Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineering 37th Annual Induction Banquet

Mark Kuss

The Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineering (AACE) held its 37th annual Induction and Awards Banquet on Friday, April 28. Over 200 members, faculty, staff, students, and family attended the induction of 11 new members into the academy family. Three students were also recognized for receiving outstanding student awards.

The Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineering is an accomplished group of civil engineering alumni who have shown exceptional merit and together have given over $100,000 in student body scholarships this past year. The Academy was begun in 1981 by a group of 20 distinguished and forward thinking Charter Members. They contribute to the recruitment of new tenure-track faculty and initiates the annual "Evening with the Pro's" which allows students to interact with professionals in all focus areas of Civil Engineering. AACE has hosted several events in effort to raise funds to build a multi-million dollar, and much needed, Structures Laboratory to aide in student and faculty research. The Academy exists to recognize civil engineering graduates who have made significant contributions to the civil engineering profession.  Active Members are those who have agreed to support, both financially and personally, the efforts of the University of Arkansas' Department of Civil Engineering to educate and graduate the next generation of civil engineers who will be expected to continue upholding the high ethics and standards of this noble profession. 

The following 11 academy inductees are:

• D. Chad Adams, B.S.C.E., U of A, 1996
• Stephen E. Cheney, M.B.A. U of A, 1986
• Thomas R. Clement, B.C.S.E., U of A, 1978
• Kip Guthrie, B.S.C.E., U of A, 1995
• James 'Jim' Harris, B.S.C.E., U of A, 1996
• Thomas A. Hennelly, B.S.C.E., U of A, 1995
• Robert H. Seay – Honorary, M.A., U of A Little Rock, 2006
• Earl T. Smith Jr., M.S.C.E., U of A, 1974
• John T. Watkins III, B.S.C.E., U of A, 1986
• R. Lawren Wilcox, Jr., B.S.C.E., U of A, 1990
• Mark E. Wyatt, M.S.C.E., University of Texas, Arlington, 1986

Three outstanding students in the department were voted on by the faculty. Micah Hale, professor and department head, awarded Tori Alexander with the Outstanding Sophomore Award. Hale awarded the Outstanding Junior Award to Edgar Soriano Somarriba, and the E. Walt LeFevre Outstanding Senior Award went to Danielle Neighbour.

The Business Meeting was held the following morning in the John A. White Engineering Hall where members made new pledges for providing scholarships for the upcoming academic year totaling over $70,000.

The AACE Events for 2018 have been scheduled for April 20-21.