capstone engineer - fall 2010

F a l l 2 0 1 0

Goals, Momentum and Tomorrow

Capstone Engineering Society

1-800-333-8156

Paul W. LammersNational Chair, Board of Directors

Charles L. Karr, Ph.D.Dean, College of Engineering

Brandi L. LamonDirector, External affairs and Development

Nancy HolmesCoordinator, Capstone Engineering Society

Mary WymerEditor

Issue No. 42Capstone Engineer is published in

the spring and fall by the

Capstone Engineering Society.

Tori E. NelkoDesigner

Benita CreppsProofreader

Jeff Hanson, Samantha Hernandez, Zach Riggins, Mary WymerPhotography

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

Web site at www.eng.ua.edu.

The University of alabama is an

equal-opportunity educational

institution/employer. • MC8070

2 Goals, Momentum and Tomorrow

5 Efficiency and Diversity

8 Guiding Ua’s Newest Engineers and Computer Scientists

10 News

15 Surveying the College

22 Construction Update

24 alumni Notes

26 In Memory

28 Events

C o N T E N T S

This was printed on opus 30 Sappi Paper, which is manufactured with 30 percent fiber from well-managed forests.

This paper is Green Seal™ certified, ensuring it contains 30 percent post-consumer fiber and that the mill processes,

including packaging, are environmentally preferable.

D e a r A l u m n i a n d F r i e n d s ,From high unemployment rates to slow housing sales, it is easy to get caught up in the firestorm of the economic recovery with the media taunting ominous headlines daily. Is the recovery going to last? Should Congress authorize additional stimulus spending? Will there be a double-dip recession? The answers to these questions puzzle even the best economists of the country.

How has the recession affected the engineering industry? as problem solvers, have engineers developed new strategies to cope with the economy? are engineering and computer science still the hot fields for career choices? although the recession has seemingly put a black mark on the nation’s overall mood, engineers are staying positive and moving forward toward a more promising tomorrow.

as you explore this issue of the Capstone Engineer, I hope you are inspired by leading engineering alumni who are working furiously to stay on the cutting edge of business practices through this recession. In addition, I wanted to provide a small glimpse of how The University of alabama and the College of Engineering have managed during these difficult times. Finally, Ua’s Career Center has provided some excellent career information not only for our new graduates but also services for alumni.

Dean’s message

D r . C H a r l E S l . K a r r

D E a N

1C A P S T O N E ENG INEER

MoMENTUMaND ToMorroW

2 C A P S T O N E ENG INEER

An economy in a recession. A state reducing budgets. A high unemployment rate.at first glance, the outlook would seem bleak for The

University of alabama — how could it not only survive

but also grow with the economy tumbling and state

appropriations being dramatically reduced? Solid

goals and an aggressive recruiting plan have kept the

Capstone moving full steam ahead during these last few

years of tumultuous times.

long before the economy crashed, Ua President robert

E. Witt established an aggressive growth plan to move

the University from a regional public institution into a

national academic powerhouse. When the recession

began, the goals and the plan did not change, but

determination and challenge spread throughout the

campus. Through the efforts of many dedicated

employees, the University is a choice for the best and

brightest students and faculty, and the Capstone has

accomplished the majority of its goals four years ahead

of schedule.

“I could not be more proud of our faculty and staff. We

are dealing with economic conditions that have forced

most universities to cut back and retrench or, at best,

put all their plans for progress on hold. Thanks to the

attitude and commitment of the faculty and staff, The

University of alabama has continued to move forward,”

said Witt during his Faculty and Staff Spring Meeting in

april 2010.

During the last three fiscal years, Ua has absorbed a $56

million reduction in state appropriations without laying off

any faculty or staff or cutting any programs, and no layoffs

or program cuts are anticipated. In addition, no salaries

have been reduced, positions have not been frozen, and

new faculty and staff continue to be hired.

a dedicated president. an aggressive

growth plan. a committed team of

stellar employees.



During the recession, the University accomplished many goals, including the following: • Fall 2009 freshman class set multiple records with

more than 19,500 applications and a record class

size of 5,200 students. almost 1,200 of the 5,200

had perfect high school records, and 43 percent

graduated in the top 10 percent of their senior class.

The group included 103 National Merit Scholars,

ranking Ua 10th among the 600 public universities

in our country and 28th among all public and private

colleges and universities.

• Graduate enrollment surged 26 percent in one year.

• In the area of research for 2009, UA increased

contract and grant activity by 16 percent. In the first

six months of this year, contract and grant activity is

up an additional 10 percent.

• The campus’ physical infrastructure has also made

significant progress, including the third and fourth

new science and engineering complex buildings, the

new nursing building and the stadium expansion.

Engineering Plan Focused on ResultsWhile the University has been making strides, the

College of Engineering has not been relying on tradition

to pull through the economic downturn. When Dean

Chuck Karr was appointed in 2005, he immediately

established four aggressive goals for the College focused

on recruiting and research. like the University, this plan

did not change because of the recession.

If the College had not focused on an assertive recruiting

plan, the budget would have been reduced by 19.5

percent. With 94 percent of the College’s budget in

salaries, positions would have been eliminated. Instead

the College has continued to grow and thrive from

recruiting students and faculty. In fall 2004, the College

employed 93 full-time tenure-track faculty compared to

fall 2010 with 108 full-time tenure-track faculty and 14

open faculty positions with active nationwide searches.

Through difficult times, great leaders emerge. The

legacy of great leaders lives long past their tenure.

The tradition of the Capstone forever has been

impacted by numerous eminent scholars, directors,

deans and presidents. as it was under previous

leaders, the Capstone is in the fine hands of Witt and

Karr, leading for a better tomorrow and weathering

the economic storms.

