Contact: Robbie Ward
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Seven Mississippi State seniors for the 2006-07 school year are inaugural members of the university's Bagley College of Engineering Hall of Fame.
They recently were selected on the basis of outstanding contributions during their undergraduate studies, said Donna Reese, associate dean for academics and administration. Induction places them in the top 2 percent of majors in the college, which graduates nearly 350 annually, she added.
"The special thing with this group of students is their contributions did not just enhance their own experiences at MSU," Reese said. "They made contributions that had a positive impact on the experiences of other students."
The seven include:
--Claire L. Fellman of Ocean Springs, a December 2006 summa cum laude graduate in biological engineering and the daughter of Randall and Kerry Fellman. Her many activities included Tau Beta Pi, Phi Kappa Phi and Mortar Board honor societies, as well as student chapters of the Institute for Biological Engineers and Theta Tau professional engineering fraternity. Fellman led in reactivating the Mortar Board chapter. She also served as president and held other key positions on the Engineering Student Council. Additionally, she served a semester in Washington, D.C., as an intern for U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., and was a member of drum line in MSU's Famous Maroon Band.
--Wesley J. Holland of Florence, a computer engineering major, President's Scholar and the son of Rebecca Weathersby. In addition to receiving the National Merit and Barry M. Goldwater scholarships, Holland was honored during his first years as the University Honors Program's outstanding freshman. He currently serves as an undergraduate researcher and laboratory teaching assistant for the electrical and computer engineering department. Holland also is a member of Mortar Board and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies, as well as the campus chapters of Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and Association for Computing Machinery. As a member of the electrical and computer engineering department's Student Advisory Council, he helped establish the First Friday social program.
--Jeremy L. Johnson of Vicksburg, a chemical engineering major and the son of Sandra Williams. Johnson, currently serves as president of the Black Student Alliance and is 2007-08 president-elect of the MSU Student Association. As a member of Alpha Phi Alpha social fraternity, he has been honored with a Greek Man of the Year Award and inducted into the Order of Omega Greek Hall of Fame. He also is a member of the campus chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and National Pan-Hellenic Council. Outside of class, Johnson serves as counselor and mathematics tutor for the college's Summer Bridge program that helps new students adjust to college life. Additionally, he is a resident assistant for MSU's department of housing and residence life.
--Austin M. Moore of Jackson [39272], a civil engineering major, Dean's Scholar and the son of Val and Nelda Moore. He is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Theta Kappa and Chi Epsilon honor societies. He has served as secretary of the Institute of Transportation Engineers and president of the American Society of Civil Engineers campus chapters. Moore also was captain of AMCE's concrete canoe design competition team. A Hinds Community College graduate, he has owned a disc jockey service since 1998.
--Erica L. Souther of Kissimmee, Fla., a civil engineering major and the daughter of Larry and Vanessa Souther. She is a member of Tau Beta Pi, Chi Epsilon and Mortar Board honor societies, as well as the campus chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers. She also has been active in the Engineering Student Council, serving as president and holding other key offices. Outside of class, Souther is active with the Wesley Foundation of the United Methodist Church, including service with its Hurricane Katrina relief, prison ministry and Habitat for Humanity programs.
--Teresa M. "Teri" Vaughn of Starkville, a biological engineering major, Dean's Scholar and the daughter of Ray and Glynda Vaughn. She has served as president of the campus chapters of Tau Beta Pi honor society and the Institute for Biological Engineers, and as outreach coordinator for the Society of Women Engineers. She also is a member of Mortar Board and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies, as well as the National Forensics League, Society of Women Engineers and National Society of Collegiate Scholars chapters. Additionally, Vaughn has been active in the Starkville community as a volunteer for the Oktibbeha County Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity Hurricane relief project, Meals-on-Wheels, and other groups.
--Amanda M. Wright of Gulfport, a mechanical engineering major, President's Scholar and the daughter of Samuel and Jeanne Wright. In addition to serving as a student researcher with MSU's Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems and interning with Holcim US cement and aggregates production company, Wright has worked with Eaton Aerospace as a participant in the cooperative education program. She is treasurer of the campus chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and a member of Tau Beta Pi and Gamma Beta Phi honor societies. She also served as the director of the Engineering Student Council regional conference. Outside of class, she is active with the Catholic Student Association, including service on Hurricane Katrina volunteer trips and Starkville's Habitat for Humanity program.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.