Chesapeake Energy Scholarship

Chesapeake Energy Scholarship Award Participants(Click to enlarge).
Front row, from left: Caitlyn Davis-McDaniel, Dean Dr. Betsy Dulin, Jennifer Cox, Mary Beth Anderson, and Krysta Jenkins.
Back row: Dr. Ron Area, Matthew Cayton, Nate Stansberry, Dr. William Pierson, Adam Hager, Jessica Johnson, and LCOB Dean Dr. Chong Kim.

Three CITE engineering and three Lewis College of Business (LCOB) students were this year's recipients of the Chesapeake Energy Scholarships. The three CITE recipients are Matthew Cayton, Caitlyn Davis-McDaniel, and Nate Stansberry. The three LCOB recipients are Adam Hager, Krysta Jenkins, and Jessica Johnson.

Also shown in the photo are Chesapeake Energy employees and Marshall grads Jennifer Cox and Mary Beth Anderson, as well as CEO of the Marshall University Foundation Dr. Ron Area, CITE's Dean Dr. Betsy Dulin, LCOB's Dean Dr. Chong Kim, and Dr. William Pierson, Chair of the Weisberg Division of Engineering and Computer Science.

Chesapeake Energy provides several scholarships to Marshall undergraduate students in addition to internships and related opportunities.

Fall 2009 Engineering Graduates

(from left)Lee Cyrus, Cara Kueck, Nick Koutsunis, Joe Webb, Frank Fry, Adam DeCarlo, and Nathan Wagner.

Seven CITE Engineering graduates attended the Fall 2009 Commencement Exercise held on Saturday, December 5th, 2009.

PCI Educator of the Year

Thomas M. McEvoy, PCI Chairman of the Board; Dr. Wael Zatar; PCI President James G. Toscas

Dr. Wael Zatar is the recipient of the 2009 Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) Young Educator Achievement Award. He received this prestigious national award on stage in front of the 700+ attendees at the 2009 PCI Awards Program portion of the 55th Annual Convention/Exhibition and PCI National Bridge Conference in San Antonio, TX, September 12-16, 2009.

Commenting on the award, Dean Dulin said "We are pleased to have a person of Dr. Zatar’s caliber as a member of our faculty. His recognition demonstrates Marshall University’s commitment to prepare BSE graduates to become practicing professional engineers."

Marshall Competes in Worldwide Programming Competition

Nine Computer Science and Mathematics students from Marshall participated in this year's Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) International Collegiate Programming Contest. This annual event, sponsored by IBM, has students from around the world compete in regional competitions held in the fall. In the contest, teams of three students are challenged to try and solve nine problems in five hours. The team that solves the most problems in the least time is declared the winner. Winners of the regional contests will compete in the finals next spring.

The three Marshall teams traveled to the University of Kentucky to compete with 21 other teams in the Mid-Central regionals on October 24, 2009. Team 1, the "Marshall Thundering Nerds" (Tyson Lipscomb, Joshua King, and Corey Shafer) placed 6th. Team 2, "sudo schown Marshall /" (Darren Brumfield, Zachary Forbush, and Tom Cuchta) placed 18th and team 3, the "Marshall Nerd Herd" (Patrick Smith, Eddie Warnick, and Nitish Garg) placed 20th.

ACM Programming Competition Participants (click for large image)
Top row: Patrick Smith, Corey Shafer, Tyson Lipscomb, and Joshua King.
Bottom Row: Darren Brumfield, Nitish Garg, Eddie Warnick, Zachary Forbush, and Tom Cuchta

Selby Wellman to Meet With Computer Science Students

Selby Wellman

Selby Wellman, a Marshall University graduate and former Senior Vice President with Cisco Systems, Inc., will be meeting with CITE's Computer Science students on Friday, September 4th, 2009 at 11:00am in room BE5 in the Student Memorial Center. He will be addressing student concerns about the job market, hiring trends, internships, scholarships, and graduate school opportunities for Computer Science majors. There will be a reception following the session.

Note: room BE5 is on the east side of the Student Memorial Center basement, next to Marco's.

Study Abroad Year in Germany at a Glance

Matthew Cayton, a senior in the Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree program (BSE), spent a year taking classes and working in Germany. The first half of the year he took classes - in German - at the Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences, and the second part of the year he worked for an engineering company. The following is a summary of his experiences in his own words.

Tenure Track Mechanical Engineering Faculty Position

We have a full-time, tenure track position open for an Associate Professor or Professor of Mechanical Engineering here in CITE. See our job listings for more information. This position was made possible by the generosity of J. Robert Fletcher.

President’s Office Announces Additional Details on Proposed Applied Engineering Complex

Here's a YouTube video of the news conference held on Friday, August 14, 2009.

