Engineers Who Are Making a Difference
Thank You: Ron Bennett
Ron Bennett, my father, is one of the main influences that led me to pursue engineering and computer science. As a child, I was always fascinated by the strange tools he had in his office--A protractor, a drafting compass, slide rules, and the like. He showed me how they worked, and the interesting applications the had to real life.
When we got our first computer, I was only 8 years old. He encouraged me to learn how it worked, how it could interact with others over a modem, and how I could control it with programming. This would become my area of study at UofL, and eventually my career.
Thanks, Dad, for encouraging me!!!Thank You: Dr. Mark N. French, P.E.
Dr. Mark French was himself a former graduate of Speed School of Engineering and I had the great opportunity to work with him as a graduate teaching assistant in 1987-1988 in my last year.
Dr. French provided me with an opportunity to work with undergraduate students in statics and hydraulics while I was still pursuing my civil engineering graduate school studies. His way of engaging students and listening to their questions, and challenging their minds made him one of the best professors that I ever had the opportunity to work with at Speed School.
I hope that his teaching and instructional efforts do not go unrewarded because he is one of the best instructors on campus, he has the ability to communicate and engage young minds and challenge them to find better solutions for the 21st Century.Thank You: Dr. C.R. Ullrich
Dr. Robert Ullrich was my primary thesis advisor back in '88 and provided our graduating class with many challenging civil engineering problems and research efforts within the area of geotechnical engineering.
His dedication to teaching and instruction was phenomenal and many of us still remember him as one of the best engineering professors and mentors in the Speed School of Engineering.
He inspired many of us in civil engineering undergraduate school at Speed School of Engineering to advance our careers by thesis and advanced research and we need to thank him periodically for his hard work, humor, attention to detail, and of course patience.Thank You: Sanjiv Sidhu
Sanjiv Sidhu is the co-founder of i2 Technologies in Dallas Texas. Sanjiv started a company from nothing and turned it into a international business creating hundreds of millions of dollars of value for its customers. During my tenure at i2, Sanjiv challenged me to expand and develop my skills, to gain an understanding that anything is possible, and provided me with multiple opportunities to explore and expand the bounds of my capabilities as an engineer and as a professional. I am deeply grateful for having the opportunity to work along side him and grow as an engineer and as a professional.
Thank You: Dean Karnes
Class of 1962: Dean instilled a love of calculus in all of us. He taught passionately and with a flair that welded the class interest. He made math fun and challenging. After class one time we brought a dog-chasing-rabbit trajectory problem to him for a formal solution. With enthusiam he tackled the problem, constantly engaging us toward a solution. This experience and the drive for fundamental approach to engineering from the entire chemical engineering faculty guided me in many difficult conquests during my 40 years at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, a Naval nuclear design laboratory.
Thank You: Dr. Patricia Ralston
Dr. Ralston was my thesis director and I cannot say enough for her ability in breaking up the project into manageable tasks, something I continue to do today in project management. Her preparation was phenomenal each time we met. I also got to see her after graduation and her sense of dedication and drive to be the best was unsurpassed. Thanks so much!
Thank You: Dr. Larry Tyler
Dr. Tyler made the difference in the foundational course of Calculus which allowed for building in later studies and a career in computer engineering. I worked with Dr. Tyler for ten years as an alumnus with Tau Beta Pi and it was there that the true mentoring and understanding of engineering with excellence and integrity was displayed. His remembrance of student's names and correct pronunciation was amazing!
Thank You: Cecil E. Talbott
Mr. Cecil E. Talbott, P.E. encouraged me to pursue my professional engineering license twelve years after receiving my BS from Speed School. He also told me of the opportunities that having the license would create. This was a big confidence booster for me considering the time I had been out of school. Since becoming licensed, I have had the opportunity and achieved other credentials: Certified Green Building Engineer (GBE), Certified Commissioning Authority (CxA) and a Cetified Energy Manager (CEM). He has also mentored me and exposed me to the world of professional engineering. I try to inspire young engineers and engineering students to pursue licensure to lay a foundation if they have entreprenuerial interests in an effort to give back.
Thank You: Dick Wyskida
Dick Wyskida was my graduate mentor. He always challenged me in his courses, but was a strong, supportive mentor during my graduate studies with him. He has a sharp, somewhat sarcastic wit, and a great sense of humor. I learned how to be a university professor from him.