capstone engineer - fall 2006
DESCRIPTION
Capstone Engineer is published in the spring and fall by the Capstone Engineering Society at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL.TRANSCRIPT
FUTUREpredicting the
OF ENGINEERING
capstone ENGINEER fall 06
capstone
ENGINEERING society
1-800-333-8156
L. Lamar FaulknerNational Chair, Board of Directors
Charles L. Karr, Ph.D.Dean, College of Engineering
Karen Meshad BaldwinDirector, External Affairs and Development
Mary WymerEditor
Cathy ButlerManaging Editor
Issue No. 34Capstone Engineer is published in the spring and fall by the Capstone Engineering Society.
Sharon WaitesDesigner
Laura Shill, Mary Wymer, Rickey YanauraPhotography
Address correspondenceto the editor: The University of Alabama, Capstone Engineering Society, College of Engineering, Box 870200, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0200.
Visit the College of Engineering
website at www.eng.ua.edu.
The University of Alabama is an
equal-opportunity educational institution/
employer. • MC7361
UA CELEBrATES 175 2
ENgiNEEriNg PrEDiCTioNS 4
TEAChiNg ENgiNEEriNg 7
News 11
Surveying the College 16
our Students. our Future. 22
Events 23
in Memory 25
Alumni Notes 27
Vision for the University of Alabama College of Engineering
The University of Alabama College of Engineering first will be the preferred engineering
college in the state for students to obtain a world-class engineering education and to
develop into the leaders of tomorrow; second, our faculty will advance the boundaries of
knowledge through interdisciplinary research; and third, we will improve the lives of the
citizens of Alabama through research and service.
contents
Cover Story: Engineering Predictions From alternative energy sources to cybersecurity, UA’s College of Engineering responds to future engineering needs with forward thinking and innovative research.
4ENGINEER capstone
The University of Alabama campus is thriving with the return of students, new buildings
and residence halls opening, and the thrill of another season of Crimson Tide athletics.
In addition to all these exciting happenings, the Capstone is celebrating a significant milestone
– the 175th anniversary of its founding.
As the University recognizes our historic beginnings, we focus this issue of the Capstone
Engineer on our past, present and future. Our feature article looks ahead to where the
engineering profession is going and how UA’s College of Engineering is educating our
students to be forward thinkers as they become the leaders of the engineering profession.
Engineering is such a vital profession to the economy of the state of Alabama and the entire
Southeast region. Alabama is currently home to four automotive original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs) and more than 300 automotive-related manufacturers. In addition,
some 300 aerospace companies account for over 73,000 jobs in Alabama. These companies
need skillful and creative leaders who not only understand the principles of engineering but
also have experience with foreign languages, fine arts and business ethics.
In this effort to support the economy of the state, the College of Engineering is exceeding
our goal for recruiting the best and brightest students. As of July, 509 high school students
and 117 transfer students have declared engineering as their major and attended Bama Bound
orientation sessions. This group of freshmen who attended our orientation sessions has an
average high school grade point average of 3.65 with an average ACT score of 26.5, including
29 percent that scored 30 and above on the ACT. Although we will not have official
enrollment numbers for another month, it appears we are on target to meet our goals
of 2,100 students by the year 2010 and increasing our average ACT score.
The College of Engineering is poised to reach the next milestone of excellence. Our vision and
goals are setting the direction that is making us the preferred engineering college in the state.
dean’s message
Charles L. Karr, Ph.D. Dean
175th“The University of Alabama is a university in transition, and the end point of that transition will be our
recognition as one of the leading public universities in this country. Our transition is guided by a blueprint
that is a mosaic of the aspirations, goals, programs and plans of the many units that make up the academic
and administrative infrastructures of the University. Our blueprint, a blueprint for excellence, is organized
around the four building blocks of academic excellence – people, programs, facilities and resources.”
Dr. Robert E. Witt
President
ThE UnivERsiTy of AlAbAmA
A N N I v E R S A R Y T h E C A P S T O N E C E L E B R A T E S I T S
By Cathy Andreen
As The University of Alabama celebrates its 175th
anniversary in 2006, it is indeed a university in
transition, but it is also a university built on a strong
foundation – a foundation steeped in tradition and
built on the hopes, dreams and achievements of many
generations.
It is a university rooted in academic excellence: The
state’s first chapter of Phi Beta Kappa was founded at
UA in 1850, the University boasts 15 Rhodes Scholars
among its alumni and, today, ranks among the top
10 percent of all universities in the enrollment of
National Merit Scholars.
And it is a university that produces leaders – for
the state of Alabama, for the nation and beyond:
business leaders, governors, senators, doctors, lawyers,
engineers, educators, authors, artists and professionals
in almost every area earned their degrees at The
University of Alabama, the state’s flagship university.
Founded in 1831, the University’s history actually
began more than 175 years ago when the federal
government authorized the Alabama Territory to set
aside a township for the establishment of a “seminary
of learning” in 1818. Alabama was admitted to the
Union on March 2, 1819, and a second township was
added to the grant. On Dec. 18, 1820, the seminary
was established officially and named the University
of the State of Alabama. Tuscaloosa, then the state’s
capital, was chosen as the University’s home in 1827.
Inaugural ceremonies were held on April 12, 1831
and the University officially opened. The first students
were enrolled on April 18, 1831, and by the end of
May, 52 students had enrolled. The campus consisted
of just seven buildings: two faculty houses, two
dormitories, a laboratory, a hotel (now Gorgas House)
and the Rotunda (one of the buildings later burned by
Union troops during the Civil War).
To quote from Suzanne Rau Wolfe’s The University of
Alabama: A Pictorial History, “Expectations were high
in 1831. A new school in a young state, a fine campus
and promising professors – all suggested a bright
future for the University.”
Today, The University of Alabama’s blueprint for the
future calls for strong enrollment growth supported
by a comprehensive building plan, and a capital
campaign aimed at providing the resources for a truly
great university. The Capstone is again in a period of
substantial growth – growth that will be built on
the four cornerstones of people, programs, facilities
and resources. y
ENGINEER capstone 3
175th
AmongkeydAtesinthAtbrightfuture:
1832 firstgraduateJohnAugustinenooeearnedhisbachelor’sdegree.
1837 uAbecameoneofthefirstfivecollegesinthenationtooffering
engineeringclasses.Collegeofengineeringestablishedin1909.
1865 uniontroopssparedonlysevenbuildingsonthecampus,butuA
reboundedandcontinuedtogrow.
1892 firstfootballteamassembled.
1893 firstwomenstudentsenrolled.
1919 schoolofCommercefounded;becameCollegeofCommerceand
businessAdministrationin1929;renamedCulverhouseCollege
ofCommerceandbusinessAdministrationin1997.
1948 firstdoctoratesawarded.
1963 firstsuccessfulenrollmentofAfrican-Americanstudents.
