Wentworth Institute of Technology Civil Engineering Professor and Lyles School of Civil Engineering alumnus James Lambrechts (MSCE 1976) was honored earlier this year by the Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section (BSCES) of the American Society of Civil Engineers with two recognitions of distinction: the BSCES Honorary Member Award and the BSCES College Educator Award.

The Honorary Member Award is the highest distinction the BSCES can bestow on an individual for their recognition for their service to the engineering profession. He was recognized for his distinguished career as a geotechnical engineer, educator, and BSCES member volunteer.  One of his major contributions to BSCES was as Chairman of the BSCES Journal (Civil Engineering Practice) Board during which he coordinated the publication of the 2012-13 combined 488-page edition on the Geology of the Boston Area, which is a well-recognized resource on the subsurface conditions beneath the Boston metropolitan area, the foundations that support major buildings and the many tunnels that underlie the area.

The College Educator Award is presented to a member of the academic community who inspires and encourages civil engineering students through exceptional teaching and mentorship. He was nominated by 31 Wentworth Institute of Technology alumni for this award.

“The respect Professor Lambrechts has among his students is a testament to his teaching style, ability, and his past pursuit to enrich the life and learning of every student,” one of his nominators wrote. “He has left a large impression on his past students who all remember what a great teacher he was to them.”

In addition to being an alumnus at the Lyles School of Civil Engineering, Lambrechts has also been recognized by the School in 1996 with its highest distinction: the Purdue Civil Engineering Alumni Achievement Award. Rao Govindaraju, Bowen Engineering Head of Civil Engineering and the Christopher B. and Susan S. Burke Professor of Civil Engineering, offered his congratulations to Lambrechts for his incredible career achievements.

“It is always wonderful to hear when our outstanding alumni receive the recognitions they deserve,” Govindaraju said. “Professor Lambrechts has been an exemplary representative of Purdue Civil Engineering — and the civil engineering community in general. We wish him all the best.”