Marquette chapter of Engineers Without Borders earns national award for Guatemala water project

Marquette's chapter of Engineers Without Borders earned the 2026 Engineering Education Award from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying for the student organization's water distribution system project with the Cruz Chich and Chumisa communities in Guatemala. The award, which carries a $25,000 prize, recognizes programs that promote interaction and collaboration between engineering students and licensed professionals.

Beginning in 2024, the project focused on designing and implementing a sustainable water distribution system that would provide over 350 households in the communities with access to clean water in their homes for the first time. Undergraduate students worked alongside faculty and licensed professional engineers from the United States and Guatemala at every stage to ensure a successful system. Additional support from Rotary International and chapters in the U.S. and Guatemala helped make the project possible.

To earn the NCEEES award, student leaders from Marquette created a detailed report outlining the project's multidisciplinary elements, collaboration with faculty and licensed professional engineers, considerations to protect health, safety, and welfare of the public and the knowledge and skills gained.

"This award is a great recognition for countless hours of leadership and collaboration between Marquette students, professional engineering partners and the local communities in Guatemala," said Dr. Mark Federle, associate dean for academic affairs in Marquette's Opus College of Engineering and longtime faculty adviser for EWB at Marquette. "The work is truly transformational, both for the community members gaining lifechanging access to clean water and the students who have the privilege to learn and serve alongside them."

Funds from the award will be used to support ongoing efforts by EWB-MU in Guatemala, including its next project to develop a well system alongside the community of San Rafael Chichop. Marquette students will be onsite in Guatemala this summer to work on their new project as well as review previous work across communities as part of their commitment to ensure a successful implementation.

The Marquette chapter of Engineers Without Borders was established in 2005 and has completed over a dozen student-led projects to serve communities internationally. As part of Engineers Without Borders USA, Marquette's chapter shares in the nationwide mission to "support community-driven development programs worldwide through partnerships that design and implement sustainable engineering projects, while creating transformative experiences that enrich global perspectives and create responsible leaders."

Current and future Marquette students are encouraged to get involved with EWB-MU on campus, and friends of Marquette can support the program by emailing .