1986 universityhonorsProgramestablished;becamehonorsCollege
in2003.
2002 uAfirstnamedoneofthetop50publicuniversitiesinthenationby
U.S. News & World Report.
2006 enrollmentreachesarecordhigh23,878.
A N N I v E R S A R Y T h E C A P S T O N E C E L E B R A T E S I T S
During the last decade,
much of engineering
practice shifted its focus
from manufacturing-
based industries to more
innovative technologies.
Traditionally, engineers
manufactured and
maintained machinery.
As education standards
developed throughout
the world and many
foreign institutions began
offering more training
in engineering, these
manufacturing-based
operations moved to
international locations.
E N G I N E E R I N G
P R E D I C T I O N S
ENGINEER capstone4
The University of Alabama College of
Engineering is the oldest engineering
college in our state and one of the five
oldest in the nation. While we take great
pride in our past, we are not satisfied
with the status quo. We are ambitiously
stepping forward in our role of shaping
the future of the state of Alabama and
the nation – one young mind at a time.
As the College continues to educate
tomorrow’s engineering leaders, we
must stay ahead of how engineering is
changing. As educators, our focus is not
only to teach engineering principles, but
also to expand our students’ realm of
thinking into becoming innovators.
During the last decade, much of
engineering practice shifted its focus
from manufacturing-based industries
to more innovative technologies.
Traditionally, engineers manufactured
and maintained machinery. As education
standards developed throughout the
world and many foreign institutions
began offering more training in
engineering, these manufacturing-
based operations moved to
international locations.
With this change, engineering in the
United States has been migrating
to functions requiring higher levels
of innovation. We’re moving to the
innovation economy, and the College
of Engineering is preparing students to
be able to logically and creatively think
about problems and develop new
ideas and solutions that are truly
novel. For example, the College is
encouraging students to explore
additional coursework, such as foreign
languages and fine arts, to expand their
creative possibilities.
The College has major research groups
studying emerging topics of national and
global impact: automotive/transportation,
energy, biology, space and cybersecurity.
These multidisciplinary teams are
conducting work that is critical to
our economy.
Automotive/Transportation
The College’s automotive/transportation
researchers are investigating areas ranging
from combustion engines to hybrids and
highway safety to aging infrastructure.
These teams include faculty and students
from all eight disciplines in the College
as well as faculty and students from the
Colleges of Commerce and Business
Administration and Arts and Sciences.
T h E F U T U R E A I N ’ T W h A T I T U S E D T O B E . Y O G I B E R R A
ENGINEER capstone 5
Energy
Traditionally, energy areas would
encompass mechanical engineering with
power plants and chemical engineering
focusing on oil. Energy research in the
College is expanding to include projects
working on hydrogen, coal, methane,
natural gas, biodiesel and other forms
of alternative energy. In addition, the
research team is exploring areas of usage,
conservation, reliability and efficiency.
Biology
A leading and growing area in engineering
is the biological sector, and the College
is at the forefront of biochemical
engineering through our work at the
interface between nanotechnology and
pharmaceutical engineering. Much of
this work is in collaboration with The
University of Alabama at Birmingham
School of Medicine.
Space
Near space, outer space and the aging
infrastructure of space systems are just
a few of the areas our space team is
researching, including how we get there,
how we go farther, and how we manage
to transition from what we have into
what we need.
Cybersecurity
Fifteen years ago, the computer age and
Internet started growing faster than our
traditional economy could manage.
Today, that growth has continued and
it is becoming harder to secure our
personal and business information.
The infrastructure of our information
system has not kept up with demand. To
address these concerns, the College has
substantial research activity in the area
of security informatics. In addition, the
College is focusing on wireless sensor
technologies and micro-electromechanical
systems (MEMS). y
O U R I M A G I N A T I O N I S T h E O N L Y
L I M I T T O W h A T W E C A N
h O P E T O h A v E I N T h E F U T U R E .
C h A R L E S F . K E T T E R I N G
Y E S T E R D A Y , T O D A Y A N D T O M O R R O W . . .
Since The University of Alabama began
offering engineering classes in 1837, the
overall nature of teaching engineering
has not changed – engineers must be
able to define problems, develop possible
answers, and implement successful
solutions. Knowledge, analysis, design,
experimentation and evaluation are the
skills that must be taught.
However, the methods of how these
skills are developed and practiced have
changed throughout the years. From chalk
boards to white boards and computers to
lab equipment, including the infamous
slide rules, professors have used the
latest technologies to prepare engineering
graduates from the Capstone.
The knowledge base needed by today’s
engineers is much larger than at any other
time in history. Engineers must be skilled
in modeling, experimenting and analyzing
solutions rooted not only in science and
engineering, but also consider sociological,
environmental, cultural, global and
economical factors.
So, has teaching engineering changed?
Let’s quickly review where we have been
and where we are going …
During the early years of teaching
engineering, laboratories were theoretical,
not practical. In the 1840s, British cotton
investors withdrew their money and
Alabama went into a depression. UA lost
funding and engineering professors did not
have budgets to buy lab equipment.
In 1909, the College of Engineering was
organized as a separate division of the
University with the opening of B. B.
Comer Hall. At the time, Comer Hall was
called one of the largest and best equipped
engineering buildings in the United States.
During the 1940s, the University was
greatly affected by World War II. The
College’s greatest contribution to the war
efforts was in teaching military personnel
through the flight instruction program.
The 1960s were an era of great change
in teaching engineering. The College’s
budget increased dramatically and
teaching engineering at the capstone
ENGINEER capstone �
Y E S T E R D A Y , T O D A Y A N D T O M O R R O W . . .
enrollment grew. The College awarded
its first doctorate in 1964.
“I remember that it was easy to spot
other engineering students walking
across campus because we all had
slide rules hanging from our belts and
were carrying 13 books and 20 pounds
of class notes,” said Dr. Dan Turner,
professor of civil and environmental
engineering, about his days at the
Capstone in the 1960s.
The 1970s were the beginning of
demographic changes in the College.
The number of women, minorities
and international students attending
engineering classes increased.
Teaching styles changed with the
demographic shifts.
In addition to demographic changes,
technological advances were prevalent
as the College created a Department
of Computer Science with equipment
such as an IBM, a UNIVAC, and an
RCA 110-A.
During the 1980s, the College faculty
debated how to acquire desktop
computers for faculty members
and student computer labs. College
leaders’ decision to provide computers
for faculty and student labs made us
one of the few colleges nationwide
considered to be on the cutting edge
of computing.
“In my mind there have been
substantial and wonderful upgrades to
College equipment and labs, but the
major change has been the teaching
styles of faculty members. When I was
a student here, it seemed like every
professor had 600 pounds of notes
for each course. Students were
supposed to copy them faithfully
and to study them to master the
course material. Teaching methods
have improved radically through
emphasis by the College, the use
ENGINEER capstone8
of technology in the classroom, and
better communication tools outside the
classroom,” explained Turner.
