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The Delaware Association of Professional Engineers (DAPE) has been the regulating body for licensed professional engineers in Delaware since 1972 when Delaware Title Code 24 Chapter 28 was enacted. Last year marked DAPE’s 50th anniversary and, to honor this achievement, The State House of Representatives and Senate passed a Concurrent Resolution in May 2022. DAPE celebrated its 50th anniversary in conjunction with the 2022 Volunteer Appreciation Event in October. As well as recognizing 15 individuals that have volunteered with DAPE for 10 or more years, last year’s Distinguished Service Award was presented to Michael Siwek, P.E. Siwek has been a licensed professional engineer since 1977 and is licensed in 9 states. His electrical engineering career began at DuPont, where he worked for 30 years until moving on to explore diverse assignments with agricultural, mechanical, and plumbing organizations. Siwek has volunteered with DAPE for over a decade, served on the DAPE Council, and been an active member of the DAPE Examining Committee since 2001. Additionally, he’s visited schools throughout Delaware to share his experience and encourage students to consider careers in STEM. He received tributes from the Governor and Lt. Governor’s office, the Delaware Senate, and the House of Representatives. “DAPE’s Annual Distinguished Service Award Event was the culmination of our 50th Anniversary Year, allowing DAPE to express our gratitude to our dedicated volunteers. Our 2022 Distinguished Service Award winner, Mike Siwek, has been a true advocate for our profession, from encouraging and teaching young students to identifying qualified candidates for Professional Engineering licensure," explains Michael Clendaniel, P.E., Council President of Delaware Association of Professional Engineers. DAPE’s primary purpose is to protect public property, health, safety, and welfare by ensuring that Professional Engineers in Delaware are qualified and committed to a high standard of integrity, skills, and practice in the engineering profession. In DAPE’s community, it is paramount that PEs go the extra mile, hold other engineers accountable, and abide by a code of ethics. Delaware currently has over 7,800 active licensed individuals and over 1,400 engineering firms on their active roster.