Goal Target Current (Fall 2009)

Undergraduate Enrollment

2,100 2,421

Mean aCT of Freshman Class

27 27.3

Graduate Enrollment 350 301 (38 percent increase from 2008)

research $18 million

$17.79 million in new awards and $16 million in expenditures

College of Engineering Goals

The question on everyone’s mind lately is, are we in recovery or are we headed toward a double-dip recession? From bank bailouts to the government’s stimulus programs, americans now daily consider many numbers, including lending rates and unemployment percentages. layoffs, foreclosures and credit scores are now much more ingrained in the vernacular than ever before.

Efficiency and Diversity Keys to Weathering the Economic Storm


So, what will break the economy’s downward spiral?

Will the recovery bring spending back to pre-recession

levels? Will there be a double-dip recession? With these

thoughts, how has the engineering industry managed

during the last few years? Has engineering fared better

or worse than other industries? What is the outlook for

engineering’s future?

From civil engineering firms to large utilities to

manufacturing, engineering has experienced the

economic downturn, and depending on the sector,

some areas have been affected more than others.

although many engineering companies

have reduced staff either through layoffs or

by not replacing retiring employees, most

engineering firm leaders are encouraged not

only by the prospect of the future but also

as to how well employees have responded to

help their businesses survive.

“The last two years have been a very difficult

challenge for us all. The rebound we have

experienced at 3M Decatur in recent months

has been almost as dramatic as the sudden

plunge in business we dealt with at the outset

of the recession,” said David Courington,

BSChE ’74, operations manager at 3M Decatur.

“at 3M Decatur, we have worked through

this event to date without a single layoff, and

for that I am most proud. We did not replace

anyone who retired, and we redistributed

workloads. We extended downtimes around

holidays, and we eliminated overtime.”

Even though the economy has slowed,

utilities are still needed during recessions.

as Tom Kilgore, BSME ’70, president and

chief executive officer of the Tennessee Valley

authority, explained, “Even though we saw

high single-digit decline in sales, people

still use electricity. We are in a long-term

business, so we must keep some projects

going even in an economic downturn.”

Even with the overall reduction in engineering

activity, many firms have capitalized on what

engineers do best: process improvement and

solutions. Improving efficiency and future productivity

are guiding many companies as they work for survival.

“our employees have focused on improving design

tools and updating our standards. In an effort to keep

staff and still be productive, the use of funds that

once would have been profit are now directed toward

employee time to improve efficiency,” said Glenn

Bishop, BSCE ’64, MSCE ’66, chairman of lBYD Inc.


While the recession

may not be over, many

engineers are optimistic

about the future of

the industry.

“At 3M Decatur, we have worked through this event to date without a single layoff, and for that I am most proud.”

Courington echoed Bishop’s sentiment about

improving processes. “Within 3M, our engineers have

taken full advantage of the downturn period to work on

safety, product quality and efficiency improvements to

reduce costs.”

“overall, the engineering profession should fare

well over the long term because of its very nature.

Engineering is the art and science of solving problems,

and there will be problems to solve as long as there

are people,” said Kilgore. “Society will always strive

to advance by solving problems and making things

better — even when times are bad — and that makes

engineering key to society’s advancement.”

While the recession may not be over, many engineers

are optimistic about the future of the industry. For

some markets, the banking and lending industry will

continue to greatly impact engineering for the next

few years.

“although some indicators are positive, we feel we

are not out of the recession,” said Bishop. “It will take

a while for the construction community to feel the

benefits of an improving economy. There will need to

be stability in the lending markets and government

revenues before the construction industry gets back

to normal.”

Kenneth White, BSCE ’71, president and founder of

H. Kenneth White and associates Inc., agreed with

Bishop about the finance and banking environments.

“There have been so many changes in this area that

most of the developers are having a really tough time

in securing proper financing for projects. With that

said, we are slowly beginning to get back to normal

with a much increased workload this year — currently

our books so far this year exceed what we did the

entire year of 2009.”

although economists are struggling with predicting if

the recession is truly over or if the country is heading

for a double-dip recession, one thing is for certain:

Engineering’s future is based in the optimism of solving

today’s problems for a better tomorrow.


“Engineering is the art and science of solving problems, and there will be problems to solve as long as there are people.”

GUIDING Ua’S NEWEST ENGINEErS

aND CoMPUTEr SC IENT ISTS to thEiR JobS oF tomoRRoW


The excitement of graduation is compounded by the dreaded search for a job. From balancing class work demands of the last semester, searching for a job, and trying to enjoy the last few weeks with friends, many students are simply overwhelmed at the end of their educational experience. The hard work and accomplishments of the last few years come down to the all important question, “do you have a job?”

From helping students write a résumé, attend career fairs and search for a job to giving advice for interviews, Ua’s Career Center guides students through job postings, résumé referrals and on-campus employer recruiting. Dedicated to maximizing career development and opportunities for students and alumni, the Career Center provides programming, assessment and guidance that lead individuals to manage their careers.

With the unemployment rates still higher than 10 percent in many areas of the country, what does the job market look like for the Capstone’s newest engineers and computer scientists? are more graduating seniors opting for graduate school because of the economy?

“overall, the good news is that engineering students are still getting jobs,” explained Gayle Howell, senior career consultant for engineering at Ua’s Career Center. “During the past two years, we have seen a decline in

the number of students receiving multiple offers. although, students seem to be very aware of the change in the job market and, for the most part, are taking a more proactive approach to launching their careers.”

With the Cooperative Education Program constantly expanding and internships being added to certain curriculum requirements, students are actively engaged in their career planning long before they receive their degrees.

