Jeff Gilliland (J2 Engineers) leads SLDC members through a hands-on Value Engineering session during a club meeting in February ‘19
Jeff Gilliland (J2 Engineers) leads SLDC members through a hands-on Value Engineering session during a club meeting in February ‘19

The fall 2018 semester marked the most active to date for the Sustainable Land Development Club (SLDC). During the semester, the Club hosted after-hours guest speakers from Advanced Drainage Systems, Concrete Pipe & Precast, Bohler Engineering, Pennoni, and AES Consulting Engineers. The SLDC also had a lot going on outside of the classroom. On October 17th, the SLDC organized a cornhole tournament to raise money for Micah’s Backpack, an organization focused on reducing childhood hunger. The tournament was part of a broader SLDC food drive that is ongoing throughout the entire academic year, and that will also benefit the Giving Tree and the Interfaith Food Pantry.

On October 22nd, many SLDC members attended LDDI’s Career Night Mixer at the Hokie House, and on October 30th, LDDI platinum sponsor Advanced Drainage Systems brought a flatbed truck loaded with some of their innovative products to campus for SLDC students to observe and study. Throughout the semester, Club members also remain heavily involved in various service projects, one of which is the survey and design layout of a new disc golf course on the property of the annual FloydFest music festival. The spring ’19 semester is quickly shaping up to be another busy one for the Club, who will once again host numerous after-hours guest speakers and also participate in the annual spring design charrette and out-of-town field trip. LDDI Assistant Coordinator Kevin Young continues to advise the club, and is excited to welcome Junior Lucy Travers who took over as SLDC president at the beginning of the spring ’19 semester. About her new role, Travers stated the following, “I am excited to begin my role as president of the SLDC, as I am interested in the prospects of the ever changing and interesting field of land development. I hope to encourage even more students to participate in the club while providing worthwhile events that engage both students and employers.”