Dr. Gary April, University Research
Professor and Head of Chemical and
Biological Engineering, agrees that
teaching methods have changed for
the better. “What needs to be covered
in courses is not always contained in
the classic textbooks. So, instructional
methods have been revolutionized
to provide materials from a variety
of sources, including textbooks, the
Internet and interactive conferencing
with labs and industry,” said April.
So, where is teaching engineering
going? Engineering students will have
access to information instantaneously
with wireless networked classrooms.
Labs will become more virtual. For
example, instead of aerospace students
operating a small wind tunnel on their
own campus, they will be able to
work it through the Internet provided
by industries throughout the country.
Curriculums will change with basic
engineering courses becoming part
of the university general studies and
engineering students will have to
take more liberal arts classes, such as
languages, for the global marketplace. y
ENGINEER capstone �
n you know Coach Bryant’s stats just like you know pi to the 100th decimal.
n you average the gymnastics scores before the computer finishes.
n you set your watch by Denny Chimes.
n you measure land in relation to the size of the Quad.
n you know where MiB is.
n you calculate the height, arc and length of time the ball was in the air
after every free throw in Coleman Coliseum.
n you know how to cast an iron elephant.
n your closest food source for four years was the Ferg.
BUT YOU KNOW YOU ARE A UA ENGINEER WhEN . . . n you help shape the future of UA Engineering by supporting your College financially.
There are many ways to help—become a member of the Capstone Engineering Society, or donate gifts of
cash, appreciated property or equipment for labs.
Take pride in the knowledge that your contributions make UA’s College of Engineering stand out in the eyes
of the nation. For more information, call us at 1-800-333-8156.
ThE UNIvERSITY OF ALABAMA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERINGBox 870200 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0200
1-800-333-8156 • (205) 348-6400 • www.eng.ua.edu
ENGINEER capstone 11
Delahay receives outstanding Alumni Volunteer Award
In 1995, the College of
Engineering began a yearly
tradition of recognizing an
alumnus who has provided
outstanding volunteer assistance
to the College as the Outstanding
Alumni Volunteer. The 2006
Outstanding Alumni Volunteer
Award was given posthumously
to James Delahay.
Delahay contributed to the
overall enhancement of the senior design course in civil
engineering. According to the nominator, “With the assistance,
guidance and oversight of Jim, the senior design course and
student experience were completely re-engineered, making it
more applicable to practice and, in effect, better preparing our
students for a successful career.”
Delahay served on the College’s Leadership Board, was named a
Distinguished Engineering Fellow in 2003, and assisted with the
fundraising efforts for the College. In 2005, Delahay’s wife, Linda,
established the James M. Delahay Endowed Scholarship to support
students in civil engineering.
In appreciation for his years of dedicated service to his alma
mater, we honored James Delahay as the 2006 Outstanding
Alumni Volunteer at the College’s Distinguished Engineering
Fellows banquet in March. Linda Delahay accepted the award
for the family.
UA hosts Engineering Automotive Workshop
The University of Alabama hosted a regional workshop titled,
“Engineering the Automotive Future,” on Jan. 24-25 at the Bryant
Conference Center. Topics included fuel cells, the hydrogen
economy, hybrid electric vehicles and advanced internal
combustion engines. The event was co-sponsored by UA’s Center
for Advanced Vehicle
Technologies. Dr. Clark
Midkiff, director of CAVT
and associate professor of
mechanical engineering, said
the workshop provided a
forum where UA and regional
research faculty could collaborate
and receive insight into future automotive research trends.
BellSouth Establishes Endowed Support Fund for UA College of Engineering
BellSouth has pledged $200,000 to promote the education of
students in the University of Alabama College of Engineering’s
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. BellSouth’s
gift will create a state-of-the-art Capstone Design Laboratory for
use by all electrical and computer engineering students and
will support priority needs of the electrical and computer
engineering department.
To express their gratitude for BellSouth’s generous support, UA
President Robert E. Witt and Dean Chuck Karr hosted a luncheon
at the President’s Mansion for Tom Hamby, president of
BellSouth Alabama.
news
Linda Delahay (left) accepting the Outstanding Alumni Volunteer Award for the Delahay family from Dean Chuck Karr (right)
Robert J. Farrauto from Engelhard Corp. discusses the hydrogen economy
Tom Hamby (left), president of BellSouth Alabama, and UA President Robert E. Witt (right)
ENGINEER capstone12
UA honors Five Distinguished Engineering Fellows
A select group of five alumni of the University of Alabama
College of Engineering were honored in March as Distinguished
Engineering Fellows. Recognition as a Fellow is the highest
commendation given to graduates and other supporters who have
strengthened the reputation of the College through their efforts
and achievements.
David G. Courington
David G. Courington, operations manager, is responsible for all
aspects of manufacturing at the 3M Decatur Material Resources
plant. In 2003, he was instrumental in the rebirth of the Decatur
plant by providing leadership in the acquisition of new product
lines and businesses, bringing plant employment back to
approximately 800 people. Courington received a bachelor’s
degree in chemical engineering from UA in 1974 and a master of
business administration from Alabama A&M in 1979. Courington
has strong ties to the Capstone by maintaining 3M’s support of an
annual scholarship, contributing to the Millennium Program, and
serving on the chemical and biological engineering advisory board
and the Capstone Engineering Society board of directors.
Douglas A. Moore
As president and founder of Innovex Technology LLC, Douglas
A. Moore leads the company as it serves as the research and
development arm of several large insurance carriers nationwide.
Moore graduated from the Capstone in 1987 with a bachelor’s
degree in electrical engineering. He began his career by developing
the Report Management System for Maxis Information Systems
Inc. Following his success at Maxis, Moore became president of
Computer Systems and Solutions Inc. In 1994, he was named vice
president of Applied Systems Inc., where he led the company to
become one of the foremost providers of automation software in
the insurance carrier market.
Robert E. Morris
For the past 40 years, Robert E. Morris served as a pioneer in
the research and development of ductile iron in the automotive
industry. Though he retired from SouthCast Sales Inc. in 2001,
where he was owner and president, he continues to work as an
independent castings sales agent and consultant. From 1971 to
1982, Morris led Columbus Foundries, now known as Intermet
Columbus, from a small business with $2 million in sales to an
international company with sales in excess of $75 million. Prior to
his role as president at SouthCast Sales, Morris was president
and CEO of the Alabama Ductile Casting Co. In 1982, Morris
purchased Allied Foundry in Brewton and renamed it the Alabama
Ductile Iron Co. After expanding the foundry and doubling
its sales, the foundry was purchased by Citation Corp. in
Birmingham. Morris graduated from UA with a bachelor’s
degree in metallurgical and materials engineering in 1962.
