May 30, 1997

Walton Named Outstanding Employee For NC State

Vicki Stevens Walton of the Department of Civil Engineering was one of five NC State employees who received the University Awards of Excellence on May 30 for their dedication and service. They now will be nominated by the university for the 1997 Governor's Award for Excellence. Winners received a $250 check and a commemorative plaque. Unit winners also received a $250 check.

May 26, 1997

Felder Recognized for Teaching Excellence Award

Dr. Richard Felder received a certificate in recognition of his Award for Excellence in Teaching at a luncheon honoring NC State nominees for the award held April 24 at the McKimmon Center.

Felder, Hoechst Celanese Professor of Chemical Engineering, was the NC State University recipient of the Award for Excellence in Teaching from the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. Felder received the award in Chapel Hill on April 11.

On presenting the certificate, Dr. Sarah Rajala, associate dean for academic affairs, said, "For 27 years, Richard M. Felder, has consistently demonstrated excellence in every aspect of engineering education. He has made profound and lasting contributions to college teaching in general and engineering education in particular."

"He has developed teaching effectiveness workshops, which have been taught in the College of Engineering every year since 1985 and, more recently, throughout the university, the United States and the world," said Rajala.

The Award for Excellence in Teaching is an annual award established by the Board of Governors to recognize the best teachers in the UNC system. An outstanding teacher is chosen from each of the 16 constituent institutions.

Felder is a Fellow of the American Society for Engineering Education and was named one of the five outstanding engineering educators of the century by the ASEE Southeastern section.

May 16, 1997

Outstanding Senior Awards Presented at Engineers' Council Annual Banquet

College of Engineering Outstanding Senior Award winners are (left to right) Jennifer Nolan, Mark Nippert, Robert Zimmer, Matthew Konar and Donald Pulliam (not pictured).

The North Carolina State University Engineers' Council held its annual awards banquet April 16 at the Jane S. McKimmon Center.

David Navarro, president of the Engineers' Council, welcomed guests and recognized College of Engineering faculty and staff who worked with the Council during the year.

Dean Nino Masnari and Dr. Sarah Rajala, associate dean for academic affairs, presented the 1997 Outstanding Senior Awards. Jennifer M. Nolan, a computer science major, was honored for scholarly achievement, and Matthew M. Konar, a student in architecture, received the citizenship and service award. The award for leadership went to two electrical and computer engineering majors, Mark A. Nippert and Robert T. Zimmer. Donald W. Pulliam, a chemical engineering major, was the humanities award honoree.

Four of the five awardees, Nolan, Konar, Nippert and Zimmer, attended Millbrook High School as members of the 1993 graduating class.

Nolan was selected as Outstanding Woman Engineer by the Society of Women Engineers in 1993-94 and in 1994-95. Among her other awards are the Department of Computer Science Exceptional Achievement Award and the Phi Kappa Phi Academic Achievement Award. Most notably, she was selected the Outstanding Female Undergraduate of 1996 by the Computing Research Association, a national honor. Nolan plans to continue her studies as a graduate student at the University of Illinois.

Konar is a member of the Order of Omega, Phi Eta Sigma, Gamma Beta Phi and the Order of St. Patrick academic honor societies. He was a Benjamin Franklin Scholar and the recipient of the Polly and C.R. Philpot Educational Fund Scholarship, the Ron E. Smith Jr. Scholarship, the Phi Delta Theta Foundation Scholarship and the Polish-American Club of Raleigh Scholarship. During his tenure at NC State, he participated in university governance and volunteered in projects promoting ecological responsibility and helping the indigent. Konar plans to attend NC State as a graduate student in the Department of Civil Engineering.

Nippert was a Mercury Seven Scholar, a University Scholar and a member of the Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key national honor societies. A recipient of an MCI Scholarship, an L.A. Mahler Scholarship and a James A. Comstock Scholarship, Nippert was active in student government from serving as a Scholars Council representative in his freshman year to serving as president of the university student senate during his senior year. He has taken a position with Eagle Vision, a computer systems consulting firm in Raleigh.

