Lubbock, Texas, was the site of
the 98th annual Convention of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor
society. The event was hosted by Texas Beta, the collegiate chapter
at Texas Tech University. More than 310 engineering students from
210 collegiate chapters received leadership and management training
and then practiced their skills in conducting the business of the
Convention, held this year on October 23-25.
The growth of the Association is a testament to the steady and
enthusiastic 118-year involvement of students in the world’s
largest engineering society. Awards to outstanding members and
chapters were presented.
Dr. Irwin M. Jacobs, New York Delta ’56, chairman and CEO of
Qualcomm, Inc., and Dr. Daniel D. Reneau, Louisiana Gamma ’63,
president of Louisiana Tech University, were each presented the 2003
Distinguished Alumnus
Award.
The R.C. Matthews Outstanding Chapter Award for 2002-03, the top
honor to a campus group, went to Ohio Iota at the Ohio Northern University,
with honorable mention to Maryland Beta at the University of Maryland
and New Mexico Gamma at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.
The R.H. Nagel Most Improved Chapter Award for 2002-03 was presented
to Kansas Beta at Wichita State University, with honorable mention
to California Iota at California State University, Los Angeles, Utah
Alpha at the University of Utah, and Utah Beta at Brigham Young University.
Both the Matthews and Nagel awards are named for former secretary-treasurers
of the Association.
Dr. Melvin R. Corley, P.E., Louisiana Gamma ’70, chief advisor
to the Louisiana Gamma Chapter and professor of mechanical engineering
at Louisiana Tech University, was recognized as Tau Beta Pi’s 2003
National Outstanding Advisor.
Tau Bates who have demonstrated expertise outside the field of engineering
were honored as the Association’s 2003
Laureates. Recipients
of $2,500 cash awards and commemorative plaques were: Erin E. McIntyre,
New Jersey Beta ’03, mechanical engineering student at Rutgers
University, for her All-American performance in swimming, and Patrick
D. Schmid, Pennsylvania Alpha ’03, computer science student
at Lehigh University, for his diverse achievements, including international
relations.
Thirty-two scholarships of $500 (totaling $16,000) were presented
for sustained excellent performance in membership and project activities
to 26 chapters: California Alpha (University of California, Berkeley);
District of Columbia Alpha (Howard University); Florida Alpha (University
of Florida); Florida Beta (University of Miami); Indiana Delta (Valparaiso
University) — two for $1,000; Iowa Alpha (Iowa State University);
Maryland Beta (University of Maryland) — two for $1,000; Maryland
Delta (University of Maryland Baltimore County); Michigan Gamma (University
of Michigan); Michigan Epsilon (Wayne State University) — two
for $1,000; Michigan Theta (Oakland University); Nevada Beta (University
of Nevada, Las Vegas); New York Kappa (University of Rochester);
New York Pi (Polytechnic University); New York Tau (Binghamton University);
Ohio Beta (University of Cincinnati); Ohio Zeta (University of Toledo);
Ohio Iota (Ohio Northern University) — two for $1,000; Pennsylvania
Theta (Villanova University); Puerto Rico Alpha (University of Puerto
Rico); South Dakota Alpha (South Dakota School of Mines & Technology)— two
for $1,000; Texas Delta (Texas A & M University); Vermont Beta
(Norwich University); Wisconsin Alpha (University of Wisconsin-Madison);
Wisconsin Epsilon (University of Wisconsin-Platteville); and Wyoming
Alpha (University of Wyoming) — two for $1,000.
Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, MI, and Idaho State
University in Pocatello were each awarded a charter to establish
a Tau Beta Pi chapter.
The Executive Council,
or board of directors, comprises: 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 L. 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.
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