NOCoE will send one student to TRB 2027 Annual Meeting, all expenses paid. Submit your entry by Sunday, November 1.
Overview
Since 2017, NOCoE has sent students to TRB Annual Meeting to expand their career and knowledge opportunities by building their communication and presentation skills and connecting them with transportation leaders. NOCoE will arrange opportunities to meet with transportation industry leaders and executives. Past meet-and-greets have included agency leaders, private-sector executives, and TRB committee leaders.Previous winners have gone on to work with organizations and institutions associated with NOCoE, pursued future academic careers, and to serve as young members on TRB committees.
How to Participate
Create a short video or multimedia presentation, under five minutes, that highlights the benefits of a transportation project that uses a TSMO strategy. The project can be one you worked on, one you studied, or one deployed in your community.
Your submission should cover:
- Background on the project
- Description of the TSMO deployment
- Outcome of the project
- The direct benefit of the TSMO strategy or technology for the traveling public
- The direct benefit of the TSMO strategy or technology for the transportation system
Open with a short introduction: who you are, why TSMO is important to you, and what your role in the project was. Close with a statement about how the project inspired you or expanded your area of interest.
Judges weigh clear, quantified benefits more than process detail, and they like to see the presenter on camera. Audio and visuals should be in one video file or link.
Need ideas? Watch the 2026 winning video on AI for ramp metering, or browse NOCoE's case studies.
Please note: all videos and photos must be original and/or owned by the submitter.
What Do You Win?
NOCoE will provide the winner with travel reimbursement of up to $2,000 to attend the 2027 TRB Annual Meeting. The student must be from a U.S. college or university.
How to Submit
The contest has two rounds. After your initial submission, the judges send feedback so you can strengthen your final version.
- Initial submissions due: Sunday, November 1, 2026
- Judges' feedback sent by: Tuesday, November 10, 2026
- Final submissions due: Tuesday, November 17, 2026
- Winner announced: no later than Monday, November 23, 2026
Once notified, the winner must be ready to book travel to TRB 2027 immediately. NOCoE will provide travel guidance and the reimbursement process.
Submissions should include:
- Your full name, college or university, department, and degree being pursued
- A one-paragraph (about 100 words) description of your education and career goals
- Your video, sent as a file-sharing link, a YouTube link, or an email attachment (9 MB or smaller)
Send submissions to Adam Hopps at ahopps@transportationops.org by 11:59 pm ET on the deadline.
Entry Requirements
- All entrants must be currently enrolled at a college or university in the United States. Undergraduate and graduate students are welcome, and students outside civil engineering are encouraged to participate.
- All entrants must be eligible for the TRB Student Affiliate or Non-Member Full-Time Student registration category.
- All entrants must ensure that their submissions do not pose any copyright infringement.
- All entrants must be available to attend selected events at TRB 2027, including an introductory meeting with the NOCoE team, the ITE TSMO Council, and at least two meet-and-greets with industry leaders.
Past Winners
- 2026: Gabriel Geffen, University of Arizona — AI for ramp metering
- 2025: LiTSMO team (Tupac Moseley and Md Atiqur Rahman Mallick), Tennessee State University — a LiDAR solution for TSMO