Zimmer was a Caldwell Scholars a University Scholar, a Leader of the Pack finalist, and a member of the Order of Omega, the Order of St. Patrick and the Golden Key honor societies. Zimmer served in a number of student government capacities while at NC State. He was a student senator, chairman of the Student Legal Services Board of Directors, and during his last two years at the university, he served as student senate president in 1995-96 and student body president in 1996-97. He also held offices in his fraternity, Phi Delta Theta. Zimmer has taken a position with National Instruments in Austin, Texas.

Pulliam was a Benjamin Franklin Scholar receiving his degrees in chemical engineering and multidisciplinary studies with a minor in Spanish. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi national honor societies and a recipient of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Donald F. Othmer Sophomore Academic Excellence Award. He served as a delegate to the Leaders of the Future National Engineering Conference and held an internship at Cornell University, working as an undergraduate researcher in biomedical engineering. Pulliam will be working with Research Triangle Institute in the Research Triangle Park as a chemist.

After the awards presentations, new officers were installed. Rajala read the officers' charge, and Masnari administered the oath of office. The 1997-98 Engineers' Council officers are Michelle Staben, president; Anthony Strickland, vice president; Niel Slaughter, secretary; and Nathaniel Warfield, treasurer.

As his final act as president, Navarro passed the president's gavel to Staben and wished her well as the new president.

The Engineers' Council is a student organization that acts as the voice of engineering undergraduates within the College of Engineering. Representatives from each class, each department and the freshman engineering course serve on the Council.

May 1, 1997

IMPEC Holds Final Project Presentations

The Integrated Mathematics, Physics, Engineering and Chemistry (IMPEC) program held its "final four" presentations on Friday, April 25. Eleven student groups made presentations on Thursday, April 24, to qualify for one of four spaces in the Friday competition for best overall presentation.

IMPEC is an integrated first-year engineering curriculum that allows students to take science, engineering and mathematics classes taught in blocks by teams of teachers.

The students were given the task of creating presentations on a research project that represented the integration of mathematics, science and engineering. The presentations were judged on how well the groups explained the material, their knowledge of the basic principles used in the research and how well the presentation met the criteria of illustrating the integration of the fields.

Group 3, Jo Hawfield, Stephen Dees and Ronnie Neal, won this year's final four competition. The winners were awarded a cash prize.

Drs. Richard Felder, chemical engineering, Leonard Bernold, civil engineering, Ernest Burniston, mathematics, John Gastineau, physics, and Ben O'Neal, electrical and computer engineering, are the faculty participants in IMPEC. The program is funded in part by the SUCCEED Coalition.

April 10, 1997

Engineering Students Participate in Engineers' Week

The annual Engineers' Week was held at the Cary Towne Center from February 17 to 20. Sponsored by the Professional Engineers of North Carolina (PENC), Engineers' Week seeks to promote engineering to the public.

Various exhibits by university engineering societies showcased their specialties. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Society of Automotive Engineers exhibited their Baja car. Games and other handson exhibits were also presented.

At the end of the week, each society that participated received a $100 check from PENC. Director of PENC Central Carolina Chapter David Heiser said that the week was "geared toward letting the public know what engineering is all about."

Heiser, who helped organize Engineers' Week, was particularly excited about the speakers who attended the banquet at the McKimmon Center that Thursday night. The keynote speaker for the evening was Dr. Hamner from the biotechnology center.

Other highlights included Embrax of NC, which won the 1997 National New Product Award for a midsized company. There was a good turnout at the banquet this year, with approximately 150 people showing up for the dinner afterwards.

Several NC State University student organizations participated in the week's activities, including the American Nuclear Society, the Textile Engineering Society, the Industrial Engineering student group and, for the first time ever, the sorority Alpha Omega Epsilon.