“recent graduates who have intern or co-op experience tend to bode better than those students without engineering experience,” said Howell. “Employers use the internship and co-op programs to help identify people who will be a good fit for their company as a future hire.”

In addition to students being more active with their career searches, through the Career Center, students are able to network with potential employers throughout the country. as the University has been actively recruiting students from every state, it has been important to enlist companies that are located from students’ home states. Therefore, the Career Center has been continuously adding companies representing a broader

geographic scope than just the Southeast region.

While Ua’s Career Center guides students from the initial decisions of which major and discipline, the Capstone is one of a few universities in the country that offers career services to alumni indefinitely for no charge.

Career Center Services for Alumni (free of charge)• Résumé critiques, assistance with cover-letter writing,

reference development

• Job-search planning and assessment

• Career fairs (September and February)

• Career-change exploration

• Graduate school planning

• Review of graduate school application and essay

• Assistance with interviewing skills, including the Mock Interview Program

• Networking assistance

• Salary negotiation assistance

• Salary and employment evaluation assistance

Employers are able to utilize CrimsonCareers, the Career Center’s database of job listings, for postings of any experience level.

“a major point for employers to recruit from The University of alabama is the fact that they will be able to reach out to all experience levels through our alumni network,” said Howell. “Even though some graduating seniors are continuing school directly for advanced degrees, most employers looking for candidates with a master’s degree or higher want work experience in addition to graduate school.”

Educating top-notch engineers and computer scientists is only half the mission of the College of Engineering. By providing the resources for life-long success, our alumni continue to be proven leaders in their chosen industries, and Ua’s Career Center is one of the first places to start the journey of professional service.

http://www.uacc.ua.edu

CollEGE oF ENGINEErING UNDErGraDUaTE PlaCEMENT SUMMarY

2009 2008

59%

1%

28%

2%10%

Full-timeemployed

Part-timeemployedFurthereducationMilitaryserviceSeekingemploymentNot seeking/other

2007

68%2%

18%

1%11%

47%

1%23%

3%

25%

1%

Year average range

Aerospace 2009 $65,000 $55,000–$75,000

2008 $50,000 $48,000–$52,000

2007 $52,087 $50,000–$58,000

Chemical 2009 $71,643 $52,000–$87,000

2008 $67,457 $46,000–$84,000

2007 $57,200 $45,000–$64,900

Civil 2009 $47,125 $21,840–$68,000

2008 $53,096 $45,000–$72,000

2007 $47,488 $40,000–$56,200

Computer Science 2009 $50,000 $50,000–$50,000

2008 n/a n/a

2007 $45,000 $36,000–$53,000

Construction 2009 $65,000 $65,000–$65,000

2008 $50,400 $50,400–$50,400

2007 n/a n/a

Electrical 2009 $54,667 $36,000–$69,000

2008 $56,000 $42,000–$65,000

2007 $53,231 $42,000–$66,000

mechanical 2009 $56,324 $35,000–$87,000

2008 $53,009 $43,000–$80,000

2007 $50,028 $25,623–$60,000

metallurgical 2009 n/a n/a

2008 $65,518 $54,553–$85,000

2007 $53,598 $53,598–$53,598

SAlARy by UNdeRGRAdUATe MAJoR


Joseph E. Cates, PhD – bSAE 1990

For the majority of his professional life, dr. Joseph e. Cates has been an instrumental contributor to the growth of the digital age in the film and music industry. Throughout his career, he has worked on the development of new methods of producing and distributing digital content in both physical formats and online. Cates’ knowledge of entertainment technology and his leadership skills have helped advance him to his current position as senior vice president of technology for Universal Pictures, where he oversees the studio’s technology efforts. He is responsible for enabling greater consumer access to Universal’s film content through research and development of digital technologies, including digital cinema, 3-D, new formats and Internet distribution.

Ronald E. Chronister – bSCE 1982

For the past 27 years, ronald E. Chronister has contributed his knowledge and commitment to the country through his work for the U.S. army. His dedication to his job stems from his passion for protecting the soldiers who defend america. Superior technology and air support continue to bring success to U.S. troops, and these defenses are developed under Chronister’s leadership. In his current position as deputy to the commander of the aviation and Missile life Cycle Management Command, Chronister manages a multifaceted and diverse organization with a budget of more than $4 billion and over 11,000 employees.

Cynthia Cason Gray – bSCS 1982

From inspiring youth in science and math in the public school system to leading Gray research Inc., Cynthia Cason Gray has become one of Huntsville’s leading female business owners. as executive vice president of Gray research, she has an integral role in coordinating all support functions for the company, which is a subsidiary of Macaulay-Brown Inc. Under her leadership, Gray research has grown into a leading provider of engineering and business solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense and NaSa. With more than 150 employees and over $27 million in annual revenue, Gray research excels not only in corporate culture but also in customer satisfaction.

UA hoNoRS D iSt iNGUiShED ENG iNEER iNG FELLoWS

The College of Engineering honored seven alumni of the College by inducting them into its class of 2010 Distinguished Engineering Fellows.

Front row, left to right: robin Henderson, ronald Chronister and Cynthia Gray. Back row, left to right: Garry lyles, Michael Johns, Joseph Cates, and Alsey C. “Chip” Parker III.


