Missouri S&T News and Events

'Ol' Blue Eyes' fans in store for a holiday treat

2009-11-17T17:29:56Z

Frank Sinatra fans will get a special treat this holiday season with a performance by vocalist Steve Lippia in his show, Simply Sinatra. The singer and a 10-piece band will perform at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, in Leach Theatre of Castleman Hall on the Missouri S&T campus.

]]> Tickets are $35 for adults and $10 for students and are available online, or from the Leach Theatre Box Office. Box office hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 341-4219 for more information.

With a voice described as a combination of a young Sinatra, Harry Connick Jr. and Bobby Darin, Lippia brings to life the music and lyrics of some of the greatest songwriters of all time. Songs will include I've Got You Under My Skin, The Lady is a Tramp and Mack the Knife. He will also perform many of Sinatra's holiday favorites.

Leach Theatre will offer discounted tickets through its "Back Row Club" one hour prior to the event, should tickets remain for the show. The seats in the last row of the theater will be sold for $10 each prior to the concert.

For more information, call the Leach Theatre Box Office at 341-4219 or go online.

S&T student researches solution for carbon dioxide pollution

2009-11-12T20:31:51Z

Ben Weideman, a sophomore in petroleum engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology, is experimenting with ways to trap carbon dioxide waste in underground wells.

]]> Carbon dioxide emissions, such as those from power plants and oil companies, can be captured, processed, and injected into deep wells. Ultimately, the idea is to store the emissions permanently in natural geological formations.

During the injection process, concrete is used to maintain stability and to keep fluids from escaping along wellbore walls. But it is not fully understood how the concrete would respond to shifting temperatures within the wells over time.

Weideman is testing cement compositions to determine carbon dioxide permeability at various temperature ranges. He is working with Dr. Runar Nygaard, an assistant professor of petroleum engineering at Missouri S&T.

Weideman's research will determine what concrete composition is best suited for use in sequestering the carbon dioxide waste underground.

To vary the composition, Weideman is experimenting with different percentages of Bentonite gel, a viscosity modifying agent that can change the density of the concrete. Even small changes in the percentage of Bentonite make a significant difference.

Weideman is working on this project as part of a program at Missouri S&T that provides research opportunities to undergraduate students. His project will conclude with a paper containing the results of his research and a poster presentation.

Classic Disney adventure 'The Jungle Book' to be shown at Leach Theatre this month

2009-11-11T15:31:02Z

The last film produced by Walt Disney himself will be shown at Missouri S&T as part of the Leach Theatre Family Film Series.

]]> Disney's The Jungle Book will be shown at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, in Leach Theatre of Castleman Hall. Admission is $2 per person. Tickets will be available at the Leach Theatre Box Office.

The story of Mowgli, a young boy raised by wolves, was inspired by the Rudyard Kipling book of the same name. It tells of his adventure-filled, if reluctant, return to the human village to escape a man-hating tiger, Shere Khan, while escorted by the wise panther, Bagheera, and the happy-go-lucky bear, Baloo. The movie includes a number of upbeat, memorable songs, including The Bare Necessities and I Wan'na Be Like You (The Monkey Song).

The fun will include face painting and arts and crafts. Lunch and snacks, including pizza and soda, will be sold in the lobby following the film. For more information, call 341-4219.

Additional films in the series will include:

Mickey's Christmas Carol (Disney) - Dec. 12

Bee Movie (Dreamworks) - Jan. 16, 2010

Thumbelina (Don Bluth) - Feb. 13, 2010

The Rescuers (Disney) - March 13, 2010

Swing with S&T's Jazz Band and Combo on Nov. 20

2009-11-11T15:14:33Z

The Missouri S&T Jazz Band and Jazz Combo will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, in Leach Theater of Castleman Hall. The concert will feature the music of Pat Metheny, Ella Fitzgerald, Natalie Cole, Michael Buble, Horace Silver, Julian "Cannonball" Adderley and Buddy Rich.

]]> Tickets are $5 for the general public and free for S&T students and youth age 18 and younger. Tickets are available between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour before the performance in the Leach Theatre Box Office.

The concert will also feature the vocal stylings of Debbie Priesmeyer. Priesmeyer is a founding member of the Rolla-based a cappella vocal jazz group "Oak Savannah," as well as a soprano with the Rolla Community Choir.

For more information, contact the Missouri S&T performing arts office at 341-4185 or splank@mst.edu.

Symphonies to perform autumn concert

2009-11-11T15:05:22Z

The Missouri S&T Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony will perform their first concert of the season at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, in Leach Theater of Castleman Hall.