M.A. Oztekin
During the past 50 years, M.A. Oztekin founded two extremely
successful corporations, created thousands of jobs for Alabama
citizens, and demonstrated engineering creativity in product and
process design as the holder of five U.S. and six foreign patents.
In 1951, Oztekin began his career with the nation’s largest store
fixture company in Detroit, Mich., where he realized the need for
flexible, sturdy and durable display units. In 1956, Oztekin created
the Dixie Craft Manufacturing Co. to manufacture steel shelving
news
Pictured from left to right: David G. Courington, Bob St John, M.A. “John” Oztekin, Robert E. Morris and Douglas A. Moore
ENGINEER capstone 13
news and belt-driven, automatic checkout counters for retail merchan-
dizing. Dixie Craft grew into Madix Corp., a national leader in
retail merchandizing and storage products. In 1958, Oztekin
founded the Kent Corp. and patented the world’s first unitized
single-piece adjustable steel shelves and uprights with integrated
roll formed back-panel channels, still used today as engineered
display solutions for food and other retail products. Oztekin’s love
of the Capstone led to the establishment of the Oztekin Family
Endowed Scholarship for students enrolled in the College
of Engineering.
Bob St John
Bob St John has more than 40 years of experience in geotechnical
consulting, construction quality control and engineering
management. St John received his bachelor’s degree in civil
engineering in 1961 from the Capstone and began a career in
geotechnical engineering with Law Engineering and Testing Co.
For the next 17 years, St John worked on many high profile
projects, including foundation studies for nuclear power plants
and geotechnical studies for high-rise structures. In 1980, St John
and Gary Durham founded Ground Engineering and Testing
Service Inc., which has grown to more than 100 personnel in five
locations. In 1998, Ground Engineering joined Atlanta Testing
and Engineering Inc., and the firm is now known as QORE
Property Sciences. His love of engineering and the business of
consulting engineering led St John to join J2F Inc., a small
business located in Birmingham, where he is currently a partner.
Construction Engineering and Management Founding Partners
The College of Engineering is proudly recognizing and
congratulating the following as the founding partners of the
Construction Engineering and Management Program.
Each founding partner has established endowments
for undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships
and programmatic support.
• Davis Architects for the Davis Architects Excellence in
Construction Engineering Endowed Support Fund
• Mr. Thomas E. Doster III for the Thomas E. Doster III
Endowed Scholarship
• Hoar Construction for the
Hoar Construction
Endowed Scholarship
• Mr. Jerry F. Wilson Jr. and
Mrs. Judith F. Wilson for
the Jerry F. Wilson Jr. Family
Endowed Support Fund Davis Architects: Geoff Clever (left), vice president, Neil Davis (center), president, and Julee Potter, vice president
Rob Burton (left), president of Hoar Construction, and Dean Chuck Karr
ENGINEER capstone14
news
• American Cast Iron Pipe Co. for continuing support of the
ACIPCO Engineering Scholars Program and the ACIPCO
Corporate Scholars Program in mechanical engineering
• BellSouth Telecommunications Inc. for support of the Electrical
Engineering Gift Fund and for establishing the Electrical and
Computer Engineering Endowed Support Fund
• Mrs. Jane K. Bolton for support of engineering scholarships in
memory of her husband, Mr. Michael J. Bolton
• Mr. W. Paul Bowers for establishing the Paul Bowers Endowed
Engineering Scholarship
• Mr. Rex Bush, TTL Inc. and Mr. S.T. Bunn for establishing the
Ray D. Bass Endowed Engineering Scholarship
• Davis Architects Inc. for establishing the Davis Architects
Excellence in Construction Engineering Endowed Support Fund
• Doster Construction Co. Inc. for continuing support
of the Thomas E. Doster III Endowed Engineering Scholarship
• ESI Group for equipment given to metallurgical and
materials engineering
• Drs. Kenneth and Sharon Harwell for continuing support
of the Drs. Kenneth and Sharon Harwell Endowed
Engineering Scholarship
• The Haskell Company for continuing support of the John R.
Cobb Excellence in Engineering Education Endowed
Scholarship Fund
• Hoar Construction LLC for establishing the Hoar Construction
Endowed Scholarship
• Honda Manufacturing of Alabama LLC for support of the
Mechanical Engineering Gift Fund
• Dean and Mrs. Charles L. Karr for establishing the Betty H.
Karr-Mann Endowed Engineering Scholarship in honor of
Dean Karr’s mother, Mrs. Betty H. Karr-Mann
• Mr. and Mrs. M.A. Oztekin for continuing support of the
Oztekin Family Endowed Scholarship
• Col. and Mrs. Dayton Robinson Jr. for continued support of the
Dayton Robinson III Memorial Endowed Scholarship in memory
of their son, Sonny
• Ambassador and Mrs. Joseph M. Rodgers for continuing support
of the Rodgers Family Scholarship Fund
• TTL Inc. for establishing the TTL Inc. Endowed
Engineering Scholarship
BIG thanksWe appreciate our recent partners in UA’s College of Engineering
family for their support of our students and programs.
• Increase the prestige and value of your engineering or computer science degree.
• Help us achieve higher rankings through increased alumni participation.
• Provide much-needed financial support for our students and the College.
• Receive updates and information about the College.
• Receive the Capstone Engineer.
• Receive invitations to the homecoming football pre-game event.
Call 1-800-333-8156 or visit the website at www.eng.ua.edu.
Why contribute to ces?
Crimson is Belonging to The Capstone Engineering Society.
ENGINEER capstone16
surveying the college
Brown Wins T. Morris hackney Faculty
Leadership Award
Dr. David B. Brown, pro-
fessor of computer science
and director of development
of UA’s CARE Research &
Development Laboratory,
received the 2006 T. Morris
Hackney Endowed Faculty
Leadership Award. The award
honors a faculty member who
exemplifies the leadership
qualities that advance and add
to the stature of the College of Engineering. Brown designed and
currently manages development of CARE data analysis software,
which has won two national awards. Brown has implemented
CARE systems for vehicle crash databases in nine states. This
award was created as a tribute to T. Morris Hackney and was
made possible by contributions from Mr. John H. Josey and his
son, Mr. Howard Josey. Brown was recognized as the Hackney
Award winner at the College’s Distinguished Engineering Fellows
banquet in March.
Thompson receives NSF CArEEr Award
Dr. Gregory B. Thompson, assistant professor of metallurgical
and materials engineering, has been awarded a National Science
Foundation CAREER Award. CAREER Awards are NSF’s
most prestigious recognition of top-
performing young scientists and
engineers who are beginning
their careers.
Thompson has been awarded a five-
year, $500,000 grant to advance his
study in microstructure and mean stress evolution in thin films.