N E W S


N E W S

Robin Neely henderson – bSiE 1983

robin Neely Henderson has devoted more than 26 years to public service by helping advance america’s space program and working on some of the nation’s most important science and exploration initiatives, including the Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station. Through her leadership, she ensures that policies and processes are in place to effectively and safely reach beyond our current knowledge of space. as the associate director for management at NaSa Marshall Space Flight Center, she is responsible for assisting the director in managing a workforce of more than 7,000 employees and for ensuring that the center’s 4.5 million square feet of facilities and capabilities are equipped to support delivery of products and services needed by NaSa and the nation.

michael David Johns – bSmE 1997, mbA 2005

Michael david Johns began his career with Southern research Institute as an engineering co-op student at The

University of Alabama in 1994. Since then, he has dedicated his career to the company, and he currently serves as vice president of the engineering division. Under Johns’ leadership, the business has grown to more than $26 million in annual revenue and employs over 120 engineers, scientists and support staff. Johns also serves as director of government affairs for Southern research. He has directed and managed high-profile research and commercial projects and now leads teams of researchers working in clean energy technologies, electromechanical systems and integration, aerospace engineering, materials engineering and automotive engineering.

Garry m. Lyles – bSmE 1975

Becoming the first in his family to graduate from college propelled Garry M. lyles to numerous assignments with NaSa throughout the country. as the engineering associate director for technical management at Marshall Space Flight Center, lyles’ leadership skills have played an important role in implementing engineering best practices

to track the product delivery and resolution support of the ares I Upper Stage and Vehicle Integration projects. He recently received the Distinguished Service Medal for his contributions to launch vehicle design.

Alsey Clements Parker – bSCE 1922

Making life easier for Tuscaloosa residents could have been the mantra that alsey Clements Parker followed throughout his life. From working on numerous water projects at lake Tuscaloosa to the widening and paving of Veterans Memorial Parkway, Parker provided Tuscaloosa residents with easy access to roads and clean water thanks to his dedication to engineering a great city. During Parker’s years as Tuscaloosa’s city engineer and later as chief executive officer of his engineering firm, he supervised the completion of these and many other projects that allowed Tuscaloosa to grow and become more accessible. Parker, who passed away April 1, 1969, was inducted posthumously. alsey C. “Chip” Parker III accepted the award on behalf of the family.

The College of engineering awarded Jon Noland with the 2010 outstanding Alumni Volunteer award.

Throughout his career, Noland has demonstrated his love and loyalty to Ua by serving on the Capstone Engineering Society board and the CES Golf Tournament Committee.

as a member of the Capstone Engineering Society board, Noland has helped the College continue to better understand both the viewpoint of major engineering industries and how the College can better prepare students to enter the work force. In addition, Noland has helped through nominating new CES board members, reaching out to new donors for the College and recruiting prospective students.

Noland’s work on the CES Golf Tournament has made it an annual success. He has served on the organizing committee for many years, and he chaired or co-chaired the committee three times in the last seven years. Due to Noland’s tireless efforts, the tournament has grown from a

small event with 75 players raising about $5,000 to more than 160 players raising over $20,000 annually for scholarships.

Noland received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Capstone in 1992; in 2007 he was named a Ua Department of Mechanical Engineering Fellow. He currently serves as american Cast Iron Pipe Co.’s division manager, responsible for directing the sales, marketing, customer service, production scheduling and field technical services.

NoLAND AWARDED oUtStAND iNG ALUmNiVoLUNtEER AWARD

Dr. Glenn James Ahrenholz for continuing support of the H. William ahrenholz Emerging Technologies Fund

American Cast iron Pipe Co. for continuing support of the aCIPCo Engineering Scholarship Program

mr. and mrs. Dennis L. baxendale for continuing support of the Dennis and Virginia Baxendale Endowed Scholarship

boeing Co. for continuing support of the Boeing Corp. Scholarship and the Boeing Corp. Multicultural Engineering Scholarship Fund

brasfield & Gorrie LLC for continuing support of the Brasfield & Gorrie Founders’ Scholarship, the Brasfield & Gorrie Endowed Support Fund, and the Brasfield & Gorrie Discretionary Fund

Dr. Robin b. and mr. William P. buckelew for continuing support of engineering scholarships

CDG Engineers & Associates for continuing support of the CDG Engineers Civil Engineering Scholarship

mr. and mrs. Clint S. Coleman for establishing theClint Coleman Endowed Engineering Scholarship

Dr. and mrs. mark E. Cooper for establishing theMark and Dixie Cooper Endowed Scholarship

Davis Architects inc. for continuing support of the Davis architects Excellence in Construction Engineering Support Fund

Golden & Associates Construction LLC for continuing support of the Golden & associates Endowed Support Fund and the Golden & associates Construction llC Engineering Scholarship

mr. and mrs. Robert h. haubein for continuing support of the Mr. and Mrs. robert H. Haubein Endowed Engineering Scholarship

mr. and mrs. George m. Jones iii for establishing the George Merrell Jones III and Carole Jurenko Jones Endowed Scholarship

mr. Guy K. mitchell for continuing support of the Guy K. Mitchell Jr. endowed Scholarship

mr. G. William Quinby for continuing support of theG. William Quinby Endowed Engineering Scholarship

Vulcan materials Co. for continuing support of the Vulcan Materials Co. Endowed Support Fund

ms. Ferne Wlodarski for establishing the M. Ferne Wlodarski Support Fund

Correction from the Spring 2010 Capstone Engineer. The Capstone Engineer regrets the error.

mrs. June N. Crowder for continuing support of the William E. Crowder Endowed Scholarship in Engineering

Big ThanksWe appreciate our recent partners in Ua’s College of Engineering family

for their support of our students and programs.

BIG THANKS


N E W S

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CCEE PRoFESSoR RECEiVES PREStiGioUS CUtC AWARDDr. Yingyan lou, assistant professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering, was awarded the Pikarsky award for outstanding doctoral dissertation in science and technology by the Council of University Transportation Centers. The Pikarsky award is the highest award given by the CUTC. lou was selected as one of the two recipients for the $2,000 award. lou’s dissertation, “a Hierarchical Framework for Congestion Pricing of Transportation Networks,” examines how road pricing methods can reduce traffic congestion.

