THE CALIFORNIA ALPHA BETA CHAPTER of Tau Beta Pi was installed at the University of California, Riverside, on February 12, 2005. Executive Councillor Russell W. Pierce was official installing deputy of the Society’s 236th collegiate chapter, assisted by Executive Director James D. Froula, P.E., and District 16 Director Scott Eckersall.

The 2004 Convention granted a chapter to the local engineering honor society, Epsilon Eta Sigma, represented at the national meeting by student Christopher Mayhew and by Dr. Dennis K. Rice, OH E ’64.

A room in Bourns Hall on the campus was the site of the formal ceremonies of initiation and chapter installation, witnessed by John C. Chang, CA E ’05; Frank Kuoi, CA E ’05; Eric W. Browning, CA K ’05; John M. Huynh, CA X ’05; and Philip Littlewood, CA Y ’05. The initiation team comprised: Dr. Rice; Dr. Kenneth J. Kauffman, IA B ’97; Dr. Thomas Stahovich, CA A ’88; Dr. Sharon L. Walker, CA D ’88; Haley A.N. Kim, CA Y ’05; Jeffrey A. Sawyer, CA T ’05; and the three national officers listed above. One eminent engineer, 12 alumni, and 44 students comprise California Alpha Beta’s charter members.

Immediately after the formal initiation, the new members were constituted a new chapter in the ceremony of installation conducted by Councillor Pierce. The ceremony included the formal election and installation of the chapter’s charter officers and advisors.

A reception in the International Lounge preceded the banquet in the Commons Dining Room. President Mayhew served as master of ceremonies and welcomed all initiates, visitors, friends, and family members. He reviewed recent project activity, noted the great potential of his chapter, and thanked Chief Advisor Rice for his many years of excellent support during the petitioning process.

Mr. Froula reviewed the history of the petitioning process and challenged the initiates to pursue excellence in all of their activities, to support the engineering profession, maintain impeccable ethics, and serve their alma mater and fellow students.

Mr. Pierce welcomed California Alpha Beta, greeted the charter members, encouraged Dean Matsumoto and the four Advisors to support the chapter, and challenged the students to appeal the 2005 Convention for eligibility-approval of their computer science curriculum.

Mr. Eckersall congratulated the new members, introduced the visiting chapter representatives, and welcomed California Alpha Beta into District 16.

Dr. Mark R. Matsumoto, CA AB ’77, interim dean of the school of engineering and computer science, stated that his school with 350 current graduate students has grown into an outstanding college since being established in 1989 and spoke of the pride of the UCR community in the California Alpha Beta charter members and the former Epsilon Eta Sigma members.

Finally Mr. Mayhew, Chief Advisor Rice, and Dean Matsumoto presented certificates to the charter members.