]]> Tickets are $3 for the general public and free for S&T students. Tickets are available between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour before the performance in the Leach Theatre Box Office.

The concert will open with a fanfare as the combined brass and percussion of the Symphonic Band and the Wind Symphony are joined by S&T's marching band, orchestra and jazz band. Following that, the Symphonic Band will perform Night Flight march, by Karl L. King; At Morning's First Light, by David R. Gillingham; America Verses, by Timothy Broege; and Cajun Folk Songs, by Frank Ticheli.

After a short intermission, the Wind Symphony will play American Fanfare, by James Stephenson; Adagio for Wind Orchestra, by Joaquin Rodrigo; Magneticfireflies, by Augusta Read Thomas; and Second Suite in F, by Gustav Holst.

Two additional opportunities to enjoy performances by the Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 25, 2010.

For additional information about Missouri S&T bands, email Dr. Robert J. Cesario, director of bands and orchestras, at cesarior@mst.edu or call the S&T performing arts office at 341-4185.

How many "daze" till St. Pat's? There's an app for that

2009-11-10T13:38:29Z

Wondering how long it is until the next St. Pat's Celebration at Missouri University of Science and Technology? There's an app for that.

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The "Daze" application lets users know how long it is until the next St. Pat's Celebration at Missouri S&T.

A group of Missouri S&T students has developed an iPhone application that counts down the number of days - or "daze," in St. Pat's parlance - until the next annual celebration. The students created the application through a company founded in 2008 by Michael Orlando, a senior majoring in electrical engineering and interdisciplinary engineering.

The university's annual St. Pat's Celebration is a big deal among students and alumni, and Orlando hopes this mobile application will tap into that interest.

"We wanted to make something to let everybody know there was someone on campus making iPhone apps," says Orlando, a St. Louis County native who is also pursuing a master's degree in engineering management at S&T.

"We thought, 'What better way than St. Pat's to get everybody's attention?'"

When activated, the application launches an audio file of students announcing how many days until "St. Pat's best ever." Orlando's company - Interdisciplinary Design Collaborative, or IDC for short - worked with members of the campus's St. Pat's Celebration Committee to record the audio.

The app is available for free to iPhone users through Apple's App Store or via iTunes (users must have the iTunes software installed on their computers to access that link).

Missouri S&T's St. Pat's Celebration began in 1908, when a group of students, returning from a St. Patrick's Day event at the University of Missouri-Columbia campus, decided to dub St. Patrick the unofficial "patron saint of engineers" and skip school. The celebration has been held annually ever since. (Check out Missouri S&T's Best Ever Blog for images and information from the 2008 and 2009 celebrations.)

The St. Pat "Daze" app was the idea of Missouri S&T student Paul Voss, a senior in engineering management who was chosen to portray St. Pat for the celebration's 100th anniversary in 2008.

Orlando hopes the gizmo will attract attention to IDC's other iPhone applications under development. The company currently offers an application that allows users to scan a product's barcode to get pricing information and user reviews. The app uses the iPhone's camera to take a picture of the barcode.

The "Barcodescan" application has already been downloaded by nearly 250,000 iPhone users, Orlando says. He and other students are working on improving the app and offering it for sale. They hope to launch the new barcode application before Thanksgiving.

Orlando founded IDC in September 2008 and serves as the company's chief executive officer. Two other students also hold executive positions with the company: R.J. Miller, a senior in interdisciplinary engineering and graduate student in engineering management, who is the chief administrative officer, and Colby Hall, an MBA graduate student, who is the chief operating officer. A total of 10 Missouri S&T students are on the IDC payroll.

More information about the company is available on the IDC website, www.idesignco.org.

Faculty members to receive teaching awards

2009-11-06T20:37:07Z

Twenty-eight Missouri S&T faculty members will receive the Committee for Effective Teaching (CET) Outstanding Teaching Award for 2008-2009. The winners will be recognized at the Chancellor's Council meeting to be held from noon-1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, in St. Pat's A of the Havener Center. The annual award is given to faculty members based on student evaluations.