FRiDLEy RECEiVES UA ENGiNEERiNG’S hACKNEy LEADERShiP AWARDdr. Kenneth J. Fridley, professor and head of civil, construction and environmental engineering, received the 2010 T. Morris Hackney Endowed Faculty leadership award. The award honors a faculty member who exemplifies the constant guidance and leadership necessary to make Ua’s College of Engineering exceptional.

Fridley began working at the Capstone in 2003 as professor and head of the civil, construction and environmental engineering department. Under his leadership, the department has experienced remarkable growth in both undergraduate and graduate enrollment as well as research activity.

In 2006, he served as an administrative fellow for the office of the executive vice president and provost of the University. He was instrumental in leading the effort to establish the Capstone’s construction engineering and management program, which is one of 10 such programs throughout the country.

Fridley has gained a variety of experience in structural wood engineering through his studies of the creep-rupture of wood, the vibrations, durability and deflection

of wood structures, and the response and protection of wood-frame buildings to natural hazards, such as wind and earthquakes. He has been active in various areas of research and has been awarded numerous externally funded research grants. In addition, Fridley has more than 70 reviewed publications and more than 100 conference presentations.

This award was created as a tribute to T. Morris Hackney and was made possible by the contributions from John H. Josey and his son, Howard Josey.

ECE PRoFESSoR WiNS NSF CAREER AWARDThe National Science Foundation selected Dr. Seongsin Margaret Kim, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, for a CarEEr award, one of the NSF’s most prestigious recognition of top-performing young scientists who are beginning their careers. Kim has been awarded a five-year, $400,000 grant to advance her research program based on terahertz technology, one of today’s most challenging and exciting areas of research originating from a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Kim’s research will investigate the interaction between light (electromagnetic waves) and matter to attain combined spectroscopic sensing and near-field imaging capabilities by utilizing terahertz waves.


S U R V E y i N G t h E C o L L E G E

ProMoTIoN AND tENURE

The following faculty received promotions or tenure this year:

Dr. marcus Ashford, associate professor of mechanical engineering

Dr. Kevin Chou, professor of mechanical engineering

mE StUDENt RECEiVED StUDy-AbRoAD FELLoWShiPMichael Sealy, a graduate student in mechanical engineering, received an International research and Education in Engineering Program fellowship through the National Science Foundation to study in China on an international research project. Sealy was one of 30 graduate students chosen nationwide and is the first student chosen from the Capstone. He received a $4,000 stipend and allowances for travel, housing, meals and an orientation program. He studied in the Center of Micro/Nano Manufacturing Technology at Tianjin University in Tianjin, China.

mE StUDENt AWARDED GoLDWAtER SChoLARShiPFor the fourth consecutive year, a student from The University of alabama has been named a Goldwater Scholar, receiving one of the country’s most elite academic scholarships. The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence Foundation selected Daniel Gerber among 278 students nationwide to receive scholarships covering the costs of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to $7,500 per year. The Goldwater Foundation Scholarship Program was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering, and it is the premier undergraduate award of its type in these fields.

Gerber, a junior in mechanical engineering, works as an undergraduate research assistant to Dr. Paul Hubner, assistant professor of aerospace engineering and mechanics. Gerber’s research focuses on using luminescent photoelastic coatings, a new experimental method for stress analysis, to advance coating calibration and performance.

Gerber also received first place recognition in the undergraduate division of the american Institute for aeronautics and astronautics International Student Conference technical paper competition and

first place in the american Society of Mechanical Engineers District F Student Professional Development Conference old Guard oral Presentation Competition.



AEm StUDENt RECEiVES NASA AERoNAUtiCS SChoLARShiPChase leibenguth, a senior in aerospace engineering, received a NaSa aeronautics Scholarship. leibenguth was selected among 20 undergraduate students nationwide to receive scholarships covering the costs of tuition and other education related expenses at $15,000 per year and a $10,000 summer internship at a NaSa research Center. leibenguth was the state’s only student selected.

leibenguth works as an undergraduate research assistant to Dr. amy lang, assistant professor of aerospace engineering and mechanics, and Dr. Will Schreiber, assistant professor of mechanical engineering. His research is focused on using computational fluid dynamics to model and analyze fluid flow over butterfly scales.

UA SEtS RECoRD With 10 StUDENtS NAmED to USA toDAy’S ALL-USA CoLLEGE ACADEmiC tEAm

a record 10 University of alabama students have been named to USa Today’s 2010 all-USa College academic Team. once again, Ua led the nation with the most students on the team, and set a record for the most students any university has ever placed on the team in a single year.

UA engineering students Joy driver aldridge and amy Frees, both chemical and biological engineering majors, were named to the Third Team. This is the seventh consecutive year an engineering student has been named to the team.

CES oUtStANDiNG SENioR AWARDa $500 cash stipend and plaque were presented to Whitney Erin Montgomery, a senior in industrial engineering, as the 2010 Capstone Engineering Society outstanding Senior. In addition to maintaining a 4.0 grade point average throughout her college career, Montgomery is the recipient of numerous academic honors, including President’s list, alpha Pi Mu outstanding Junior Award, George C.K. Johnson Industrial Engineering award, and membership in the senior honoraries of Mortar Board and the Blue Key Society. She is a member of Tau Beta Pi, the Golden Key Honour Society, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma alpha lambda, Phi Eta Sigma, alpha lambda Delta, Cardinal Key and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Montgomery has received

many scholarships, including The University of alabama Presidential Scholarship, the Nucor Steel Engineering leadership Scholarship, the Stockham Valves Engineering Scholarship, the Institute of Industrial Engineers UPS Female Engineering Scholarship and the Society of Women Engineers Honeywell Scholarship. She served as the vice president of alpha Pi Mu, the industrial engineering honor society. She has served as the senior design project team leader and as an undergraduate teaching assistant.

