************************************************************************

DAVE C. SWALM SCHOOL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING E-NEWSLETTER

Volume 4, Number 4

February 2005 - May 2005

************************************************************************

The School has made its way through another academic year.  A total of 22 undergraduate students graduated in the May graduation exercises.  Preliminary enrollments look good for the entering class for next year, which should be at about 40 students.

 

The Spring 2005 issue of the Momentum Magazine had a great article on our former School Director, Dean Kirk Schulz.  There was also an interesting write-up relating to the research efforts of Drs. French, Hernandez, and Zappi of our School of Chemical Engineering.  If you did not get a copy, you can view the electronic version on the College’s website at <http://www.bagley.msstate.edu/alumni_friends/momentum_magazine/>

************************************************************************

ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF NOTE

Congratulations to the following individuals:

 

Current Students

 

Katie Schroeder, Senior, has received notification that she will be awarded a Southwest Chemical Association Scholarship for the 2005-2006 academic year. A list of companies that sponsor this scholarship may be found at <http://www.swchemical.com/purpose.html>

 

Harris Nelson, Class of  ’05, was awarded the inaugural Atly and Bette Jefcoat Student AIChE award. See additional notes on this award below.

 

Kellie Smith, Class of  ’04 won a first place award at the American Society of Engineering Education 2005 meeting in the undergraduate poster competition.

 

Darrel Sparks, Class of  ’03 and current graduate student received the Processing Division Student Excellence Award during the American Oil Society Annual Meeting this past spring.

 

Jennifer Smith Dearman, a current graduate student received the 2005 MSU Outstanding Woman Graduate Student Award.  This award is given on a university-wide basis.

 

Matt Thomas, Class of  ’04 and current graduate student won 1st place at the 2005 Water Environment Association student paper contest held in Biloxi.

 

Annu Marwaha, Class of  ’03 and current graduate student won 2nd place at the 2005 Water Environment Association student paper contest held in Biloxi.

 

Alumni

 

Mr. Charles Taylor, Class of  ’66, Management and Business Development Consultant, was honored by the Bagley College as a 2005 Distinguished Fellow.  Charles spent his career at PPG in Lake Charles and PPG’s headquarters in Pittsburg.  He also served a few years in the U.S. Army as a Commissioned Officer.  He currently specializes in strategic planning, business development, technology, and market assessments.  He resides in Tennessee.

 

Our Faculty Members

 

Dr. Adrienne Minerick, Assistant Professor, was awarded a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) research project funded by the National Science Foundation.  This is the first such project awarded to a chemical engineering professor at MSU.

 

Dr. Rafael Hernandez, Assistant Professor, received the 2005 Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award given by the Oak Ridge Associated Universities organization.

 

Dr. Atly Jefcoat, Professor, was inducted into the Bagley College Academy of Fellows this past spring.  Dr. Jefcoat is a fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).

************************************************************************

THE SEARCH IS CONTINUING….

 

The Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering is continuing the search for a permanent School Director.  The School has interviewed two individuals, both of whom have a strong national prominence. With any luck, the search process should be completed soon.  If you wish to be updated on this search, give me a call.

 

We are continuing our nation-wide search for a replacement for Dr. Atly Jefcoat, who will be retiring effective at the end of June.  It has been very difficult identifying a person of Dr. J’s experience and expertise to fill his rather large shoes.  The selection process will probably not be finalized until later in the summer.

 

************************************************************************

STUDENT NEWS

 

Our chemical engineering students successfully competed in the E-Week Best Major again this year.  Of note, a picture of our students participating in the “bed” race portion of the contest appeared in USA Today.  It was felt that we should have won the competition, but the bed developed a minor steering problem.  We just missed repeating as Best Engineering Major for the third straight time.  Maybe next year!

 

The students had another successful Annual Golf Tournament. We want to thank all of you who have supported this activity over the years.  In between class assignments, the students were also kept busy tutoring underclassmen and working on various local civic projects.

 

Thirty-two Students attended the AIChE student regional conference that was held in New Orleans this past March.  As a reminder, the 2006 regional conference will be at MSU next spring.  This meeting can attract up to 500 attendees, so the meeting represents a great opportunity for MSU to showcase the Swalm School of Chemical Engineering to other schools in the South.  If you or your company are interested in sponsoring a part of the program, drop me a note and I will pass it on to the appropriate person. Participation can vary from sponsorship of a Little Dooey’s dinner at about $1,500 to a $50 donation to help defray expenses.  Company logo pens, pencils, or other freebies that can be given to participants are also welcome.  This will be a big event for the students and they are open to help or encouragement in any fashion.

************************************************************************

Atly and Bette Jefcoat Award Initiated

 

The Atly and Bette Jefcoat Student American Institute of Chemical Engineers Award has been established thanks to an endowment established by alumnus Hunter Henry.  The award will be given annually to a student who excels in extra-curricular activities involving the School of Chemical Engineering.  See more details at <http://www.msstate.edu/web/media/detail.php?id=2850>

************************************************************************

Mr. Ted Mooney Delivers Hunter Henry Lecture.

 

E.J. "Ted" Mooney, former chairman and chief executive officer of Nalco Chemical Co., delivered the 2005 Hunter Henry Lectureship in March.  This was the fourth annual lecture directed to promote a better understanding of the chemical engineering profession to both the public and current MSU students. 


Mooney served as chairman and chief executive officer of Nalco from 1994 until his retirement in 2000. His association began in 1969 as corporate attorney for a subsidiary company and continued in various executive roles until his election to the top position for the Naperville, Ill.-based manufacturer and marketer of specialty chemicals for water and industrial process treatment.

************************************************************************

WHAT YOU'RE UP TO…

 

As always, we'd like to continue featuring updates on alumni in our newsletter.  Please drop me an email with a short bio or update on your activities and we'll feature you in upcoming newsletters.

********************************************************************************************************************