Specifically, the award supports Thompson’s fundamental research
activities in understanding how metal alloys transform between
different crystal structures. This research will quantify how stress
and alloy morphology contribute to the atomic order stability in
very thin films for magnetic information storage.
Jackson Appointed as Electrical
and Computer Engineering head
Dr. Jeff Jackson, associate professor and interim head of electrical
and computer engineering, has been named head of electrical
and computer engineering at the University of Alabama College
of Engineering. Jackson has served the
College for 20 years as a graduate teaching
assistant, graduate research assistant,
assistant professor, associate professor and
interim department head. Jackson has
authored more than 80 publications and
articles throughout his career, and he is
involved with several professional service organizations.
gibson Joins College as Drummond Chair and Director of Construction Engineering
and Management Program
The College of Engineering recently
named Dr. G. Edward Gibson Jr. as the
Garry Neil Drummond Endowed Chair
in civil, construction and environmental
engineering and as founding director of
the construction engineering and
management program.
As the Garry Neil Drummond Endowed Chair, Gibson will
work to advance research in areas such as organizational change,
risk management, construction productivity, and electronic data
Dean Chuck Karr (left) presents the T. Morris Hackney Faculty Leadership Award to Dr. David B. Brown (right)
ENGINEER capstone 1�
surveying the college
management. Gibson also will oversee the development of the
new bachelor’s degree in construction engineering and work
closely with faculty on construction engineering research projects.
The Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama established
the Garry Neil Drummond Chair of Mining Engineering at the
Capstone in 1977 with gifts from Dr. Garry Neil Drummond,
the coal mining companies in the state of Alabama, along with
colleagues of Dr. Drummond in the mining industry. In 1997,
the Board amended the Garry Neil Drummond Chair such that
it was transferred to the Department of Civil and Environmental
Engineering and was renamed the Garry Neil Drummond Chair
of Civil Engineering.
ritchie Chairs Technical Program
of NAMS Conference
The 17th annual meeting of the North
American Membrane Society was hosted
by Kraft Foods and The University of
Alabama in Chicago, Ill., from May 12-17.
Dr. Stephen Ritchie, assistant professor of
chemical and biological engineering, served
as the chair of the technical program.
The record-breaking conference included 436 attendees and
179 organizations from 24 countries.
reddy receives Wadsworth Award
The Milton E. Wadsworth Extractive Metallurgy
Award was presented to Dr. Ramana G. Reddy,
ACIPCO Professor of Metallurgical and
Materials Engineering. The award was presented
to Reddy “for his significant contributions to
the field of chemical metallurgy, development of
thermodynamic modeling of chemical reactions,
furthering the area of metallurgical education and engineering
professional development.”
American idol Taylor hicks ‘opens’ For Lane
Chemical and biological
engineering professor Dr. Alan
Lane, aka Doobie “Doghouse”
Wilson, performs weekly in
Tuscaloosa and Birmingham
at small coffee shops and bars.
Recently at Birmingham’s Oasis
Bar, Lane was scheduled to
perform fourth, but was asked
if another artist could slip in
a performance. It was none other than Taylor Hicks, this year’s
winner of American Idol. Hicks performed for about 90 minutes,
and Lane finally took the stage about 1:30 a.m., joking with the
crowd “the quality of my opening acts is getting better all
the time!”
“Life can have its magical, somewhat surreal moments like this,”
said Lane. “Here I was, a college teacher who has trouble getting
coffee house gigs, sharing the stage and holding my own with a
musician loved by millions.”
surveying the college
ENGINEER capstone18 ENGINEER capstone 1�
ChBE Student Named goldwater Scholar
For the second consecutive year, a chemical and biological
engineering student has been selected as
a Barry M. Goldwater Scholar, one of the
country’s most elite academic scholarships.
Thomas Glenn Kelly, a sophomore, was
selected as a 2006 Goldwater Scholar.
He is a member of Omega Chi Epsilon,
Tau Beta Pi, UA’s Computer-Based Honors Program and Alpha
Lambda Delta and Golden Key honor societies. Kelly’s plans for
the future include becoming a professor of chemical engineering
with a focus on catalysis and simularion.
Crawford receives CES
outstanding Senior Award
John William Crawford Jr., a senior in mechanical engineering,
was selected as the 2006 Capstone Engineering Society
Outstanding Senior. He served as an Ambassador for the
College of Engineering,
was a member of the
National Society of Black
Engineers and Alpha Phi
Alpha Fraternity, was
an event captain for the
Science Olympiad, and
helped as a tutor for the
Center for Teaching and
Learning and the Multicultural Engineering Program. Crawford
participated in a variety of research activities during his tenure
at the University, including aircraft vibration analysis, and he
co-authored two papers on gear fault detection techniques.
Two Engineering Students Named to USA
Today’s All-USA College Academic Team
Six students from The University of Alabama have been named to
this year’s USA Today All-USA College Academic Team – the most
of any school in the nation. This year’s team brings UA’s total for
the last four years to 20, a figure that also tops all other colleges
and universities. This year’s
team also brings the engineering
student total to seven students
named in the last eight years.
Matthew Fitzgerald, a senior
mechanical engineering major,
was named on the Third Team,
and Aundrea Lollar, a senior chemical and biological engineering
major, was named an Honorable Mention.
ChBE Student Named hollings Scholar
Christopher Cater, a senior chemical and
biological engineering major, received the
prestigious and highly competitive National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate
Scholarship. The scholarship provides
$8,000 per year for full-time study during the junior and senior
years and $6,500 for a 10-week internship at NOAA or a
NOAA-approved facility during the summer between the
junior and senior years.
Cater is a Presidential scholar and a member of the University
Honors Program and of the Chemical Engineering Honors
Program. He is also a member of Omega Chi Epsilon, Alpha
Lambda Delta, Phi Eta Sigma and Golden Key honor societies.
Cater is the fourth UA student to receive the prestigious
scholarship this year; UA ranks among the top five universities in
the country for total number of recipients for the scholarship.
Dean Chuck Karr (left) presents John William Crawford Jr. (right) the CES Outstanding Senior Award
surveying the college
ENGINEER capstone18 ENGINEER capstone 1�
invention iDs Computer Users by Typing Patterns; UA Scientists’ Discovery Pays off 13 Years Later
Thirteen years ago Dr. Marcus Brown, associate professor of
computer science, and one of his now-former graduate students
were awarded a patent for their novel invention which identifies a
person by how they type their name. The graduate student, Joey
Rogers, built his master’s thesis around the invention, and Brown
got the satisfaction and excitement that go along with being the
first person to discover something.
Brown and Rogers each recently received checks for approximately
$15,700 as their share of the proceeds from the sale of the patent.
