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Larson Design Group (LDG) is proud to announce that one of our team members has been honored as “Member of the Year” by the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE), Harrisburg section.
Jason Hursh, PE, was recognized earlier this year for leading several initiatives, such as creating a YouTube channel for the section and posting recordings of meetings for those who were unable to attend in person.
Most notably, however, was Jason’s work as chairperson of the section’s Scholarship Committee. Jason and the rest of the committee were in search of a new way to get the highest engagement possible and encourage students to apply for the scholarships available, and in a time when the pandemic forced businesses and schools to become virtual, “a video invitation for scholarship applications seemed fitting,” Jason said.
The committee asked representatives from several organizations, including consultants, PennDOT, and the PA Turnpike to record themselves talking about the benefits of the scholarship and how to apply. When it was finished, the video was posted to the new YouTube page and sent it out with notification letters and emails to schools across the section.
“Overall, the feedback has been very positive, and we hope this is one more avenue that lets students know about the scholarship – while also letting them know that we want and need them in our industry,” Jason said.
Jason’s other project was an overhaul of the application process itself, updating it to include the option to submit applications, teacher referrals and other materials online. Jason noted that this streamlining effort resulted in a fairly even distribution between students who mailed paper copies of their application and transcripts and those who used the electronic option.
“The online application was a clean, simple format to manage and I’m glad we made the effort,” Jason said. “We learned a lot through this process and plan to keep improving online functionality.”
Eric Martz, President of ASHE Harrisburg, had high praise for Jason’s innovative approaches for the section.
“Talk about making an impact – Jason has brought more fresh ideas to our Section than anyone I can remember,” Eric wrote in the May issue of The Profile, the section’s newsletter. “Thank you, Jason, for infusing new ideas and initiatives into our Section.”
Founded in 1986, Larson Design Group is an award-winning, 100 percent employee-owned national architecture, engineering and planning firm with 13 offices in five states and a vision to elevate client relationships, enrich the careers and lives of its employee-owners, and enhance the communities in which it operates. For more information, visit www.larsondesigngroup.com.