$25 Million in Funding for New Engineering Facility

The following press release from West Virginia State Senator Bob Plymale gives the details:

Plymale Secures $25 Million for Engineering at Marshall University

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Senator Robert Plymale, D-Wayne, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, announces Marshall University will receive $25 million for the construction of a second engineering facility.

“I've been dedicated to restoring the engineering program at Marshall University since I was first elected to the Legislature 17 years ago," Plymale said. "And six years ago we took the first legislative step to combine the proud tradition of engineering at Marshall with the technology of today. This $25 million represents an investment that will give us a competitive advantage in the future as we rebuild infrastructure and recruit new businesses to the state.”

Funding for the project is the result of bonding legislation passed in the first special session in June and will allow Marshall University to move forward with the second phase of planned construction of a new applied engineering facility. Phase I began with the Arthur Weisberg Family Engineering Laboratories building, which was dedicated on August 16, 2008. The additional construction calls for approximately 130,000 square feet to house primarily the College of Information Technology & Engineering (CITE). It will be a hub for teaching, learning, and research unique to the region. The new facility will also support West Virginia’s efforts to create innovative new methods designed to improve infrastructure and enhance economic growth and development in areas such as manufacturing.

"Despite limited physical space, Dean Betsy Dulin and CITE’s outstanding faculty and staff have the fastest growing enrollment on Marshall’s campus," Plymale said. "This new building will complement the Weisberg Engineering Laboratories, create a comprehensive state-of-the-art learning environment for students and faculty, and fill the increasing need for skilled engineers."

Trip to Zambia

EWB President Nate Stansberry.
Click the image to view more pictures of his trip.

College of Information and Technology senior and Marshall Engineers Without Borders (EWB) student club president Nathaniel Stansberry recently returned from a two week trip to Simwatchala, Zambia. The Marshall EWB student club has been selected to work on a project that aims to plan, design, and build a small reservoir in a rural community in southern Zambia to help alleviate chronic water shortages during the annual dry season.

The dam that will be constructed will ensure that water is available for growing additional off-season crops and for providing water to villager’s livestock. During Mr. Stansberry’s visit to Simwatchala he attended a local community planning meeting, performed a preliminary survey and site assessment of the land set aside for construction of the reservoir, and developed contacts in the project area and at the University of Zambia in the capital Lusaka. A larger group of five Marshall students and two faculty members plan to return to Zambia in December for detailed surveying of the dam location, gathering local hydrologic data, and soils testing.

Spring 2009 Engineering Newsletter

The May 2009 edition of the Engineering Newsletter is available. The lead story is about the first Bachelor of Science in Engineering degrees awarded in over thirty years.

Engineering Academy is Back

Photo: Mark Webb/ The Herald-Dispatch

Sunday, June 14, was the kickoff for this week's ninth annual Exploring Engineering: Academy of Excellence (EEAE). Thirty-six students from seven states are participating in this program designed to introduce high school students to the engineering profession.

For more information about this year's event you can visit the EEAE website, read the Marshall press release, or read an Herald-Dispatch article about this year's academy, complete with a gallery of photographs.

Cammy Holley - Ten Years of Service

President Dr. Stephen J. Kopp with Cammy Holley.

Cammy Holley, Administrative Assistant Sr. in the Dean's office, was recognized at the recent Service Awards luncheon for her ten years of service to Marshall. She has been a vital part of the growth of the College and we thank her for her continued cheerfulness and expertise.

CITE Commencement Reception

CITE held a reception for our graduating students, their families, and their friends on May 9, 2009. Over 150 people attended the event held in the new Arthur Weisberg Family Engineering Laboratories building. This is our largest graduating class so far with 20 undergraduate and numerous graduate degrees being awarded (the names of students receiving graduate degrees will be available next week).

Over forty more pictures taken at the reception are available here.

Click on a photo below to retrieve the full-size version (4000 pixels by 2500 pixels).

Engineering graduates. Front row: Scott Menniti, BSCE; Kevin Leatherman, BSCE. Back row: Jesse Mullins, BSE; Corey Weaver, BSE; Ryan Dudley, BSE; and Kevin Davis, BSCE. Not pictured: Erik Ball, BSE; Amanda Bishop, BSCE The BSCE degree is awarded by WVU-Tech; the BSE degree is awarded by Marshall University	BS in Computer Science graduates: Brandon West, Shawn Cotten, Joseph Scarberry, Gilbert Smith, Camden Clutter, Marcus Moresea, J.B. Croaff, and Ryan Blankenship. Not pictured: Justin Chapman.
BS in Safety Technology graduates and faculty. First row: Aaron Henson, William Blake. Second row Dr. D. Allan Stern, Seth Porter, and Professor James Macintosh.	More information about the Art Weisberg Family plaque is available here.