Amy FreesJoy Driver Aldridge

Whitney Erin Montgomery (left) and Nancy Holmes,Capstone Engineering Society coordinator



mERCEDES-bENz LAUNChES GRADUAtE FELLoWShiP PRoGRAm With UAMercedes-Benz U.S. International has announced the creation of a Graduate Fellowship Program in conjunction with the Capstone — a unique opportunity for graduate students to gain exposure to leadership and management principles in one of the most advanced automotive manufacturing plants in the world. The students selected for the Mercedes-Benz Graduate Fellowship — beginning fall of 2010 — will alternate semesters between Ua graduate coursework and working for MBUSI in Vance, ala. In addition to a paid scholarship, the program will provide benefits and an offer of full-time employment upon graduation. Program disciplines include finance, accounting, electrical engineering, electrical engineering with computer options, mechanical engineering, or operations management. This new program will be funded in part by interest from a $1 million endowment established in 2001 with the University by MBUSI and its parent company, Daimler aG.

UA RECEiVES $100,000 GRAND ChALLENGES ExPLoRAtioNS GRANt FoR iNNoVAtiVE GLobAL hEALth RESEARCh

The University of alabama received an interdisciplinary research team award, a $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The grant will support an innovative global health research project titled “Novel and rapid Method for E. coli Detection and Typing.”

Ua’s project is one of 78 grants announced by the Gates Foundation in the fourth funding round of Grand Challenges Explorations, an initiative to help scientists around the world explore largely unproven ways to improve health in developing countries. To receive funding, Ua’s team

members showed in a two-page application how their idea falls outside current scientific paradigms and might lead to significant advances in global health. The initiative is highly competitive, receiving almost 2,700 proposals in this round.

led by dr. Joe brown, assistant professor in New College and biological sciences, the Capstone’s interdisciplinary research group includes dr. Philip Johnson, associate professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering, and Ynhi Thai, a senior in chemical and biological engineering. The project idea was conceived through work the group performed in Vietnam and Cambodia last summer.

Ynhi Thai, a senior in chemical and biological engineering, and Andrew Magee, a senior in mechanical engineering, test water samples during an Engineers Without Borders trip to Vietnam and Cambodia during 2009.



UA RECEiVES DoE GRANt FoR CARboN StoRAGE RESEARChThe University of alabama has been awarded a U.S. Department of Energy grant totaling more than $4.85 million for a multidisciplinary project that will characterize geologic formations for carbon dioxide storage in alabama. With the addition of matching funds from industry partners, the total project cost is expected to be $6.5 million. a part of the american recovery and reinvestment act, the overall project goal is to increase knowledge about the potential for these formations to safely and permanently store carbon dioxide.

In an effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, researchers are investigating ways to store carbon dioxide underground. Carbon dioxide, which is a major greenhouse gas, contributes to Earth’s global warming. Its concentration levels have increased due to the consumption of fossil fuels.

Geological formations are considered the most promising carbon dioxide storage sites, but the storage capacity and long term storage stability must be assessed. Ua’s project will investigate the possibility for storage in an underground reservoir in the vicinity of the alabama Power Gorgas Plant. Successful completion of the project has the potential to extend the useful life of coal-fired power plants throughout the region. By investigating the geology near existing power plants, transportation costs to a carbon dioxide storage area would be greatly reduced.

Through the multidisciplinary award, researchers from Ua’s College of Engineering and College of arts and Sciences are collaborating with the alabama Geological Survey and rice University. During the next three years, the team will analyze geophysical data, build geological and reservoir models, and drill, complete and test a 4,000-foot well. This work will help define an estimated 28 gigatons of carbon dioxide storage capacity underlying northwest alabama. The team will also develop guidelines that can be used for national site characterization projects to better determine which scientific tests are needed to identify storage sites.

mE StUDENt RECEiVES NAt ioNAL SChoLARShiP FRom ACEC

Chris J. “CJ” Searcy Jr., a junior mechanical engineering student, received the american Council of Engineering Companies’ Small Firm Council Scholarship worth $5,000. Searcy was nominated for an aCEC General Scholarship by the aCEC of alabama. as one of three national winners selected for general scholarships, Searcy’s application was reviewed based on cumulative grade point average, an essay, work experience, recommendation letters and extracurricular college activities.

Chris J. “CJ” Searcy Jr. receives his ACEC scholarship check. From left: Dr. Kevin Whitaker, associate dean for academic programs; Searcy; Jimmy Duncan, project manager with McGiffert and Associates; Charles Hall, membership services coordinator for ACEC Alabama; and Forest Wilson II with TTL Inc.

thE ANSWER iS … mE StUDENt ComPEtED oN JEoPARDy! CoLLEGE ChAmPioNShiP

Senior mechanical engineering student Will Warren competed in the first round of the Jeopardy! College Championship on Feb. 2. Warren is third from the left on the back row.



ENGiNEERS WithoUt boRDERS ComPLEtES SUCCESSFUL SERViCE tRiP to PERU

Engineers Without Borders traveled to Peru as part of an Interim course designed to explore engineering in practice by installing solar lighting and by testing drinking water in the amazonian village of ayacucho. The group of 12 students, led by dr. Philip Johnson, associate professor of civil engineering, and dr. Pauline Johnson, professor of civil engineering, journeyed up the amazon river to ayacucho, where they worked with the villagers to test the effectiveness of their water treatment system. The team then successfully installed solar panels and lights in 29 homes.

after working in the village, the students traveled to aguas Calientes to tour the fascinating site of Machu Picchu, with some students completing the 1,200-foot climb of Huayna Picchu to capture a complete panoramic view of the historical site. The students spent the last few days in Cusco, touring the historical capital and experiencing the cultural epicenter.

