The first Kenneth M. Childs, Jr. Practitioner's Award was presented at a Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section - Waterways Technical Group dinner meeting on January 29, 2009. The framed 
award medallion was presented to the Childs family by Stan White on behalf of ASCE and the COPRI Ports and Harbors Committee, in recognition of Kenny's significant contributions to the marine engineering profession.
Created by the COPRI Ports and Harbors Committee in 2006, the award is designed to recognize design and construction practicing engineers employed in the marine engineering profession with demonstrated leadership and/or achievement in harbor and coastal projects. This recognition is awarded to members of the American Society of Civil Engineers who are judged to have attained significant professional achievement, by the degree to which the candidates have shown service to the advancement of the marine engineering profession; evidence of technical competence, high character and integrity; leadership in the development of younger member attitudes towards the profession.
Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2009 Award which will be presented at Ports 2010 in Jacksonville, FL. Award forms are available on the COPRI website, and are expected to include a rationale of no more than 500 words explaining the nomination. Entries must be accompanied by at least two letters of recommendation. Entries, accompanied by seven complete nomination packages, must be received at COPRI headquarters by November 1, 2009.
In conjunction with the award ceremony, David Porter (Childs Engineering Corp.) and Bryan Jones (Ocean and Coastal Consultants, Inc.) provided a timely presentation on Professional Engineer-Divers and the Underwater Investigation of Marine Structures. The presentation provided an overview of the types and scope of underwater investigations, documentation, reporting, and condition ratings as provided in the 2001 ASCE Underwater Investigations Standard Practice Manual, which was edited by Kenny Childs. The presentation also included an update on the development of the proposed ASCE/COPRI Diver Training Standard for Underwater Investigations, which is expected to be released for public review and comment later this year."
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| Members of the Childs Family gather for a photo after award is presented to Gretchen Childs, wife of the late Kenny Childs. Pictured above are: Larry Childs (Kenny's son); Susy Affleck-Childs; Andy Childs; Sally Alvarez (Kenny's daughter); Karin Holtz; Robin Davis (kenny's daughter); and Roy Davis. | COPRI Governing Board member and Ports and Harbors Committee Past Chair Stan White celebrates the inauguration of the Childs award with Gretchen Childs. | A closeup view of the Childs medallion. |
