In recognition of Earth Day, TCNJ XE once again partnered with the Watershed Institute for the annual Colonial Lake Cleanup. Members, alumni, and initiates worked hard to collect 80 pounds of litter!! Thank you to all who came out on this rainy and cold day to help keep our waterways clean and improve animal habitats in and around Colonial Lake.

TCNJ XE members, alumni, and initiates who participated in the lake cleanup

Our President Jasmyn is hard at work.

Team effort in removing a fishing line.

Our Initiates, Jack and Liam, braved the weather to help clean up the lake.

On April 1st, XE welcomed our alumni member Erin Dovel (’11) and other members of  NJ-AWRA, who presented three water resources projects. The presentations highlighted key challenges and solutions in water management, providing insight into real-world applications of hydrologic and environmental engineering principles.

TCNJ XE alumni member Erin Dovel is presenting

On April 22nd, XE co-hosted a technical seminar with ASCE and ITE, welcoming Arora and Associates. Aarthy Sabesan discussed how big data can be leveraged to improve decision-making when analyzing multi-year crash data across roadways, demonstrating how advanced data analytics can enhance transportation safety and planning.

Aarthy Sabesan from Arora is presenting

Thank you to all presenters for taking the time to share their professional expertise with engineering students.

Happy Proud To Be a Civil Engineer Day! Since 2018, TCNJ XE has celebrated April 10th by showcasing our passion for designing and building a better, safer, and more sustainable future. We truly are proud to be civil engineers!

TCNJ XE Members and Initiates

Congratulations goes to the following candidates for fulfilling the requirements and becoming eligible for induction into the XE chapter at TCNJ:

Colin Menier, Jack Nolan, Liam Ryan, and Garrett Totten

TCNJ XE 2026 Initiates: Liam, Jack, Colin, and Garrett

On March 31, TCNJ’s XE chapter and the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity once again co-hosted the Kids Day Out event. Children from Homefront visited TCNJ for a day of fun activities, games, and pizza. Our candidates, Liam Ryan, Colin Menier, and Garrett Totten, helped set up and clean up for the event. They also assisted children during their activities and created a fun, safe environment where children could play games, eat pizza, and participate in simple competitions, such as a marshmallow tower-building competition. Thank you to our candidates for making this event a success.

TCNJ’s Chi Epsilon chapter was excited to meet future Civil Engineering students at the Accepted Students Day on 3/28 and 4/11. Our senior members, Max, Zach, Phil, Joey, and Sonny, represented our organization at the involvement fair, while Dr. Krstic and Dr. Bechtel hosted a Q&A session for students and families to learn more about the Civil Engineering department at TCNJ. We would like to thank our alumni for joining us and for providing more insight on how TCNJ prepared them for their careers: Jillian Stanton (’24), Josh Romero (’24), John Beringer (’14), Anthony LaRegina (’19), Jessica Press (’16), and Austin Farnum (’21). Thank you to everyone who joined us in welcoming some future Civil Engineering students to TCNJ!

TCNJ XE senior members at the 2026 Accepted Students Day Involvement Fair; from left: Max, Zach, and Phil

TCNJ XE senior members at the 2026 Accepted Students Day Involvement Fair; from left: Joey adn Sonny

TCNJ XE alumni attending the 2026 Accepted Students Day; from left: Anthony LaRegina (’19), Jill Stanton (’24), Josh Romero (’24), and John Beringer (’14)

On March 11, TCNJ XE members, Spring 2026 candidates, and prospective Fall 2026 candidates competed in our annual Spring Scavenger Hunt. Each team was given a list of clues that had them locate items throughout Armstrong Hall and STEM Building such as the ASCE Steel Monument, the bridge between the STEM and Biology buildings, and the Fred O. Armstrong painting. The competition was very close with top three teams returning within seconds of each other. In the end the team Hello Kitty consisting of our senior member Max Dawson, our junior member Aren Kahn, and our junior candidate Colin Menier came on top with an impressive time of just 11 minutes and 29 seconds! We look forward to continuing this tradition in the coming years!

TCNJ XE members, candidates and prospective fall members participating in the Spring Scavenger Hunt

Hello Kitty team found our technician Mike Steeil who was one of the clues; from left: Colin, Mike, Max, and Aren

Sunset Cove team with the painting of Fred Armstrong; from left: Sonny, Hannah, and Zach

On 3/4, TCNJ Chi Epsilon, along with the TCNJ Chapters of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Women in Business (WIB), National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and Theta Tau, had the opportunity to explore real‑world construction careers through a Women in Construction Week panel hosted by the NAWIC Princeton Chapter. Representatives from the trades, engineering, architecture, project management, safety, and business operations shared their career paths, the technical demands of their roles, and what it meant to work as part of the 11% of women in the industry. The event included open networking before and after the discussion, allowing students to ask questions, seek advice, and build connections with women actively shaping the construction industry.

NAWIC Panelists

Panel discussion in progress

On February 25, 2026, TCNJ XE members and candidates collaborated with the ASCE and HE student clubs to stage a Steel Bridge construction demonstration. Members of the 2026 Steel Bridge team were on hand to guide students in bridge construction. After assembling the bridge, XE members competed for the coveted Krstic Cup. This year, the task was to build the tallest and sturdiest windy tower out of paper and tape that could withstand the wind from a small fan without toppling over. Congratulations go to our junior members, Mary, Lindsey, Rhea, and Riley, for their very inventive solution!

Bridge assembly in progress

Members of XE, ASCE, and HE showcase the 2026 TCNJ Steel Bridge

Emily, Terrell, Rebecca, and Jasmin are hard at work constructing their paper tower

Paper tower competition entries

2026 Krstic Cup winners Lindsey, Mary, Rhea, and Riley

On 2/13 and 2/20, Chi Epsilon, along with the TCNJ Chapters of the Society of Women Engineers and Theta Tau, volunteered at a Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey badge event for Brownies and Juniors. Volunteers helped the scouts “think like engineers” by guiding them through the engineering design process and a series of hands‑on building activities, including paddle boats, balloon cars, cranes, leap bots, fling flyers, and race car tracks.

Throughout the event, Chi Epsilon members shared insights from their own engineering experiences, giving the girls a meaningful look into what it’s like to study and explore the field. The chapter is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with SWE and Theta Tau and to help inspire the next generation of engineers!

TCNJ XE members Sarah, Rebecca, Rhea, and Jasmyn at the Girl Scouts event.

Young engineers at work during the event.