The University of Arkansas College of Engineering honored 16 graduates with College of Engineering Alumni Awards at its annual banquet on Saturday, April 9th, at the Fayetteville Town Center.
The awards recognize alumni of the college who have demonstrated exceptional professional and personal accomplishments and made important contributions to their professions and communities.
“Our alumni are among our college’s biggest strengths and their accomplishments speak directly to the quality of our academic program,” said John English, dean of the college. “We are proud of all our alumni, and this group shows how talented individuals use engineering education to benefit Arkansas and the world.”
David D. Foust
At the banquet, Troy C. Alley Jr., David D. Foust and Stanley Reed were inducted into the college’s Hall of Fame, which was established in 1965 to recognize prominent graduates and leaders who have made outstanding contributions to the engineering profession and to society as a whole.
Foust earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the U of A in 1964. He is retired from his position of vice president and general manager of the Americas with Bakaert.
Mr. Foust is a past-president and member of the Arkansas Academy of Industrial Engineering. He is also a member of the College of Engineering Advisory Council and in 2005 he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the College.
The Distinguished Alumni Award honors College of Engineering graduates who have provided leadership in their communities and achieved distinction in their fields of endeavor.
David Humphrey
Industrial engineering alum, David Humphrey, B.S.I.E. 1982, M.S.I.E. 1983, was one of the seven recognized with this honor.
Mr. Humphrey currently serves as the vice president of investor relations at ArcBest Corporation. He is one of the longest tenured IR executives in the transportation industry. He serves on the College of Engineering Advisory Council and the industrial engineering department’s liaison committee, and he is a member of the Arkansas Academy of Industrial Engineering.
The Early Career Award recognizes exceptional professional and personal achievements of recent College of Engineering graduates. Industrial engineering alum, Kevin Oden, B.S.I.E. 2007, M.B.A. 2011, was one of the four recognized.
Kevin Oden
Kevin has been featured in Fortune 500, Harvard Business Review Today, and the 8th & Walton Sustainability Special Program. He co-founded a company, cycleWood Solutions, while working on his MBA. The company’s trademarked single-use Xylobag is a strong and tough compostable substitute for traditional plastic bags. Today, Kevin has formed ImPro Advisors to focus on value based consulting.
At the University of Arkansas, Kevin serves on the College of Engineering Early Career Alumni Council, the Walton College’s Alumni Board and as a mentor for entrepreneur classes.