Detroit, Michigan, was the site of
the 97th annual Convention of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor
society. The event was hosted by Michigan Epsilon, the collegiate
chapter at Wayne State University. More than 350 engineering students
from 202 collegiate chapters received leadership and management
training and then practiced their skills in conducting the business
of the Convention, held this year on October 3-5.
The growth of the Association is a testament to the steady and
enthusiastic 117-year involvement of students in the world’s
largest engineering society. Awards to outstanding members and
chapters were presented.
The 2002
Distinguished Alumnus Award was presented to Dr. Lyle D. Feisel,
P.E., Iowa Alpha ’61, dean emeritus of the Thomas J. Watson
School of Engineering and Applied Science at the State University
of New York at Binghamton.
The R.C. Matthews Outstanding Chapter Award for 2001-2002, the top
honor to a campus group, went to Maryland Beta at the University
of Maryland, with honorable mention to Wyoming Alpha at the University
of Wyoming.
The R.H. Nagel Most Improved Chapter Award for 2001-2002 was presented
to Nevada Beta at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, with honorable
mention to New York Nu at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Both the Matthews and Nagel awards are named for former secretary-treasurers
of the Association.
Dr. Larry A. Simonson, P.E., South Dakota Alpha ’69, longtime
chief advisor to the South Dakota Alpha Chapter and chair of the
department of electrical and computer engineering at the South Dakota
School of Mines and Technology, was recognized as Tau Beta Pi’s 2002
National Outstanding Advisor.
Tau Bates who have demonstrated expertise outside the field of
engineering were honored as the Association’s 2002
Laureates. Recipients of $2,500 cash awards and commemorative
plaques were: Devon
J. Battaglia, engineering physics and music student at Lehigh
University, for his contributions to the performing arts; Sarah
T. Bauer, chemical engineering and music student at Iowa State
University, for her achievements in music performance and her music
ministry; and Erik
C. Porse, acoustical engineering and music graduate of the University
of Hartford, for his service to the policy and law-making community
as a WISE intern.
Thirty scholarships of $500 (totaling $15,000) were presented for
sustained excellent performance in membership and project activities
to 23 chapters: California Alpha (University of California, Berkeley);
California Zeta (Santa Clara University); California Psi (University
of California, San Diego); District of Columbia Alpha (Howard University);
Florida Alpha (University of Florida); Florida Beta (University
of Miami); Indiana Delta (Valparaiso University); Iowa Alpha
(Iowa State University); Louisiana Gamma (Louisiana Tech University);
Maryland Beta (University of Maryland) — two for $1,000; Michigan
Gamma (University of Michigan); Michigan Epsilon (Wayne State University)
— two for $1,000; Michigan Theta (Oakland University); New
York Kappa (University of Rochester) — two for $1,000; New
York Tau (Binghamton University) — two for $1,000; Ohio Iota
(Ohio Northern University) — two for $1,000; Pennsylvania
Theta (Villanova University); South Dakota Alpha (South Dakota School
of Mines & Technology) — two for $1,000; Vermont Beta
(Norwich University); West Virginia Alpha (West Virginia University);
Wisconsin Alpha (University of Wisconsin-Madison); Wisconsin Epsilon
(University of Wisconsin-Platteville); and Wyoming Alpha (University
of Wyoming) — two for $1,000.
Virginia Commonwealth University was awarded a charter to establish
a Tau Beta Pi chapter.
A new Executive Council,
or board of directors, was installed on October 5, 2002. The new
national officers are: President Matthew W. Ohland, Ph.D., Florida
Alpha ’96, assistant professor in Clemson University’s
general engineering program; Vice President Ellen D. Styles, Alabama
Delta ’85, proposal manager for General Dynamics’ Decision
Systems group; Councillor Alison Hu, California Gamma ’96,
manufacturing engineering manager at Agilent Technologies; Councillor
Russell W. Pierce, Washington Alpha ’70, director, education
systems, at Lively and Partners Consulting Network; and Councillor
Dennis J. Tyner, Ph.D., Massachusetts Epsilon ’85, dean of
engineering at Norwich University.
The retiring Council members are:
President Douglas M. Green, Ph.D., P.E., Texas Beta ’65,
dean of engineering at Marquette University; Vice President Edward
J. D’Avignon, New York Beta ’88, member of technical
staff at Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation; Councillor Jerome A.
Atkins, District of Columbia Alpha ’63, vice president for
academic affairs at Baltimore City Community College; Councillor
George D. Peterson, Ph.D., P.E., Ohio Eta ‘72, executive director
of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.;
and Councillor Catherine P. Rice, P.E., Maryland Beta ’83,
special assistant to the director of the Maryland State Highway
Administration’s office of planning and preliminary engineering.
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