ALAbAmA iN SPAiN: ENGiNEERiNG, tEChNoLoGy AND SoCiEtyUa’s College of Engineering, in collaboration with Ua’s Spanish program, the Pamplona learning Spanish Institute, offered an inaugural program for more than 20 engineering students this past summer in Pamplona, Spain. The study abroad program gave the students an opportunity to study a general Spanish and an engineering course, which specifically was designed to review the interactions between society and culture and various technologies and engineering systems.

as part of the five-week program, the students toured Pamplona, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and the Hanging Bridge at Portugalete. Excursions also included trips to local engineering sites, like solar and wind energy installations.



The University of Alabama is leading future generations through teaching, research and service. The

greatest example of this can be seen in our stellar students. From helping students in Tuscaloosa schools

with afterschool tutoring, to rebuilding baseball fields in the Black Belt, to working in Vietnam and

Cambodia to improve water sanitation efforts, our engineering students are touching lives and making a

positive difference in the lives of the Tuscaloosa community, the state and far beyond.

As a member of The University of Alabama, you join a time-honored tradition of excellence. To

find out why so many outstanding students call the Capstone their home, visit www.ua.edu.

www.ua.edu/touchinglives

Leading by doing.

CoNStRUCt ioN

U P D A t ESCiEnCE And EnginEEring CoMPlEx PHASE iiiSCHEdUlEd to oPEn novEMBEr 2011

Jobs/ Promotions/ Awards

1937Richard Woodruff, BSCE ’37, volunteers with Birmingham’s Village Creek Society investigating area flooding problems and developing a recreational park around the avenue F Bridge. His research has initiated $3.5 million in funds toward the building of a new bridge and clearing the stream of obstructions.

1968Dr. Dan turner, BSCE ’68, MSCE ’70, was inducted as the 67th Chi Epsilon national honor member and is the 2010 recipient of Ua’s Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering’s Keith-Woodman award.

1974mike tracy, BSMinE ’74, MBa ’86, rejoined Drummond Co. as mining president and corporate director.

1975myrk harkins, BSCE ’75, was named an officer and vice president with responsibility for corporate real estate for alabama Power.

Garry Lyles, BSME ’75, was named a Ua Department of Mechanical Engineering Fellow.

1980Walter Schoel iii, BSCE ’80, PhD ’86, was named a Ua Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering Fellow.

1982Ed Day, BSME ’82, was named a Ua Department of Mechanical Engineering Fellow.

1983Kevin Vincent, bSee ’83, Jd ’86, was appointed by President obama as chief counsel of the National Highway Traffic Safety administration in the U.S. Department of Transportation.

1984Dr. Chuck Karr, BSME ’84, MSMh ’86, Phd ’89, was named a Ua Department of Mechanical Engineering Fellow.

Dr. Dan Turner

Myrk Harkins

Garry lyles

Walter Schoel III

Dr. Chuck Karr


A L U m N i N o t E S

Ed Day

Greg o. Robinson, BSCE ’84, was named a Ua Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering Fellow.

1985Don Carver, BSChE ’85, joined analytical Services Inc. as vice president for aerospace and engineering at a second aSI facility located on their campus in research Park in Huntsville.

Felicia Riggs Cook, BSME ’85, was named a Ua Department of Mechanical Engineering Fellow.

1986Steve Cornelius, BSME ’86, was named a Ua Department of Mechanical Engineering Fellow.

Robert Payne, BSMinE ’86, was named chief operating officer at MCoal Corp., a subsidiary of Novadx Ventures Corp.

1989mike Jones, bSCe ’89, MSCe ’91, was named a UA department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering Fellow.

1990David Allen Cooper, bSAe ’90, became the director of Alabama Technology Network Center in Jasper.

Dhrupad trivedi, MSee ’90, was named president of Trapeze Networks.

1991tony Carroll, bSee ’91, joined dalton Utilities as president of electric/gas engineering and operations.

1994Joseph mark burnett, bSCe ’94, is a senior civil and structural engineer for BE&K Engineering in Birmingham.

bruce L. higginbotham, bSCe ’94, has been named vice president of Burk-Kleinpeter Inc.’s Tuscaloosa office.

1999Robert A. Cummings, MSee ’99, opened azalea Engineering llC, a civil engineering practice with an emphasis on hydrology, storm water and drainage.

Jonathan W. Woolley, bSMe ’99, MSMe ’02, MSMte ’05, PhD ’08, received the best paper award from the american Foundry Society.

2004Josh hollingshead, BSCE ’04, MSCE ’06, a structural engineer with almon associates in Tuscaloosa, has obtained his professional engineering license.

2009brandt moslener, MSAe ’09, was selected to become the commanding officer of the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School. He will begin as executive officer in January 2011 and take over as commanding officer in June 2012.

brian Sparks, BSChE, joined Summerville, S.C.-based Thrace-lINQ’s sales and marketing team.

Greg o. robinson

Felicia riggs Cook

Steve Cornelius

Mike Jones

robert a. Cummings


A L U m N i N o t E S


i N m E m o R y

Dr. Edmond T. MillerDr. Edmond T. Miller died on May 7, 2010. He was a longtime professor in the Department of Civil Engineering.