Distinguished Service to Marshall Award

John C. McHaffie (BSE'59) (Click to enlarge).

The Distinguished Service to Marshall Award was presented to an engineering alumnus during alumni weekend on April 24/25, 2009.

John Curtis McHaffie (Bachelor of Engineering Science ’59) of Oro Valley, Arizona, has worked diligently over the years to restore the four-year engineering program to Marshall University, resulting in its reinstatement. This award coincides with McHaffie’s 50-year anniversary of receiving his bachelor of engineering science degree from Marshall. After an illustrious career with the U.S. Air Force and in the private sector as an aerospace engineer, he retired as principal, consultant and president of Support Systems Inc. in 1994.

The award honors his life-long commitment to Marshall University's engineering program and his recent compilation of the "History of Engineering at Marshall".

Lots more pictures of the event are available...

CITE Awards Banquet

Our college held an awards banquet on Thursday, April 23, 2009 to recognize this years graduating seniors. The Herald-Dispatch has a terrific series of seven photographs of the event over on their web site.

Rahall Announces $245K for Marshall Advanced Engineering & Applied Technology Complex

BECKLEY, W.Va. (HNN) - U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall, II (D-W.Va.) on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 announced that $245,000 has been awarded to Marshall University by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

"Marshall University stands out as a pillar for higher education in southern West Virginia," said Rahall. "These funds will help to educate a future generation of West Virginians as we strive to give our children a step up in our increasingly competitive global marketplace."

These funds will allow for the design, planning and construction of the Advanced Engineering and Applied Technology Complex at Marshall University.

“Once again Congressman Rahall has stepped to the forefront to help Marshall University expand its role in these vital areas,” Marshall President Stephen J. Kopp said. “He understands and appreciates the critical role that education, research and infrastructure development play in the continued economic growth of our state and region.”

"We appreciate Congressman Rahall's efforts on behalf of the University. This funding is critical for planning the next phase of the Advanced Engineering and Applied technology Complex, which will bring together engineering, biotechnology and technology transfer capabilities in the same place," said Dr. John Maher, Vice President for Research at Marshall University.

Congressman Rahall requested this grant in an earlier appropriations bill, to invest in future generations of scientists, engineers and leaders.

Undergraduate Research Day

Shawn Cotton and Cam Clutter (Click to enlarge).

Shawn Cotton and Cam Clutter participated in the sixth annual West Virginia Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol held on March 12, 2009. These two Computer Science students presented results on their project "Stereo Matching for Autonomous Marine Navigation". The purpose of this research was to develop a stereo vision system that will allow unmanned vessels to navigate safely in harbors. This research was performed in conjunction with the United States Navy and Spatial Integrated Systems of Kinston, North Carolina.

State Scholars Initiative

Brandi Jacobs-Jones, Betsy Dulin, Tom Pressman, and Carrie Cline. (Click to enlarge).

The State Scholars Initiative kick-off event was held at the Huntington High School on March 12, 2009. This initiative is a national program that seeks to use community business leaders to help motivate high school students to complete a rigorous course of study. In addition to CITE Dean Betsy Dulin, local business leaders at the event included Brandi Jacobs-Jones, Director of Finance and Administration for the City of Huntington, Tom Pressman, President of MIST Technologies and Strictly Business Computer Systems, and Carrie Cline, news anchor with WSAZ-TV Channel 3.

The Organization Engineers Without Borders

Engineers Without Borders. (Click to enlarge).

On February 19, Rodney Holbert spoke to a group of engineering students about the organization Engineers without Borders www.ewb-usa.org.

Rodney is currently the District Director of the Burgess and Niple office in Parkersburg, WV. His presentation focused on a recent trip to a small town in Nicaragua to help provide clean drinking water to the residents.

Marshall recently started a student chapter of Engineers without Borders. Complete information about the chapter is available at http://www.marshallewb.blogspot.com/.

Arthur Weisberg Family Engineering Laboratories

Arthur Weisberg

Some of our 2008-2009 engineering undergraduate students gathered in front of the new Arthur Weisberg Family Engineering Laboratories. (Click to enlarge).

More than a hundred people gathered to honor Arthur and Joan Weisberg and the rest of the Weisberg family in a memorable dedication ceremony on Saturday, August 16th. Our brand new $4.2 million engineering building is now known as the Arthur Weisberg Family Engineering Laboratories. The event was covered by several local TV stations and by the Herald-Dispatch. Marshall University has a press release and a video of the event and we've posted several photos of the ceremony.