Matt Salmon and Kiara Horton Honored with ASCE New Orleans Branch Awards
Congratulations to Matt Salmon (Water Resource Design) and Kiara Horton (Environmental Science), who have been recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) New Orleans Branch for their contributions to the engineering field and the local community.
The branch celebrated Matt and Kiara in August at the annual luncheon where board members were inducted for the new term and award winners were acknowledged for their achievements.
Matt Salmon
Outreach Award
Matt was honored with the “Outreach Award,” recognizing his leadership as ASCE’s Outreach Chair since 2022.
Matt has been involved with ASCE for several years, starting with his work on the Baton Rouge board in 2018. After relocating to New Orleans in 2021, he quickly engaged with the chapter’s outreach initiatives. Matt has participated in events with organizations such as the Girl Scouts and the Louisiana Children’s Museum.
At local events and festivals, he also uses fun techniques for sharing engineering with the community.
“The Outreach Award confirms that I’m helping the local ASCE chapter meet its goals for community outreach,” Matt said. “Our focus is on connecting with the community through fun, engaging activities, and we are working to expand outreach into schools.”
Matt said he enjoys building connections to help people become familiar with what engineers do and the impact they have on daily life.
Kiara Horton
Outstanding Young Civil Engineer of the Year Award
Kiara was named the ASCE New Orleans Branch’s Outstanding Young Civil Engineer of the Year. The award celebrates her significant contributions to the field of civil engineering, particularly in water resource design, coastal engineering, and hydrology and hydraulics modeling.
Since joining ASCE in 2021, Kiara has been an active member, attending monthly meetings and volunteering for various initiatives.
Kiara said that receiving the award shows that her efforts have been noticed. “Although I don’t stay involved for the recognition, it makes me happy to see that my work is well-received.”
She said the award motivates her to continue her path, inspiring others through her dedication to her profession and the broader community.