John Leith Potter, PhDJohn leith Potter, Phd, died July 20, 2010. After completing his bachelor’s in aerospace engineering in 1944 and his master’s in engineering in 1949, he worked for Curtiss Wright Corp. in propeller aerodynamics engineering. In 1952, he became chief of the flight and aerodynamics laboratory at redstone arsenal and then moved to the von Karman Facility and aerophysics Branch as chief. He became deputy director of the VKF in 1973 and then joined Sverdrup/ARo Inc. as deputy technical director in 1977. From 1982 to 2002, he became an engineering consultant and research professor at Vanderbilt University. Potter was internationally renowned as a pioneering investigator in the aerodynamics of hypersonic vehicles in rarefied flows and boundary layer transition.

Potter received many honors and awards during his distinguished career, including election of Fellow of the american Institute of astronautics and aeronautics, Ua College of Engineering 150th Distinguished Engineering Fellow, and recipient of the first Gen. H.H. arnold award of the Tennessee Section of the aIaa. For many years, Potter was a member of the national Engineering accreditation Commission and led teams to evaluate engineering programs in a number of universities.

Miriam Lucille Kellenberger Still Miriam Still, the wife of chemical engineering professor Dr. arthur John Still, died on Aug. 17, 2009, at the age of 97. She was born and raised in Illinois, and she received her bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in 1935. The Stills were married for 62 years and have two children, Sandra Joan Still and barry Noel Still. After dr. Still’s death, Mrs. Still, her children and friends established the A. John and Miriam K. Still Endowed Engineering Scholarship.

milton Abbazia, BSEE ’45, died on March 13, 2010.

Robert h. Adair Sr., BS ’58, died on May 18, 2010.

Enrique P. Aguilera, BS ’41, died on March 26, 2010.

Walter R. bloss Jr., bS ’39, died on Feb. 5, 2010.

Robert breckenridge, BSaE ’67, died on May 22, 2010.

Edward hampton Couchman Jr., bSIe ’49, died on May 13, 2009.

William Covington Jr., BSEE ’67 and MSEE ’68, died on april 21, 2010.

Paul Day Cribbins, BS ’52, died on Feb. 17, 2010.

Darryl L. Dickey, BS ’86, died on May 8, 2010.

James A. Downey iii, BSME ’52, died on april 15, 2010.

Jerry b. Franks, BS ’58, died on Feb. 14, 2010.

tharayil Georgia George, PhD ’85, died on Feb. 6, 2010.

John A. Gioiello, bSee ’56, died on Jan. 28, 2010.

Jack Eugene harden, MSChE ’83, died on May 28, 2010.

Joseph C. hill Jr., BSME ’61, died on Feb. 13, 2010.

Cmdr. John Perry Johnson, BSIE ’52, died onApril 9, 2010.

owen N. Layman, bSMine ’50, died on June 10, 2010.

murry maisel, BSME ’46 and BSCE ’47, died onApril 29, 2010.

Ernest manzi, bS ’55, died on Jan. 28, 2010.

Joe marsena mcKee, BSChE ’57, died on april 2, 2010.

Edmund L. Patton, bSAe ’48, died on March 19, 2010.

Joseph R. Pegues, bSCe ’60, died on June 22, 2010.

max W. Perdue, bS ’61, died on June 8, 2010.

Robert L. Quarles Jr., bS ’60, died on June 4, 2010.

Gilbert Eugene Roesler, MSaE ’72, died onMarch 25, 2010.

Fred b. Stevenson, bSee ’57, died on June 22, 2010.

Robert Larhoy Swearingen, BSCE ’47, died onFeb. 18, 2010.

barry Weck, bS ’95, died on June 2, 2010.

Jean Lafayette Weed, BS ’53, died on March 30, 2010.

W. Raymond Wilkins, BSEE ’50, died on april 4, 2010.

Friends we will missFR iENDS WE W iLL m iSS


i N m E m o R y

CoE SPoNSoRS bLUE ANGELS on May 8–9, alumni and friends enjoyed the sights and sounds of the U.S. Navy blue Angels at the Tuscaloosa regional airport airshow. From the acrobatic maneuvers of the U.S. army Golden Knights parachute team to the speed and thrills of the Blue angels, guests thoroughly enjoyed frontline views of the spectacular show.

SitE StUDENtS ExPERiENCE ENGiNEERiNGThe College hosted two weeks of SITE, Student Introduction to Engineering, in July for high school students who have an interest in science, mathematics and engineering.

CoE DoES ARt PERFoRmS ‘oh hoRRoRS! it’S mURDER!’The College of Engineering Does amateur radical Theater, known as CoE Does arT, performed “oh Horrors! It’s Murder!” a musical mystery comedy. The mystery arises when a professor lecturing in a museum is found dead and a priceless Egyptian jewel goes missing after a brief power outage. The show was april 16 and 18 in the H.M. Comer theatre.


E V E N t S

HoW To ENGINEEr a

GREAt homEComiNG

1. Start with good company: engineering alumni and friends

2. Find an outstanding location: the Quad

3. incorporate fun

4. Enjoy a fantastic meal

5. reconnect with valued friends

6. learn what the best and brightest students are doing

TAILgATINg — ENgINEERINg STyLEAll engineering alumni and friends are invited to join us as we carry

on an engineering tradition. the College of Engineering Homecoming tailgate Party will be oct. 16 on the main Quad to cheer for the

Crimson tide against the ole Miss rebels. Party begins three hours before kickoff.

Capstone engineering soCiety

College of EngineeringBox 870200 Tuscaloosa, al 35487-0200

Nonprofit Organization

U.S. Postage PAID

Tuscaloosa, AL

Permit 16

RoLL tiDE !

Engineering alumni and friends are invited to join the Capstone Engineering Society on oct. 16 for this year’s Homecoming tailgate Party. Join us on the Quad to cheer for the Crimson tide against the ole Miss rebels.

Capstone Engineering Society members receive two complimentary meals.

HoMECoMINGTAILgATE PARTy

capstone engineer - fall 2010

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