South Carolina Legislature Lauds Eliatamby

On January 14 the South Carolina legislature passed a resolution extending its appreciation to Deepal S. Eliatamby for "his continued service to his community and the state through his expertise in civil engineering." The resolution noted that "the enthusiasm of Mr. Deepal Eliatamby is unmatched and his passion for the community and his profession are the traits of a leader that are not often seen in the average person, and... the state of South Carolina considers itself more than fortunate to have such a dedicated and brilliant man."

A native of Sri Lanka, Eliatamby came to Columbia, South Carolina, in 1984, earned bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering from the University of South Carolina (USC), and in 1990 joined B.p. Barber and Associates, a Columbiabased civil engineering firm, as a design engineer. He became a principal of the firm in 1997 and a vice president in 1999. Earlier this year he founded Alliance Consulting Engineers, Inc., a civil and environmental engineering firm in Columbia with a staff of 12. Named an outstanding young alumnus by usc's College of Engineering and Information Technology in 2003, Eliatamby has been the recipient of numerous accolades, among them the South Carolina Young Engineer of the Year Award from the South Carolina Society of Professional Engineers in 1995, ASCE'S Edmund Friedman Young Engineer Award for Professional Achievement in 1999, and the Governor's Rural Summit Distinguished Community Service Award in 2001.

Eliatamby has served as ASCE'S Zone II representative and has been both the chairman and a corresponding member of the Committee on Younger Members. From 1993 to 1999 he cochaired the South Carolina Section's Younger Member Forum and committees dealing with member affairs and product and service manuals. In addition to his work on projects throughout South Carolina, Eliatamby mentors usc engineering students, helps to raise funds for usc academic scholarships, and serves on the university's board of governors and alumni association. He also volunteers with the MATH COUNTS program and an annual educational telethon. Eliatamby has developed planning projects for many counties and cities in South Carolina and has served on the South Carolina Department of Vocational Rehabilitation's Business Advisory Council.