Dr. Keith McDowell, vice president for research at UA, said one
of the research office’s goals is to raise such faculty expectations,
enabling campus researchers to see that creating intellectual
property (new knowledge with commercial applications) can
have multiple payoffs, including financial ones. “Through
our technology transfer office, we are aggressively marketing
intellectual property developed by our faculty,” McDowell said.
“This can serve as an additional motivator to faculty and, more
importantly, it enables The University of Alabama to better fulfill
the ‘service to society’ component of its mission.”
UA Engineering Students Design
Shingle Lifting Devices
Senior mechanical engineering students recently designed and
created shingle-lifting devices for Habitat for Humanity. The lifts
save labor by lifting shingle bundles and other materials to the
roofs of houses in the process of being built.
The devices were designed to reduce work-related injuries and
expand the work force to include individuals unable to carry
heavy loads up ladders. Since off-the-shelf devices are typically
only available at high costs and include multifloor capabilities
– a function not required for Habitat Homes – students were
instructed to design low-cost, high-quality, safe, durable and
easy-to-use lifts.
Dr. Steve Kavanaugh,
professor of mechanical
engineering, said this project
will increase the number
of people who can help
build homes for Habitat for
Humanity. “This project
was beneficial for students
because it taught them to pay
close attention to the needs
of the client, focus on costs
and safety, and avoid making hasty decisions,” said Kavanaugh.
“Overall, it gave them valuable ‘real world’ experience.”
Dr. Marcus Brown (left), associate professor of computer science, and Dr. Keith McDowell (right), UA’s vice president for research
Ben Smith demonstrates one of the shingle-lifting devices designed by the senior mechanical engineering students.
surveying the college
ENGINEER capstone20
UA Launching New Construction Engineering
Program in response to industry Needs
The University of Alabama College of Engineering will offer a
new construction engineering program, beginning this fall, to
meet the growing needs of the industry. The program, approved
by UA’s Board of Trustees in April, began accepting students for
August 2006.
“We’re extremely excited about our new
construction engineering program,” said
Dr. Chuck Karr, dean of the College.
“This program will definitely satisfy a
need that exists in the state. We believe
that it will be a tremendous asset for
the young people in Alabama who are
interested in construction engineering,
the citizens who depend heavily on
Alabama growth and development, and
the construction industry, which is so
important to the future of our state.”
Leaders in the construction engineering
industry have expressed their desire for
UA to launch this program and have said
the impact will be far-reaching.
“Alabama is unique in that we have a
large group of construction firms that
are continually hiring and looking for
more educated construction graduates,” said Thomas Doster III,
chairman of Doster Construction Co. Inc. “I see this program
benefiting The University of Alabama, the students and the
construction industry. The students graduating from the program
will be highly marketable and in demand because of their
specialized training and experience.”
UA construction engineering students will be required to
complete 67 hours in the major. Two key features of the program
are a required internship or co-op experience in the construction
industry prior to a student’s senior year and a culminating
construction engineering management project in the last semester.
College Closing iE Department
After lengthy deliberation, numerous discussions with the faculty
and administration, and a great deal of critical analysis, the
College will be closing the Department
of Industrial Engineering to best use its
resources to achieve its aggressive
growth goals.
“As we seek to take the College of
Engineering to a higher level of academic
achievement and research, we will focus
on several key areas that have the potential
for growth and that should have a positive
impact on the economic development
of the state of Alabama. Two such
areas are construction engineering and
manufacturing. The faculty members in
the Department of Industrial Engineering
have expertise that can be effectively
utilized as we seek to strengthen these two
areas,” explained Dean Chuck Karr.
Students currently enrolled in the degree
programs will be afforded the opportunity to complete their
degrees. The College is developing a five-year plan to phase out
the department.
“Alabama is unique in that we have a large group of
construction firms that are continually hiring and
looking for more educated construction graduates,” said Thomas Doster iii,
chairman of Doster Construction Co. inc.
“i see this program benefiting The University of Alabama,
the students and the construction industry.
The students graduating from the program will be highly marketable and in demand because of their
specialized training and experience.”
ENGINEER capstone 21
surveying the college
Standing (left to right): Drs. Derek Williamson, Clark Midkiff, Chuck Karr, dean, Jay Lindly and Mark Barkey. Seated (left to right): Drs. Tim Haskew, Mark Weaver, Yuebin Guo and Dan Fonseca
Stellar FacultyDean Chuck Karr congratulates the
following faculty for stellar work during
the 2005-2006 academic year.
Million Dollar Researchers
The following researchers generated at least $1 million or more in
new research awards in 2005-2006.
• Dr. David Brown, professor of computer science and
director of development of UA’s CARE Research &
Development Laboratory
• Dr. Duane Johnson, associate professor of chemical and
biological engineering and director of the Southeast
Regional Center of NIGEC
• Dr. Allen Parrish, professor of computer science and
director of UA’s CARE Research & Development
Laboratory
• Dr. Randy Smith, assistant professor of computer science
• Dr. Dan Turner, professor of civil and environmental
engineering and director of the University Transportation
Center for Alabama
• Dr. John Wiest, associate dean for research and professor
of chemical and biological engineering
Outstanding Teachers
The following tenure-track faculty received a 4.8 rating and above
on teaching evaluations for both the fall and spring semesters.
• Dr. John Baker, associate professor of mechanical
engineering
• Dr. Bob Batson, professor and interim head of industrial
engineering
• Dr. Tim Haskew, professor of electrical and computer
engineering
• Dr. Clark Midkiff, professor of mechanical engineering
and director of the Center for Advanced Vehicle
Technology
• Dr. Gary Moynihan, professor of industrial engineering
• Dr. Kenny Ricks, assistant professor of electrical and
computer engineering
• Dr. Harold Stern, associate professor of electrical and
computer engineering
• Dr. Dan Turner, professor of civil and environmental
engineering and director of the University Transportation
Center for Alabama
• Dr. Keith Williams, assistant professor of mechanical
engineering
Promotion and Tenure
The following faculty received promotions and tenure this year.
• Dr. Mark Barkey, professor of aerospace engineering
• Dr. Dan Fonseca, associate professor of industrial
engineering
• Dr. Yuebin Guo, associate professor of mechanical
engineering
• Dr. Tim Haskew, professor of electrical and computer
engineering
• Dr. Jay Lindly, professor of civil and environmental
engineering
• Dr. Clark Midkiff, professor of mechanical engineering
and director of the Center for Advanced Vehicle
Technology
• Dr. Mark Weaver, professor of metallurgical and
materials engineering
• Dr. Derek Williamson, associate professor of civil and
environmental engineering
ENGINEER capstone22
ith the support of alumni, we are poised to take
The University of Alabama to a higher level;
a level of national prominence and recognition in academic
excellence. The “Our students. Our Future.” campaign
focuses on the University’s most important resource –
our students. Generations of future engineers and the
growing economy in Alabama will be greatly impacted by
the “Our students. Our Future.” campaign through the
College’s fundraising priorities: student scholarships and
facility enhancements.
