Pictured (l-r): Dr. Pong Malasri (Faculty Advisor), Patrick Held (Treasurer), Griselda Matos (Secretary), Mallory Harvey (President), and Phyo Thoon Aung (Vice President)

The TAPPI Student Chapter at Christian Brothers University has completed its first year with various activities including a TAPPI-CBU golf fundraiser, a fried-rice fundraiser, and participation in the 2013 TAPPI Student Summit in N.C.  The chapter elected their new officers for the 2013-14 academic year:

• President : Mallory Harvey (Civil Engineering Major & Packaging Minor)
• Vice- President : Phyo Thoon H. Aung (Civil Engineering Major & Packaging Minor)
• Secretary : Griselda Matos Martinez (Engineering Management & Packaging Minor)
• Treasurer : Patrick Held (Engineering Management with Packaging Concentration)

Looking for a great fall break and college credit for a renewable energy course? Then sign up for ME 496: Special Topics Renewable Energy  this fall.  Students from ALL MAJORS can join Dr. Davila in Seville, Granada, and Cordoba, Spain over Fall Break,  October 12-19, 2013. This course examines the science, engineering, and economics of renewable energy. The trip includes:

• Visits to major sites in Seville, Granada and Córdoba
• Guided visit to Abengoa Solar plant
• On-site orientation
• Welcome lunch and Farewell Dinner
• Housing in centrally located hostels (breakfast included)
• Health insurance
• Transportation to and from airport
• Roundtrip Airfare
• 3 credit hours (if taking ME 496 under full load)

Contact Dr. Davila or Study Abroad for more information. 901-321-3572 or 901-321-4416

(back row, l-r) Griselda Matos, David Ball, David Barnett (Future Electronics), Nathan Sampson, Adam Tekle, Bob Moats and Viet Minh Tong; (front row, l-r) Chisalu Jones, Ryne Stevens, Patrick Held, Dr. Pong Malasri, Minh Nguyen, John Vo and Luis Garcia

A group of Packaging and Electrical Engineering students visited Future Electronics (http://www.futureelectronics.com/en/Pages/index.aspx) distribution center in Southaven, MS on April 5. Future Electronics is a world-class leader and innovator in the distribution and marketing of semiconductors and passive, interconnect and electro-mechanical components. The company operates in 42 countries with its worldwide corporate headquaters in Pointe Claire, Quebec, Canada

(l-r) Dr. Eric Welch (Dean of Engineering) with Rizgar A. Jan, Robert L. Bell II, Robbie Webb, Charles McCain and Dr. Rita Engler, new inductees into Epsilon Mu Eta Honor Society

The Alpha Delta Chapter of Epsilon Mu Eta, the Engineering Management Honor Society, inducted seven new members on March 22. Graduate Engineering students inducted were Robert L. Bell II, Manuel De Tuya, Rizgar A. Jan and Robbie Webb. Faculty members inducted were Dr. Rita Engler, Charles McCain and Gene McGinnis. These students and faculty have shown both exceptional academic achievement and excellent character. Congratulations to the 2012-2013 members of the Alpha Delta Chapter for their achievements and this recognition, and for the honor they bring to the University.

The Dixon Gallery and Gardens and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Christian Brothers University entered an agreement to develop a GIS database which will allow visitors to the Dixon to identify specific species of trees and plants via their cell phone or other digital device. The Dixon Gallery and Gardens is a local non-profit art gallery and garden. The first phase of the project involves the development of a one-foot contour topographic map and locating existing site structures on the seventeen acre site. The topographic survey will locate all trees, plants, buildings, and roadway within the site. The project began in the spring of 2010 with the completion of a closed traverse along the perimeter of the site.

To view more pictures of the project, click here.

Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Honor Society, initiated 3 new members on Saturday, April 13. Congratulations to Kelsey Grover (ME), Shawn Jenkins (ME), and Viet Minh (EE)! (pictured below, l-r)

Every year for Engineer’s Week, we nominate a student from each department to give the Featured Engineering Student Award to. This year, the following students received an award from their department and the School of Engineering:

• Adam Thornton was recognized by the CBU School of Engineering as the 2012-13 CBU Featured Engineering Student for Academic Excellence, Student Leadership, and Service to the University & Community.
• William Blake Ward was recognized by the CBU CEE Department as the 2012-13 Featured Civil & Environmental Engineering Student for Outstanding Academic Achievement.
• Edwin C. Kirkpatrick was recognized by the CBU ChE Department as the 2012-13 Featured Chemical & Biochemical Engineering Student for Outstanding Academic Achievement.
• Martin J. Tribo was recognized by the CBU ECE Department as the 2012-13 Featured Electrical and Computer Engineering Student for Outstanding Academic Achievement and Service to the University.
• Zhen Y. Zeng was recognized by the CBU ME Department as the 2012-13 Featured Mechanical Engineering Student for Outstanding Scholarship and Student Leadership.

20th Annual Great Moonbuggy Race and Alumni & Friends Reception
Thursday • April 25, 2013 • 6:00-7:00 p.m.
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
Galaxy Dining Room

Please join Dr. John Smarrelli Jr., Brother Louis Althaus & Dr. Eric Welch for drinks & hors d’oeuvres, check out this year’s CBU Moonbuggy and meet current CBU Engineering students! RSVP at alumni@cbu.edu or (800) 283-2925.

We also encourage you to take a look at the interview below with Dr. Eric Welch, Dean of School of Engineering. In the interview, Dr. Welch discusses the impact of the Moonbuggy competition on CBU Engineering students.
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What impact does the Moonbuggy competition have on current students?  Why is this such a key part of their education?
Mechanical engineering students have an opportunity to design, build and test a vehicle that has to meet a very specific set of design specifications.  Then they use their design to compete against teams from all around the world.  This is exactly what is expected of engineering professionals in today’s market.  You are designing and implementing systems that have to meet a variety of standards and be competitive on the world stage.  Being part of this competition allows them to gain  necessary experience in a fun, competitive environment.

Why is it so important for students to meet successful Engineering alumni specifically in Huntsville?
Meeting successful engineering alumni benefits students in a number of ways.  In particular, it helps motivate lower division students by helping them understand what an engineering education offers them in terms of opportunities.  For seniors, having connections with alumni in the area provides a network that helps them identify employment opportunities with many extremely successful firms.

Why do you think CBU has such a strong alumni base in Huntsville?
A number of graduates ended up in Huntsville as a direct result of Apollo and Space Shuttle NASA space programs. Since that time, CBU’s network of graduates has established a strong reputation in the area.  This network helps recruit new graduates into the Huntsville area.

You have been going to this alumni event for two years. What makes this so special for you?
The greatest part of being a CBU engineering faculty member is seeing the success of our students and graduates.  Every time I go to Huntsville for the Moonbuggy competition, I get to visit with alumni and hear how CBU has impacted their lives.  I always come back impressed with the accomplishments of our graduates and motivated to help the next generation of graduates achieve similar success.

Congratulations to Will Golden, Cori Hudlet, and Kolbie Seay for winning 3rd Place in the 2013 ASCE Deep South Competition, March 22-24, in Baton Rouge, LA. To view all the pictures from the conference, click here.

Pictured l-r: Brian Harris (CE’16), Will Golden (CE’14), Alixis Williams (CE’14), Kolbie Seay (CE’16), Lauren Harrett (CE’15), and Cori Hudlet (CE’15)

Members of the student chapter of the Mathematical Association of America (which include many engineering students)  traveled to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) on March 24-25.  While there, they saw the fastest supercomputer in the world, the spallation neutron source (the only other one in the world was in Japan and is being rebuilt after the earthquake), and the graphite reactor from the Manhattan Project. Pictured above (r-l) are: Becky Wauford (Mechanical Engineering ’15), Trey McGinnis (Electrical Engineering & Computer Science ’16), Tiffany Corkran (Chemistry ’14), Evan Boulanger (Civil Engineering ’12), Eddie Gallarno (Mathematics ’13), Aaron Lewis (Civil Engineering ’13), Michael Sanford (Mechanical Engineering ’13), Rebekah Herrman (Mathematics ’13), Mike Szpara (Mechanical Engineering ’14), Cathy Grilli (Mathematics), and Dr. Marvin Abraham (who worked at ORNL  for 30 years) and his granddaughter (who joined the tour).