]]> The following individuals were selected for the awards:

Col. Thomas Akers, instructor of mathematics and statistics
Dr. Ralph Alexander Jr., professor of physics
Ms. Kathryn Berkbuegler, lecturer in the Teacher Education Program
Dr. Gerald Cohen, professor of arts, languages and philosophy
Dr. Petra DeWitt, lecturer of history and political science
Dr. James Drallmeier, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering
Dr. Kelvin Erickson, professor of electrical and computer engineering
Dr. Ronald Frank, associate professor of biological sciences
Dr. Stephen Gao, professor of geological sciences and engineering
Dr. Lance Haynes, professor of arts, languages and philosophy
Dr. Irina Ivliyeva, assistant professor of arts, languages and philosophy
Ms. Merilee Krueger, lecturer of psychological sciences
Dr. Vy Le, professor of mathematics and statistics
Dr. Jennifer Leopold, associate professor of computer science
Dr. James Martin, associate professor of psychological sciences
Dr. John McManus, associate professor of history and political science
Dr. Gary Mueller, associate professor of mining and nuclear engineering
Dr. Susan Murray, associate professor of engineering management and systems engineering
Dr. Henry Pernicka, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering
Dr. David Riggins, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering
Dr. David Rogers, associate professor of geological sciences and engineering
Dr. Bryan Salmons, lecturer of English and technical communication
Dr. R. Joe Stanley, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering
Dr. J. Greg Story, associate professor of physics
Dr. David Westenberg, associate professor of biological sciences
Dr. Ralph Wilkerson, professor of computer science
Dr. Jeffrey Winiarz, assistant professor of chemistry
Dr. Reza Zoughi, professor of electrical and computer engineering.

Celebrate international education at Global Showcase

2009-11-06T20:01:08Z

The international affairs office at Missouri S&T, in conjunction with the university's study abroad programs, cultural and leadership programs and the S&T International Students Association, will sponsor a Global Showcase from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, in the atrium of the Havener Center.

]]> The showcase will feature S&T students, faculty and staff who will share cultural items, photos and other materials from their home countries. The event will include a variety of treats from different countries, musical performances and a game of "Global Jeopardy." American students who have participated in study abroad programs will share their materials, photos and anecdotes. Information will be presented on world hunger and food donations will be accepted to benefit those in need in the Rolla area.

The event will also recognize and celebrate the importance and benefits of international education in the U.S. and around the world as part of International Education Week (IEW), held Nov. 16-20. IEW is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education. This year's IEW theme, "Creating a Vision for a Better Future," emphasizes the key role that international education plays in ensuring a more secure and prosperous future for all.

For more information about the Missouri S&T Global Showcase, contact international affairs at 341-4208.

Faculty and students honored at ASEM conference

2009-11-03T16:38:10Z

Faculty members and students from Missouri University of Science and Technology received recognition from the American Society of Engineering Management during the 30th annual ASEM National Conference held Oct. 14-17 in Springfield, Mo.

]]> Dr. William Daughton, a professor of engineering management and systems engineering at Missouri S&T, received the highest award of the society, the Bernard R. Sarchet Award, presented in recognition of leadership and continuing support of ASEM. The award is named after the founder of the society, who was the first chair of the engineering management department at Missouri S&T in the 1960s.

Dr. Benjamin Dow, a lecturer in engineering management and systems engineering at Missouri S&T, received a Meritorious Service Award from the society.

S&T's student chapter of ASEM received the Outstanding Student Chapter Award, presented annually for the best record of membership and activities. Megan McLain, a graduate student in engineering management and ASEM chapter president, accepted the award.

Missouri S&T students Sean Schmidt, John Belshe, Chris Murray and Horace Brown were members of the winning team in the annual case study competition held at the conference. The S&T team competed against other engineering management undergraduates from the University of Arizona and the United States Military Academy. This is the second time in three years that an S&T team has won the competition.

D'Ambrosio to revisit S&T in Hollywood homage

2009-10-30T16:11:35Z

Franc D'Ambrosio will bring his newest one-man show to Leach Theatre this month as part of Missouri S&T's 2009-10 Campus Performing Arts Series.

]]> The artist, who wowed the Leach Theatre audience last year with his Broadway show, returns to present Hollywood, featuring songs from the silver screen. D'Ambrosio will perform at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, in Leach Theatre of Castleman Hall.

Tickets are $35 for adults and $25 for students. Leach Theatre is offering a $5 per ticket discount for groups of 10 or more. The first 75 tickets for Missouri S&T students are free.

Tickets are available online, or from the Leach Theatre Box Office. Box office hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 341-4219 for more information.

D'Ambrosio's Hollywood showcases his breathtaking voice and charismatic stage presence as he illustrates the Hollywood story with such classics as "Singing in the Rain," "Some Enchanted Evening," "As Time Goes By" and "Moon River."

