Design engineer honored with young alum award

Contact: Denise M. Cosper

David L. Vaughn of Decatur, Ga., is being honored with Mississippi State University's third Prestigious Young Alumnus Award.

A 1992 graduate in aerospace engineering, he is vice president of marketing and chief information officer for Synaps Inc., a start-up company that provides consulting and software for engineering design.

"David is extremely deserving of this tribute," said Libba Andrews, associate director of the MSU Alumni Association. "He has devoted countless hours in service over the years to Mississippi State and the alumni association."

Andrews said the honor specifically recognizes contributions to the university and association during the previous year.

Vaughn is vice president of the alumni association's Atlanta chapter and developed and maintains the local organization's web site and e-mail list of events. As membership chair in 1997, he organized the chapter's most successful phonathons, recruiting more than 600 members for the association. He also started the chapter's young alumni group.

Joining Synaps in early 1998,Vaughn was instrumental in helping the company meet its annual revenue goals within six months.

He also holds a master's degree in aerospace engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.