News and Announcements
UNF Construction Management Team Triumphs in AIC Ethics Competition again in 2025!
Once again this year, the UNF Construction Management team earned first place in the American Institute of Constructors (AIC) Ethics Competition! Over the past five years, our program has consistently excelled, securing first place three times and second place twice—a remarkable milestone of five consecutive years of top-tier performance.
The competition consisted of two components: a written submission and an oral presentation. I'm proud to share that UNF took first place in both sections this year.
A huge congratulations to our outstanding 2025 team—Ephraim Mambu, Alvi Hoxha, Dr. Kim, Elma Mesic, and Nicholas Slowey (pictured from left to right)—for their dedication, professionalism, and hard work. You’ve made us all incredibly proud!
Construction Management (CM) Students take back 1st at the 2024 American Institute of Constructors (AIC) Ethics Competition
The Construction Management (CM) Ethics Team at the University of North Florida (UNF) has won 1st place at the 2024 American Institute of Constructors (AIC) Ethics Competition. The team achieved the top positions for both the written component and the oral presentation. As a reward, our team received a $1,000 prize from the AIC.
The team has participated in the competition four times in the past 4 years, and this is the second time they have won 1st place. In the previous attempts, they secured 2nd place twice. Our team has an excellent track record and a bright future ahead, with the potential to make history in the AIC Student Competition.
The undergraduate students' team was led by Gabriel Dioso, with Liam Worth, Austin Conway, Evan Brown, and Jackson Abshier, and Dr. Jonghoon ‘John’ Kim was their academic advisor.
If you want to join our team, please contact Dr. Jonghoon Kim, jongkim@unf.edu
Construction Mgt. Team Moves From 2nd to 1st In 2022
What a difference a year makes. Our UNF Construction Management students are the best of the best winning 1st place overall in the National Ethics Competition held by the American Institute of Contractors.
In 2021 our incredible team won 2nd overall on their first attempt. This year, on the team's 2nd attempt, Brent Akers, Gabriel Dioso, Anthony Andrade, and Genesis Ernest, led by team coach Dr. Jonghoon 'John' Kim and industry advisor from Whiting-Turner Jeff McPhaul, brought home the 'big trophy!' Swoop!
New Faces in Civil Engineering - One of the best!
March 10, 2022
Tiffany Ritch is one of 10 collegiate New Faces of Civil Engineers by the American Society of Civil Engineers, an Osprey who soars in the industry. Each year, the ASCE chooses the brightest new stars, and Osprey, Tiffany Ritch has demonstrated academic excellence, community service work, organization leadership, communication skills, and industry involvement that rivals the best of the best. So, from your Osprey family, congas, Tiffany, you deserve it!
UNF's National Association of Home Builders Club achieves 2nd place!
February 1, 2022
The NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) student competition took place in Orlando from 2/7-2/9, UNF's Construction Management team won the 2nd place out of 27 teams this year! We placed 16th out of 32 teams in 2021.
With preparation starting in summer, UNF’s team beat programs from Purdue University, Michigan State, and the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Congratulations Ospreys! You are what UNF is all about!
Osprey Luke Delaney named NASA Astronaut Candidate
November 7, 2021
Luke Delaney, UNF graduate of the School of Engineering has the right stuff.
NASA announced 10 astronaut candidates on Monday, selecting a group from more than 12,000 applications.
Luke Delaney was selected by NASA to join the 2021 Astronaut Candidate Class. He reports for duty in January 2022. The Florida native holds degrees in mechanical and aerospace engineering, and was a distinguished naval aviator participating in exercises throughout the Asia Pacific region and conducting combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Luke Graduated Deltona High School in 1997. Earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of North Florida, Jacksonville, in 2006 and a master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, in 2016.
Dr. Mona Nasseri - Seizure Forecasting with Wrist-Worn Devices
A study in Scientific Reports demonstrated seizure forecasting using a noninvasive wrist-warn multimodal sensor is significantly better than a random predictor in ambulatory ultra-long-term recordings of patients with epilepsy for most patients studied.
The Mayo Clinic is hopeful. Published research conducted by UNF's Dr. Mona Nasseri et al. about wearable devices may pave the way toward integrating seizure forecasting into clinical practice in the future.
Engineers Bent the Rules, and May Have Saved New Orleans
After Category 5 Hurricane Katrina caused the deaths of over 1,800 people, the federal government funneled billions of tax dollars to prevent that devastation from happening again. However, Dr. Don Resio, at the time a technical supervisor in the Corps of Engineers, decided to push the calculated numbers beyond the traditional 100-year storm threshold to ensure the results would accomplish just that. That judgment call some would proclaim “bending the rules” may have been why New Orleans survived the fierce Hurricane Ida.
Don and Carol Ditzenberger
Don and Carol Ditzenberger started their journey together in physics class where they eventually became high school sweethearts and later, husband and wife. Don choosing to pursue Engineering and Carol, Education, the Ditzenberger’s appreciate learning and what an asset higher education can be in chasing your dreams. "We think it's important to give back, and we appreciate having the opportunity to help others realize their hopes and dreams for a better life," Don said. As a result, Don and Carol generously established an endowed fellowship within the UNF Taylor Engineering Research Institute for a masters student in the coastal and port program.