Best known for his role as Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Tony Award-winning The Phantom of the Opera, D'Ambrosio portrayed the character nearly 3,000 times, earning him the title "The World's Longest Running Phantom." As part of this performance, he will reprise the role of Phantom to perform two songs from the opera with selected talent from the community.

This performance is sponsored in part by Terry Harris of Andrew Garrett Inc. and the Phelps County Regional Medical Center Medical Group. Additional funding for the Missouri S&T Campus Performing Arts Series is provided by the Missouri S&T Endowment for the Performing Arts, the Missouri Arts Council and the Maxwell C. Weiner Endowment for the Performing Arts.

For more information about the Missouri S&T Campus Performing Arts Series, call the Leach Theatre Box Office at 341-4219 or go to Leach Theatre.

Academy of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering inducts new members

2009-10-29T14:52:55Z

Seven professionals with ties to Missouri University of Science and Technology were recently inducted into the Missouri S&T Academy of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineers.

]]> The academy recognizes outstanding alumni for their professional achievement and success, and provides organized assistance to the mechanical and aerospace engineering department at Missouri S&T.

New members are:

-- Michael A. Haas, chief executive officer of Orion Energy Group and managing director of Renewable Development Co. Haas earned a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from Missouri S&T in 1987. He earned a master's degree in aeronautical and aerospace engineering from Stanford University in 1990. Haas began his career with McDonnell Aircraft Co. in a research and development group. He served in various executive capacities at Kenetech Corp. before founding Orion Energy Group in 1999. He also co-founded Renewable Development Co. in the United Kingdom. And, in 2008, Haas founded Alliance for Climate Education, a non-profit group dedicated to educating high school students on the science of global climate change.

-- Robert J. Hoffmann, vice president and co-owner of Hoffmann Bros. Heating and Air Conditioning. Hoffmann earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Missouri S&T in 1981. He began his career with Proctor and Gamble before co-founding Hoffmann Bros. Heating and Air Conditioning in 1988. In 2004, Hoffmann Brothers was honored with the World-Class Customer Satisfaction Award from the Better Business Bureau. Hoffmann serves on the board of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America. He was voted Air Conditioning Contractors Man of the Year in 2000, 2001 and 2002 for his leadership in the HVAC industry. Hoffmann is on the advisory boards of Rankin Technical College and Vatterott Technical College. He is also on the executive board of the Better Business Bureau and the board of Associated Builders and Contractors.

-- Dr. Darrell W. Pepper, professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Pepper earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Missouri S&T in 1968. He also earned a master's degree in aerospace engineering (1970) and a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering (1973) from Missouri S&T. After postdoctoral work in 1974, Pepper joined the E.I. Du Pont, Savannah River Laboratory. In 1987, he was appointed chief scientist of the Marquardt Co., where he worked on the national aerospace plane program. A year later, he co-founded Advanced Projects Research Inc. In 1990, he was appointed professor of mechanical engineering at California State University. He moved to his current position at the University of Nevada in 1992. Pepper founded the Nevada Center for Advanced Computation Methods and Nevada Energy and Environmental Systems, and he co-founded Alexander Energy Resources International.

-- Fred "Art" Simmons, president of Eleison Composites. Simmons earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Missouri S&T in 1966. He also earned an MBA degree from the University of Chicago. Simmons worked for two years at General Motors. He then held positions of increasing responsibility at several other companies. He was general manager of the Wickes Corp., vice president and general manager of LaSalle Steel, vice president and general manager of the construction equipment group at International Harvester, and vice president and general manager of the International Harvester agricultural equipment group. In 1984, Simmons founded Astechnologies Inc. In 1993, he created Euro American Composites Technologies.

-- Thomas J. Spiegel, director of integration and support engineering at Boeing. Spiegel graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from Missouri S&T in 1973. In 1993, he earned an MBA degree from Webster University. At Boeing, Spiegel is responsible for providing a strategic vision for integration and support engineering. He facilitates development of standard processes, systems and tools. Spiegel works to leverage and deploy best practices and lean functional excellence to the engineering teams. He has worked on many projects, including the integration of ergonomics, build/assembly analysis and the development of various work instructions for 3D modeling.

-- Chris A. Thomason, senior manager of advanced vehicle architecture at General Motors. Thomason holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Missouri S&T and a master's degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He received a professional degree from Missouri S&T in 2008. Thomason began his career with General Motors in 1985. While at GM, he has been involved with several new vehicle programs, including the Saturn VUE and Pontiac Solstice. He is currently the senior manager for GM's future product architectures.

