When it comes to making an impact in the community, Braden Labenz is doing it one project at a time. The Columbus, Nebraska native was recently celebrated by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) as one of its New Faces of Civil Engineering for 2026 – an honor Labenz doesn’t take lightly.
“As an engineer, I’m not designing for strangers,” said Labenz, a transportation engineer and a 2022 graduate of the UNL College of Engineering. “I’m serving my neighbors, family and friends, and delivering infrastructure improvements to benefit their way of life.”
Each year during Engineers Week (E-Week), ASCE honors 10 outstanding engineers under 30 as its New Faces of Civil Engineering. The national award recognizes rising leaders who demonstrate professional excellence, community impact and a strong commitment to ASCE’s values. Among this year’s honorees is Labenz, who recently transitioned into a new role at JEO Consulting Group after three years as assistant city engineer in Columbus. Labenz earned his master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 2024 while working full time in Columbus.
“I’ve always been drawn to work that’s tangible and visible,” explained Labenz, who fell in love with LEGOs and Lincoln Logs as a kid, propelling him to enjoy “hands on” learning as well as excelling in the classroom in math and science.
Labenz credits ASCE with growing his engineering skills by creating opportunities and developing relationships. His involvement with ASCE started in college where he quickly immersed himself in leadership and service overseeing chapter events, including the Scott Campus Concrete Canoe team and serving as student chapter president.
“Through ASCE, I learned additional skills that were complementary to the classroom work,” he added. “Those critical skills were centered around connecting with people, getting to know them and working together. ASCE helped turn academic learning into real world skills.”
Following graduation and during his tenure in Columbus, Labenz used what he learned in ASCE to better his hometown. He worked closely with city council members, other staff and community stakeholders to help them understand project costs, long-term value and lasting community impact.
One of the projects he’s most proud of is Vitality Village, a 23-acre housing development created to address a growing housing shortage, which is a challenge facing many growing Nebraska communities. Labenz guided the project from its earliest stages, overseeing budgeting, land acquisition, platting, zoning, design, bidding and construction. Now nearing completion, Vitality Village has resulted in more than 450 new doors, supporting nearly 600 residents.
“More homes lead to increased economic stability and a stronger community,” said Labenz, who hopes the recognition encourages other young engineers to lead with both technical excellence and clear communication.
“What starts here changes the world,” he added. “Because in civil engineering, one project can change the community for generations.”