Brenda Shonkwiler, of engineering consultants Gifford, has been awarded the Young Structural Engineer of the Year Award for 2007.

This annual award, presented by Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), acknowledges young structural engineers who demonstrate outstanding performance and show exceptional promise for the future.

Brenda, 27, is currently an Assistant Engineer with engineering consultancy Gifford. Her case study project was the £25 million South Bromsgrove High School which comprised a three-storey building, with a steel-framed sports hall forming an additional wing to the main building. The judges noted that not only did Brenda clearly describe her work and her learnings, she also demonstrated that she was an integral part of the design team.

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Brenda will be presented with her award at the IStructE Annual Dinner on 11 May 2007 and will receive a prize of £1,500 and a certificate of commendation.

Brenda’s achievement is further evidence that young female structural engineers have a great deal to offer the profession, and increasingly attain outstanding success in this male-dominated industry. She is the fourth woman to win the award since it was launched in 2000.

(CL)