As the College of Engineering increases enrollment, we must
be able to recruit aggressively the best and brightest students.
The College’s goal is to increase enrollment to 2,100 students
by the year 2010, and we are committed to provide one-third
of undergraduate students with competitive scholarships.
“The University’s capital campaign is focused on student
scholarships, and this is critically important to the future
of our college. more importantly, it is vital to the future of
our state. The educational opportunities this capital campaign
will provide to students can be truly transformational,” said
Dean Chuck Karr.
Karr is one of the College of Engineering leaders supporting
scholarships for our students. in addition to Karr establishing
an endowment, the College’s leadership board chairman
James C. bambarger, b.s.C.E. ’70, and W. Paul bowers, chair-
elect of the leadership board, are contributing to the success
of the College through scholarship endowments.
Endowed engineering scholarships operate in perpetuity as
the principal is held in an endowment and a portion of the
interest is used to fund a scholarship. Providing financial
assistance to students every year establishes an enduring
legacy that impacts young lives for eternity.
The University of Alabama’s legacy was built by people whose
ideas, vision and commitment took the University to the level
of success we now enjoy. Today, The University of Alabama’s
future continues to rest in the hands of individuals,
individuals who are capable of making a lasting impact on the
University’s future and developing its true potential.
Now is your time to leave a legacy by supporting
engineering scholarships. If you would like to discuss
specific areas of the “Our Students. Our Future.”
campaign, contact Karen Baldwin, director of external
affairs and development, at (205) 348-7594
or 1-800-333-8156.
“our Students. our Future.”
COllege OF eNgINeerINg leAderShIp TeAm eSTABlIShINgSChOlArShIp eNdOwmeNTS
W
Tuscaloosa Alumni gather at Knight Signs
On Feb. 15, a group
of engineering
alumni gathered for
a barbeque dinner
from Dreamland
at Knight Sign
Industries. More
than 25 guests toured
the plant and enjoyed the dinner. Knight Signs Industries,
which produces and installs signs throughout the United
States, presented Dean Chuck Karr with a University
of Alabama neon sign for the College.
Barton hosts Tuscaloosa Alumni
On July 18, a group of engineering
alumni gathered for a dinner at the
home of Randy Barton, president
of Barton & Associates Inc. Guests
enjoyed dinner from Bottomfeeders.
golfers raise Funds for CES
The Greater Birmingham Chapter
of the Capstone Engineering
Society held its sixth annual CES
Golf Tournament on May 4 at
the Bent Brook Golf Course in
Bessemer. Special thanks to guest
speaker John Croyle, a former
UA football star and founder of the
Big Oak Ranch. About 135 alumni
and friends enjoyed a beautiful day and raised more than
$20,000 (net proceeds) that
will benefit CES
initiatives. This year’s
tournament was the most
successful in the amount
of money raised.
ENGINEER capstone 23
Allen Henry (left), CEO, and Cal Holt (right), president, present Dean Chuck Karr (center) a neon sign for the College
(from left to right): Guests enjoy the campaign celebration gala; President Robert E. Witt cuts the birthday cake celebrating Founders Day; Carol and Tom Patterson enjoy the celebration gala.
UACelebratesits“OurStudents.
OurFuture.”Campaignandits175th Anniversary
withGalaandBirthdayParty
Dean Chuck Karr presents alumnus Sammy Seals his award for closest to the pin
John Croyle speaks to the golfers after a fun day on the course
Dean Chuck Karr (left) and Randy Barton (right)
events
events
ENGINEER capstone24
Advanced Drainage Systems Inc.
Air Tech Inc.
Alabama Guardrail Inc.
Alabama Power Inc.
American Cast Iron Pipe Co.
Amgen Inc.
Apache Construction Corp.
Baseline Consultants
BE&K Engineering
Brasfield & Gorrie LLC
C & B Piping Inc.
Civil Systems Inc.
Consolidated Pipe & Supply
Con-Site Services Inc.
C. S. Beatty Construction
Davis Architects Inc.
Forestry Environmental Services Inc.
Hanson Pipe & Precast
Hardy Corp.
Hattemer, Hornsby, & Bailey PC
Johnson Controls Inc.
Mainline Supply Co.
Max Foote Construction
Palmer & Lawrence Inc.
Robins & Morton
Royal Automotive
SAIIA Construction LLC
Schlumberger Technology Corp.
Sherman Concrete Pipe
Spectrum Environmental
Star Insulation
Star Electrical Contractors
Thompson CAT
V & W Supply Co. Inc.
Volkert & Associates
Vulcan Painters Inc.
Vulcan Pipe & Steel Coating Inc.
Whitaker & Rawson Inc.
Thanksto this year’s CES golf Tournament sponsors!
Michael John Bolton
Michael J. Bolton passed away June 26, 2005. Bolton
graduated from the Capstone in 1943 with a bachelor’s
degree in metallurgy and ceramics. In 2006, his wife,
Jane, financially supported engineering scholarships
in his memory.
John Francis Burnum, m.d.
John Francis Burnum, M.D., died August 5, 2005.
Burnum graduated from the University of Alabama
College of Engineering in 1946 with a bachelor’s degree
in chemical engineering
and then from Harvard
Medical School in 1950.
Burnum was instrumental
in establishing the
University of Alabama’s
College of Community
Health Sciences more
than 30 years ago. In
1982, Burnum won
the College’s Teacher
of the Year Award. Ten years later, he was honored with
the Ralph O. Claypool Sr. Medical Award, given to one
national recipient each year by the American College
of Physicians. In 1999, he retired from 45 years of
private practice and assumed the position of full-time
professor in the College of Community Health
Sciences’ Department of Internal Medicine.
In 1981, Burnum and his wife, Celeste Evans Burnum,
endowed the Burnum Distinguished Faculty Award,
UA’s highest award for research and excellence in
teaching. In 1987, Burnum was inducted as a
Distinguished Engineering Fellow.
Dr. William Julian Hatcher Jr.
Dr. William J. Hatcher
Jr. died June 1, 2006.
Hatcher began his
tenure at the University
of Alabama College of
Engineering as a faculty
member in 1969, and
he served the College in
many ways, including
department head of
numerous departments,
assistant dean for
undergraduate studies, associate dean for academics,
interim dean of engineering and university research
professor emeritus.
Hatcher graduated with honors from the Georgia
Institute of Technology in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree
in chemical engineering. He earned a master’s degree in
chemical engineering and a doctorate from Louisiana
State University in 1964 and 1968, respectively.
Prior to his time at the Capstone, Hatcher received a
commission as second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine
in memory
ENGINEER capstone 25
in memory
ENGINEER capstone26
Corp and retired as a colonel. He also served as an
adjunct faculty member at the Marine Corps Command
and Staff College for a number of years. He was also
senior research engineer at Esso Research Laboratories.
