OMAHA, NE — Two Alvine Engineering team members, Michelle Eble-Hankins Ph.D., P.E., LC, and Espen Avenson, were honored with awards during this year’s 20th Annual Architectural Engineering Awards and Recognition Banquet hosted by the Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction (Durham School). Michelle was recognized with the Outstanding Alumni Award, and Espen was given a student award: the 2025 Outstanding MAE. The awards celebrate academic excellence, service to the engineering profession, and leadership of students, faculty, alumni, and volunteers.

The Outstanding Alumni Award honors one Durham School graduate every year who has worked on innovative projects within the industry while significantly contributing to engineering’s future. Michelle has spent over a decade as an assistant professor of practice (promoted to Associate Professor two and a half years ago) at the Durham School. When she’s not teaching lighting courses, Michelle provides leadership to Alvine Engineering’s architectural lighting studio, filled with bright designers who have made award-winning impacts on a multitude of projects during her tenure. Michelle earned her Ph.D. in architectural engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2008 and has been a part of our firm for the past 24 years.

“Receiving this award means so much to me, as I was nominated by someone who is a colleague,” Michelle stated, “I feel humbled that he would even think of me. I am honored to be included in the prestigious group of folks who have received this award over the past 10 years.”

The MAE Student of the Year award recognizes one student every year who goes above and beyond in his work and studies in order to be a shining example of engineering’s next generation. Through Espen’s internship with Alvine Engineering, he is able to apply what he learns on the job to make an impact in his individual coursework, group projects, and extracurricular activities.

“This award reminds me that, at the end of the day, it’s the people around you who matter,” Espen stated, “I’m honored to have received this award from my peers and hope to continue cultivating life-giving relationships with my colleagues.”

Espen and Michelle received their awards on March 6. They were honored for their collective efforts, which have shaped the school’s program and the industry’s progression.

Alvine and Associates, Inc. was founded in 1961 as a mechanical and electrical systems design and consulting firm. Now entering its sixth decade of engineering innovation, Alvine Engineering serves its clients with comprehensive mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering, as well as foodservice consulting and architectural lighting design.