This annual event provided the opportunity for SJSU's engineering students to network with potential employers and provide an update on their activites over the past year
The SJSU ACI Student Chapter showcased an exciting year of growth, innovation, and hands‑on learning through national engineering competitions, industry collaboration, and student leadership. From designing and testing advanced concrete and FRP systems to presenting alongside top universities across the country, the chapter demonstrated its commitment to technical excellence and real‑world experience.
Members highlighted standout performances in multiple competitions, the value of learning through both success and failure, and the collaborative effort that goes into mix design, fabrication, testing, and analysis. The presentation also spotlighted the team’s preparation for an upcoming FRP composite competition in Chicago, supported by extensive laboratory work and industry partnerships.
Beyond competitions, the chapter emphasized its strong focus on professional development, outreach, and community—through fundraising efforts, industry engagement, “lunch and learn” events, and social activities. With ambitious plans ahead and continued support from sponsors and partners, the SJSU ACI Student Chapter is building not just concrete structures, but the next generation of engineering leaders.
Ali Banaeipour, PhD—structural engineer with AECOM and a Chapter member—presented Engineering Presentations That Command Respect: How to Deliver Effective Technical Talks, a practical and engaging program on improving technical communication. He emphasized how thoughtful slide design, clear storytelling, and deliberate practice can significantly elevate the effectiveness of engineering presentations. Key guidance included using graphs instead of dense text to highlight trends, simplifying equations to focus on core concepts, limiting on‑slide text to essential keywords, and using animations sparingly to clarify—not distract from—technical ideas.
Takeaway: Technical presentations earn respect when they rely on clear visuals, simplified content, and purposeful delivery rather than excessive detail or visual clutter.
President Michael Smith presented a $25,000 check to SJSU Faculty Advisor Dr. Akthem Al-Manaseer and Department Chair Laura Sullivan Green, completing the Chapter's $100,000 endowment commitment to the SJSU ACI Student Chapter.
The Chapter would like to thank the San Jose State University students, Dr. Banaeipour, the staff of Dave & Buster's, and all those in attendance that made this a sucessful and enjoyable evening.