Department of Engineering recognizes achievements

By Emily Parsons, The Herald Staff

The Department of Engineering recognized Friday its outstanding students and graduating seniors at the department's annual awards banquet.

Albert Mink, an associate professor of agriculture engineering, welcomed everyone to the banquet in true southern style. "A learned person is achieved by hard work and today we are gathered together to honor those achievements," he said.

"I am proud to be associated with you guys and I brag on you too. As you already know for the last three semesters all of the students who have taken the fundamental engineering exam have passed it on the first time."

Perry Isbell, assistant professor of engineering, recognized freshmen and sophomores with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher as well as juniors and graduating seniors with a 3.0 GPA and higher. Students who had received scholarships or fellowship also were recognized.

The recipients of the scholarships and fellowships include: Jeffery Cluck, Agriculture Engineering scholarship; Jessie Jones , Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation scholarship; Aaron Archer, American Greetings scholarship; Anthony Cook, Danny Scott Memorial; Gregory Zdaniuk , Parker Hannifan scholarship; Shannon McLaughlin, Mechanical Engineering; Barrett Brown and Chad Chastain, NASA Arkansas Space Grant Consortium Student Research Fellowship.

The Southern Mechanical Engineering scholarships include Archer, Jimmy Farrow, Jr., Wade Hosman, Carrie Hyde, Joe Johnson, Jones, Adam Kane, Ron Kelly, Leah Minge, Jeremy Todd Smith, Elisha Wright and Zdaniuk.

The Trustees Scholarship went to students who scored above a 30 on the ACT. Most of the recipients are freshmen. The recipients include Matthew Gary, Bradley Hillebrenner, Emily Meeker, and Sara Wewers.

The Presidents Scholarship went to students who scored between a 26­29. The recipients include many students who have worked hard to keep it.

The Outstanding Electric Circuits I student was Brandon Rigmore and the Outstanding Statics student was Jeffery Pluck. They also received a $100 cash award.

The certificates were presented to the outstanding graduating seniors. Dr. Tom Parsons, a professor of civil engineering, recognized Terry Evans and John Miller. Dr. David Gillanders, a professor of electrical engineering, honored Aaron Johnson, Lee Catchum and Justin Spears. Brad Edgar, a professor of mechanical engineering, honored Zdaniuk, Brad Burder, and John Tyler. Zdaniuk had an overall GPA of 3.957 because his only B was in United States History.

Charles Coleman presented the technology award to: Lance Guest, Wade Herald, Charles Sharp, Michael Garner, Jacqueline Williams, Samuel Williams, Greg Coldwell, Brian Foster, Donald Johnson, Rob Kinkade, Brandy Lloyd, Jeffrey Olson, Kevin Richardson, Justin Thompson, Samuel Walker and Justin Thomas.
The outstanding graduate awards in Civil Engineering included Jones, who was the first person to graduate with a 4.0 GPA from the department. The electrical engineering winner was Lee Ketchum.

Ketchum said, " Thank you to the professors, because they were very helpful and tried to teach the students," he said. "I have never seen the willingness to help students with such delight and to help the students with anything. To the younger engineering students if you need help ask and do not be afraid to say thank you for anything."

The mechanical engineering student who was recognized was Zdaniuck. "I want to thank the faculty members for the wonderful job they carried out," he said. "Also, I would like to thank the other students and Edgar for his help. Good luck."

The Management and Manufacturing-Industrial Technology award went to Kinkade. He said,"Thank you for helping me along the way and I did not know if I could of made it without the help of Perry, Crumpton, Coleman and my wife. Thanks a lot."

Gina Brium studied at ASU-Beebe and also won the technology award. Michael Garner, a non-traditional student, won the technology award also.

The other accomplishments included the civil engineering bridge team placing third in the regional competition at Louisiana State University. The team is competing in the national competition in June.

Mechanical engineering had a baseball team with Edgar for the adviser and the students include Patrick Dickson, Kerry Hives, and Keith Vines. Four students of electrical engineering that include Lee Ketchum, Gustavo Rehder, Randy Steel, and Richard Turner presented papers and could present the same papers at the Arkansas Academy of Science.

Ted Guest said, "The one-fourth scale tractor competition is an intense and prestigious competition and we look forward to competing again this year."
The Agriculture Engineering built a small tractor and will compete in Illinois. The four on the team include Aaron Archer, Lendon Breckendise, Richard Turner and Guest.