Hatcher received many professional and academic
honors, including Fellow of the American Institute
of Chemical Engineers and the American Institute
of Chemists. He was a registered professional engineer,
a patent holder, and a co-author or contributing author
of five books and more than 40 technical and
scientific publications.
Ernest Bryan Longmire Jr.
Ernest Bryan “Sonny” Longmire Jr. passed away June
15, 2006, and he will be buried in Arlington National
Cemetery. Longmire received a bachelor’s degree in
aerospace engineering in 1962 from the Capstone and
later received a master’s degree at the Georgia Institute
of Technology. He served his country as an Air Force
pilot during the Vietnam War and retired as a colonel in
the U.S. Air Force.
Sam Johnson III
Sam A. Johnson III of Demopolis, Ala., died Aug. 10,
2006. Johnson received a bachelor of science in civil
engineering from the Capstone in 1964 and was a
registered professional engineer and land surveyor.
In 1966, he joined Gulf States Paper Corp.’s mill in
Demopolis as a project engineer. Throughout the years,
Johnson held various positions at the company,
including senior project engineer, section engineer,
director of new construction, director of engineering
and maintenance, and vice president. He was the vice
president and general manager of the Demopolis mill,
which Rock-Tenn. Corp. purchased from Gulf States.
An endowed scholarship fund has been established to
honor Johnson at The University of Alabama. If you
would like to make a donation in his memory, please
mail it to Karen Baldwin, The University of Alabama
College of Engineering, Box 870200, Tuscaloosa, AL
35487-0200.
in memory in memory
Jobs/Promotions/Awards
1959
William W. Moss, PE, B.S.C.E. ’59,
was elected as an Honorary Member
of the American Society of Civil
Engineers. This is the highest honor
the ASCE bestows.
1964
Dr. Walter Garrison Hopkins III, B.S.E.E. ’64, M.S.E.E.
’69, retired from Northern Arizona University in
Flagstaff, Ariz., where he served for 22 years in the
College of Engineering.
1975
Sid Leach, B.S.E.E. ’75, M.B.A. ’78, was named
chairman of the board of the National Sharing the
Sky Foundation.
1980
John S. Richardson, B.S.Min.E. ’80,
M.S.Min.E. ’83, was named execu-
tive vice president and chief operat-
ing officer of Energen Resources in
Birmingham. Richardson will be
responsible for the overall activities of Energen Resources
and will continue leading the company’s oil and gas
acquisition efforts.
1982
Ronnie Chronister, B.S.C.E. ’82, was selected as
the executive director of the Integrated Material
Management Center, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile
Command, Redstone Arsenal. Chronister is responsible
for the fielding and sustainment of all Army aviation
and missile systems around the world.
1984
James Jordan, B.S.Ch.E. ’84, is the new vice president
of operations at Georgia-Pacific’s Wauna Mill in
Clatskanie, Ore.
1986
Bill O’Hara, B.S.A.E. ’86, was selected to attend
the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. As a U.S.
Department of Defense employee, he will study strategy
and policy, national security decision-making and joint
military operations.
1987
Jeff Mitchell, PE, B.S.C.E. ’87, joined the architectural
and engineering firm of Hart Freeland Roberts Inc.,
based in Nashville, Tenn. Mitchell is assigned to HFR’s
civil engineering department.
1995
Paula Borden Byrd, B.S.M.E. ’95, completed the
requirements for certification as an Associated Safety
Professional (ASP). Byrd is a project engineer at the
Alabama Technology Network office located on the
Alabama Southern Community College campus in
Thomasville, Ala.
Angela L. Jones, PE, B.S.C.E. ’95,
joined Almon Associates Inc. Jones
has more than 10 years experience in
water resources engineering.
alumni notes
ENGINEER capstone 2�
ENGINEER capstone28
alumni notes
1996
Jeremy D. Jones, PE, B.S.C.E. ’96,
joined Almon Associates Inc. as
a project engineer in Almon’s
Transportation Department. He is
responsible for the design and
management of transportation projects.
1999
John Powell Webb IV, PE, B.S.C.E.
’99, joined Almon Associates Inc.
Webb has more than six years
experience in water resources
engineering.
2000
Wesley Brad Bull, B.S.C.E. ’00, founded Blue Creek
Realty Group LLC, a full-service real estate brokerage
firm in Tuscaloosa.
2005
Navy Ensign Raymond F. Kyle Jr., B.S.M.E. ’05, received
his commission as a naval officer after completing Officer
Candidate School at Officer Training Command in
Pensacola, Fla.
Jacob Porter, B.S.E.E. ’96, was part of the Ex-CIA team on the television reality series Treasure Hunters on NBC. In the series, multiplayer teams were mentally and physically challenged in their quest of a promised hidden treasure.
Porter’s three-man team rappelled down a glacier in Alaska, traveled 10,000 feet deep into a murky mine in Montana, raced to Boston Light (America’s first lighthouse), searched through a swamp at a Georgetown plantation (where they won a $30,000 prize) and crossed the ocean for a clue in Paris. The team placed fourth after a photo finish in Philadelphia.
(top left): TREASURE HUNTERS -- NBC Series -- Pictured: “Treasure Hunters” Logo -- NBC Photo, (top right): Jacob Porter, (bottom right): TREASURE HUNTERS -- NBC Series -- Pictured: The Ex-CIA (l-r) Todd Moore, Mark West, Jacob Porter -- NBC Photo: Hal Gage
The format for the tournamentis a modified four-person scramble with a shotgun start. The registration fee of $125 includes green fee, cart, range balls, beverages, meals and a tournament golf shirt. Registration starts at 11:00 a.m., and the tournament begins at 1:00 p.m.
You may participate in the following ways:
Players:• Team Level ($500)–Team of four with all registration amenities• Individual Level ($125)–Single registration
Corporate Sponsors:• Ace Level ($2,500)• Eagle Level ($1,000)• Birdie Level ($300)
Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Capstone Engineering Society’s efforts to provide engineering and computer science students with a superior educational experience. Sign up today by calling 1-800-333-8156 or e-mail [email protected].
The Seventh Annual
GolfTournament The Seventh Annual
Capstone Engineering
Society Golf Tournament
is scheduled for Thursday,
April 26, 2007, at the beautiful
Bent Brook Golf Course.
#C
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Capstone Engineering SocietyCollege of EngineeringBox 870200 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0200
Engineering alumni and friends are invited to join the Capstone Engineering
Society for this year’s Homecoming Tailgate Party. Join us on the Quad on
Oct. 28 to celebrate Homecoming 2006 and cheer for the Crimson Tide against
the Florida International Golden Panthers. r o l l t i d e !
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tuscaloosa,AL
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H o m e C o m i n g ta i l g a t e p a r t y