April 10, 1997

Michigan Technological University to Honor Rajala

Dr. Sarah Rajala has been nominated for membership in the Michigan Technological University Electrical Engineering Academy. The Academy is an honorary organization of electrical engineering alumni of MTU who have distinguished themselves through their engineering careers.

Nominated by the faculty of the Michigan Technological University Electrical Engineering Department, Rajala will attend the inaugural ceremony on Friday, May 2, to accept the honor.

April 10, 1997

NC State University Student Wins Research Award

Michael Cifaldi, a master's student in civil engineering at NC State University, has won the Schnabel Engineering Associates, Inc., Research Award. The $2,500 award will be given to the university to help fund and enhance ongoing research. The research fields in the competition were the aging effects of sand, fiber reinforced polymeric piles in sand and the development of an analytical model of compaction grout behavior.

April 4, 1997

NC State College of Engineering Honors Outstanding Alumni

The North Carolina State University College of Engineering has named Dr. Joseph P. Archie Jr. of Raleigh, Darrell V. Menscer of Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Claude A. Verbal of Flint, Mich., as its 1997 Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award winners.

The awards were announced by Nino A. Masnari, dean of the College of Engineering, at a banquet April 3 at the Capital City Club in Raleigh, as part of the annual Alumni Weekend activities. The awards honor alumni whose accomplishments further their fields and reflect favorably on the university.

A native of Nashville, Tenn., who grew up in Kinston, N.C., Archie is a vascular surgeon with Carolina Cardiovascular Surgical Associates in Raleigh and an adjunct professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at NC State University. He also serves on the Graduate School Board of Advisers at NC State.

He earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1960, his master's degree in 1962 and his doctoral degree in 1968 in engineering mechanics at NC State. He earned his medical degree in 1968 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a licensed physician in North Carolina, Alabama and California. At NC State and Duke University, Archie is a research collaborator and biomedical adviser to biofluid mechanics and biomedical engineering projects. His engineering contributions in the College of Engineering have helped make possible the development of the Biofluid Mechanics Program, which is part of NC State's new minor in biomedical engineering.

Menscer, a native of Statesville, retired as president and chief operating officer of PSI Energy Inc. of Plainfield, Ind., in 1990. He also served as a member of the board of directors of both PSI Energy and PSI Resources Inc.

He has served as chairman of the Generating and Storage Division Committee and was appointed to the Research Advisory Committee of the Electric Power Research Institute, a major policy-setting body for electric power engineering research and development in the U.S. He also served on the board of trustees of the North American Electric Reliability Council. He earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1960 at NC State.

An active alumnus, he has served as chair of the NC State Foundation Board, NC Engineering Foundation Board, the College of Engineering Advisory Board, the Century II Campaign Committee, and the Executive Committee of the NC State Development Board. He is currently serving as co-chair of the Campaign for NC State Students. He is a Caldwell Scholarship benefactor and a member of the Wallace Carl Riddick Lifetime Giving Society and the Chancellor's Circle.

Verbal, a native of Durham, is the plant manager of the Lansing Service Parts Operations for General Motors Corp. As plant manager, he is responsible for the packaging and distribution of 293,000 General Motors parts.

An active member of the Society of Automotive Engineers International since 1966, he became the first African-American president of the society when he was elected to the post in 1996. His career with General Motors was punctuated with another first when in 1977 he became the first African-American to hold an executive position in the Buick Motor Division of General Motors. He earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1964 from NC State.

A dedicated member of his community, Verbal founded the Flint Inner City Lions Club and the Flint Environmental Action Team. He is a member of the Flint Urban League Board, the Flint Institute of Music Board and the Capital Community Development Corporation. He has also served on and chaired many boards, including United Way, Hurley Medical Center and Flint Bishop International Airport. He is a lifetime member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

April 4, 1997

College of Engineering Announces Awards for Excellence Winners

Dean Nino Masnari announced the winners of the 1997 Award for Excellence for the College of Engineering March 25 at a morning reception honoring the nominees. Thelma S. Vickers, student services manager in the Academic Affairs office, and Vicki S. Walton, administrative assistant in the Department of Civil Engineering, are the SPA employee recipients. Anne L. Davis, adviser for the Academic Affairs office, received the EPA employee award.

