The University of Houston Engineering Alumni Association (EAA) hosted the 2013 Engineers Week Reception and Program on Tuesday, February 19, in celebration of National Engineers Week.
Approximately 240 engineering students, alumni, faculty, staff, and sponsors attended the event at the University of Houston Hilton, now in its ninth year.
"This year the National Engineers Week theme was "Celebrate Awesome" and our event celebrated its own awesome due to the record-breaking $57,000 that our generous sponsors presented to UH engineering students and organizations," said Cynthia Oliver Coleman (BSChE ’71), founder and chair of the event. "Our event is exclusively for the support of UH engineering students and organizations, and each year our goal is to provide the most money and recognition in support."
Donations were provided by corporations, professional engineering organizations, Cougar engineers, and friends of UH to 72 high-achieving Cullen College students and 5 student organizations in recognition of excellence in academics and leadership. The 9-year total of cash awards passed the quarter million dollar mark, at approximately $268,000.
The EWeek Engineering Challenge grand prize was awarded to the UH American Society of Civil Engineers (UH ASCE). The challenge commenced several months prior to the reception and program, and called for alumni to make monetary donations to the student organization of their choice. Aaron Schindewolf (BSCE '04) was named Top Donor.
The UH Society of Women Engineers (SWE) won the Engineering Community Outreach grand prize for conducting the most effective engineering-related outreach to local schools or non-profit organizations. The runner-up prize was awarded to UH Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE).
Additional program highlights included the special recognition of William "Bill" Fendley (BSCE ’71) for his recent award from the Houston Engineers Week Committee as Greater Houston 2013 Engineer of the Year; as well as an award presented to the first graduating class of the undergraduate UH petroleum engineering program. The award, sponsored by Ryder Scott Company Friends of UHPE and the UH Petroleum Engineering Advisory Board, signifies an important milestone in the new program, which is led by professor and director Tom Holley.