Contact: Jim Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Automotive manufacturers and suppliers in the Magnolia State are honoring the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems at Mississippi State University for its contributions to the industry.
CAVS recently received the 2010 Award of Excellence from the Mississippi Automotive Manufacturers Association for its leadership and support of MAMA's mission to grow, develop and improve the auto industry in the state. Given annually during MAMA's general meeting, nominations are submitted by the organization's membership and voted on by the board of directors.
"Auto manufacturing is a vital and growing part of the region's economy. Meeting the needs of industry, fostering research opportunities, and boosting the development of a highly-skilled and tech-savvy workforce are essential priorities at CAVS," said Roger King, the center's director. "This award illustrates the commitment Mississippi State University has to the people it serves, which dates to our founding in 1878 as the state's land-grant institution."
CAVS is an interdisciplinary center that provides engineering, research, development, and technology transfer teams focused on complex problems, such as those encountered in technologies designed to improve human mobility. CAVS' overall effort is focused on developing superior computational, engineering, manufacturing, design, and information technologies relevant to Mississippi industries.
"CAVS' work with young people and its educational efforts have helped strengthen the future of the automotive workforce, and MAMA has, in turn, strengthened its scholarship program with Mississippi State," said Gina Harvey, who is serving as 2010 MAMA president. "The association's investment is paying off. We are proud of the MSU CAVS' student-engineered, student-built EcoCAR's win and feature in The New York Times and other national media outlets."
A university student team of some 20 members took first place overall May 27 in the second round of the 2010 EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge. MSU was among 16 institutions represented at the San Diego finals in year two of the three-year competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, General Motors and the Canadian government, among others. The competition challenges North American engineering majors to "re-engineer" a GM-donated vehicle to minimize fuel consumption and emissions, while maintaining its utility, safety and performance. Learn more about the project at http://www.msuecocar.com.
In addition, CAVS has taken a leadership role with MAMA in organizing the Southern Automotive Conference in Tunica Oct. 6-8. Find more information about the conference at http://www.saconf.com.
Information about the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems at Mississippi State is available at http://www.cavs.msstate.edu. The Mississippi Automotive Manufacturers Association is online at http://www.mamaonline.net.