student Chapter Committee - Joseph Strafaci (Back row, first from the left) Director of Membership Committee - Monica Saideh (Front row, in the middle) Director of Sponsorship Committee - Theresa O'Riorden (Front row, third from the right) Director of Scholarship & Awards Committee - Dieckmann Cogill (Back row, second from the left) Communications Volunteer - Yingning Ma (Front row, second from the right) Annual Programs & Events Volunteer - Zachary Hellyar (Back row, first from the right) Annual Programs & Events Volunteer - Justin Hoffart (First row, first from the right) Annual Programs & Events Volunteer - Mina Saleh (Special thanks to Mina and EnTech, who helped prepare the printed program but was unable to join us at the event)
	Volunteers at the Registration Alina Dess Kevin Ross Chhayal Shah
	Multi Committee Volunteer - Susan Gavini (First from the left)

Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make our first Annual Scholarship & Awards Gala such a memorable and meaningful celebration. We look forward to building on this tradition in the years ahead.

See you next time :)

#DRIVETHEFUTURE