-- Donald J. Mathews is being inducted posthumously as an honorary memorial member. Mathews earned his degree in mechanical engineering in 1948. He worked as an industrial engineer for two years with A. P. Green Fire Brick Co., and then moved to Standard Oil of Indiana as a lubrication sales engineer. He retired in 1988 after 31 years in sales and sales management from Jefferson Smurfit Corp., an international paper manufacturer. After retirement, Mathews was a managing partner of PCB Investment Club. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, having served in active and reserve duty for 22 years. Upon his death in 2004, the Don and Alwilda Mathews Scholarship was established.

Academy of Engineering Management inducts new members

2009-10-29T14:51:36Z

Missouri University of Science and Technology inducted two engineering management professionals into the Academy of Engineering Management on Oct. 8.

]]> The academy, an advisory group to the engineering management and systems engineering department, is composed of Missouri S&T graduates who have distinguished themselves in their career, profession or through public service.

New members include:

-- Randy Buschling, chief operating officer at LaBarge Inc. Buschling earned a bachelor's degree in engineering management from Missouri S&T in 1983 and a master's degree in mechanical engineering from Washington University in 1987. In 1983, he joined McDonnell Douglas in the astronautics division. In 1988, he moved to Watlow Electric Manufacturing to become general manager for the infrared temperature sensing and control facility. In 1998, Buschling joined LaBarge. He received an honorary professional degree in engineering management from Missouri S&T in 2008.

-- Kraig Gordon, president of Gordon Construction Inc. Gordon earned bachelor's degrees in engineering management and civil engineering from Missouri S&T in 1976. In 1997, he received a master's degree in engineering management from Missouri S&T. Gordon began his career as an industrial engineer with Corning Glass. In 1979, he became a project engineer for Gilbane Building Co. Gordon has held a number of management positions for construction companies, including Kroger Co., O'Rourke Construction and Carnegie Construction Co. In 1989, he founded Gordon Construction Inc. Gordon is a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Ohio Army National Guard.

Moore, Ryan elected queen and king

2009-10-27T15:05:16Z

Missouri University of Science and Technology named its 2009 Homecoming Queen and King during halftime ceremonies of Missouri S&T's Oct. 24 football game against the University of St. Francis.

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Maggie Moore, a senior in applied mathematics from St. Louis, is S&T's 2009 Homecoming Queen. Daniel Ryan, a senior in mechanical engineering from Springfield, Ill., was named King.

Candidates were nominated by student organizations at Missouri S&T. Moore and Ryan were both nominated by Pi Kappa Alpha. Winners are chosen after interviews and a campuswide election held the week prior to Homecoming.

Five faculty to receive excellence awards

2009-10-27T14:43:54Z

Five Missouri S&T faculty members will receive Faculty Excellence Awards at a ceremony scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010.

]]> The awards are given annually to recognize teaching, research and service excellence. Each award winner will receive a $5,000 stipend funded by industry and alumni contributions.

The 2009 award winners are:

Dr. Martin Bohner, professor of mathematics and statistics
Dr. William Fahrenholtz, professor of materials science and engineering
Dr. Greg Hilmas, professor of materials science and engineering
Dr. John McManus, associate professor of history and political science
Dr. Thomas Vojta, associate professor of physics.

S&T students lighten up in classic madcap comedy

2009-10-26T19:28:55Z

The Miner League Theatre Players at Missouri S&T have decided to lighten things up this year with a performance of the classic madcap comedy You Can't Take It With You in November.

]]> Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, through Saturday, Nov. 7, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, in Leach Theatre of Castleman Hall.

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets are available between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour before each performance in the Leach Theatre Box Office.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning play, written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, tells the story of the delightfully eccentric Sycamore family, who live life to the fullest in a wholehearted pursuit of happiness. When one of the Sycamore clan and a member of the wealthy and uptight Kirby family fall in love, everything quickly gets out-of-control.

"The students are having a ball with this play," says director Jeanne Stanley, assistant professor of theatre at S&T. "They get so tickled by the humor and they have so much energy, it'll be hard for the audience to resist."

Stanley says none of the students have done a farce before, and that it's taken them some time to get the rhythm of it. "Everything is louder, faster, funnier in a farce. It's almost a dance."

A main character, "Grandpa," will be played by guest actor Bruce Woodruff, associate professor and chair of the theatre department at Baker University. "I acted in one of his students' productions last month, now he's returning the favor," says Stanley.

The production is two and a half hours long and may be best suited for audience members ages 8 and up. The fast-paced show is in three acts, with one intermission and one five-minute break.