In addition to the award recipients, the nominees included Lynne M. Bridger, nuclear engineering; Nancy K. Evans, Integrated Manufacturing Systems Engineering Institute; Gene F. Fornaro, Industrial Extension Service; Rosalind T. Hardison, mechanical and aerospace engineering; Carol E. Hubbard, Mars Mission Research Center; Shirley Kow, chemical engineering; Margaret G. O'Brien, Industrial Extension Service; Connie L. Reno, electrical and computer engineering; and Rufus "Skip" Richardson, mechanical and aerospace engineering.

April 1, 1997

New Director Appointed to NC Ergonomics Resource Center

Anita Goehringer has been appointed director of the North Carolina Ergonomics Resource Center effective April 1, 1997. A senior ergonomist at the center, Goehringer replaced Dr. Mahmoud A. Ayoub, professor of industrial engineering. She has served as interim director since July 1, 1996. The NC Ergonomics Resource Center is a joint partnership between the North Carolina Department of Labor and North Carolina State University.

March 6, 1997

Hackney Honored with Watauga Medal

At a ceremony held March 5 at North Carolina State University, James A. Hackney III was one of three honorees awarded the prestigious Watauga Medal.

An alumnus of the College of Engineering, Hackney earned his BS degree in mechanical engineering in 1961 and his BS degree in industrial engineering in 1962. He is president and chief executive officer of Hackney Industries Inc. of Washington, North Carolina.

The Watauga Medal is the highest nonacademic award bestowed by the University. In 1975, the Board of Trustees established the medal to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of NC State.

January 17, 1997

Benjamin Franklin Scholars Present Projects

The capstone presentations for the Benjamin Franklin Scholars Program were held December 4, 1996, in Studio 2, Park Shops. Two student groups gave project presentations to a panel of professors who judged the quality of the projects. Brian Hucks, Sharon Noe, Deborah Tucker and Amy Wazenegger presented "Alternative Fuel Vehicles: A Technology Assessment." Donnie Pulliam, Jessica Allen, Jim Clagett and Matt Krist presented "Digital Libraries: A Technology Assessment." The Benjamin Franklin Scholars Program is a double-degree program in the College of Engineering and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

January 10, 1997

Murty elected Life Fellow of Indian Institute of Metals

Dr. K. Linga Murty, a professor at North Carolina State University in the Department of Nuclear Engineering and the Department of Materials Science & Engineering, has been elected a Life Fellow of the Indian Institute of Metals in recognition of his contributions to Metallurgical Engineering and in particular Nuclear Materials. He (along with five others) was presented a plaque signifying the election to life fellow on Nov. 17, 1996 in New Delhi, India during the 50th Annual Technical Meeting of IIM. Prof. Murty presented an invited talk on Zircaloy Life Prediction and New Generation Zirconium Alloys at the International Symposium on 50-years of Metallurgy: Retrospect and Prospect and chaired a session. IIM presented him mementos commemorating the Golden Jubilee.

Dr. Murty became a fellow of the American Society for Materials - International in Oct. '96 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was the recipient of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) Mishima award in 1993 for outstanding contributions to nuclear fuels and materials research and development. He received the Alcoa Foundation Research Achievement award in 1988. Dr. Linga Murty came from India in 1964 as a graduate student at Cornell University where he obtained his MS in Materials Science and PhD in Applied Physics, and during his academic studies in India, he received several awards among which are the Metcalfe Medal (1963), Sripathi Medal (1962) for outstanding achievement in MSc and B.Sc.(Hons) respectively in Andhra University, India. He lives in Cary with his wife, Ratnaveni and is blessed with a son, Venkataraman and daughter, Sunita. He is the eldest son of the late Kalaprapurna Dr. K. Subba Raju and Subhadramma of Anakapalle, India.

January 8, 1997

Workshop Brings Together International Exchange Group