Ceramic engineering students at the UMR were recently recognized for their accomplishments in research, service and student design during the American Ceramic Society’s annual meeting April 18-21 in Indianapolis.

During the meeting, UMR students fared well in two design competitions against students from other universities around the United States:

— The "glass putter" competition, in which teams design and manufacturing glass golf putters and balls on a putting green. The team that putts its ball closest to a hole wins. UMR freshman Greg Baird of Rolla, Mo., won the competition for the UMR team, becoming the first student in the competition’s history to score a hole in one. The team also won for aesthetics.

— The "mug drop" competition, in which student teams design and manufacture ceramic coffee mugs, then drop them to test the mugs’ strength. The UMR team finished second in the competition to the University of Illinois.

In addition to their involvement in the student competitions, UMR students and faculty presented about 20 research presentations and posters at the annual meeting. Justin Wieduwilt, a UMR ceramic engineering senior from Collinsville, Ill., won the undergraduate research poster contest, and Michelle Schaeffler, a junior in ceramic engineering from Wildwood, Mo., won the undergraduate section of the ceramagraphic contest. William Maass of Arnold, Mo., a senior in ceramic engineering, placed third in the student speaking contest.

In addition, the UMR chapter of Keramos, the ceramic engineering honor society, finished second in the National Chapter of the Year competition.

Also at the meeting, Dr. Delbert Day, Curators’ Professor emeritus of ceramic engineering, received the W. David Kingery Award for "distinguished lifelong achievements" and was elected a fellow of the National Institute of Ceramic Engineers. Dr. Bill Fahrenholtz, an assistant professor of ceramic engineering, was elected president of the Ceramic Educational Council; Dr. Robert Schwartz, professor of ceramic engineering, was named vice president of the Keramos National Board of Directors; and Dr. Jeffrey D. Smith, associate professor of ceramic engineering, was named to the AcerS Board of Fellows.