The University of Arkansas College of Engineering honored 16 graduates with College of Engineering Alumni Awards at its annual banquet on Saturday, April 29, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fayetteville.
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.”
Larry Stephens, BSIE 1958
Larry Stephens was 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.
Stephens received his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering in 1958. He co-founded Mid-South Engineering in 1969. Mid-South is a full-service consulting engineering firm with expertise within the wood products industry. Now retired, Stephens has served as vice president, president, chief operating officer and chairman of the board at Mid-South.
A charter member and first president of the Arkansas Academy of Industrial Engineering, Mr. Stephens is a past member of the U of A National Development Council, a life member and past national president of the University of Arkansas Alumni Association and he served on the College of Engineering committee for the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century. He is a member of the Engineering Dean’s Advisory Council, National Society of Professional Engineers, the Arkansas Society of Professional Engineers, the Technical Association of Pulp and Paper, and the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers.
Stephens is the 2005 recipient of the College of Engineering’s Distinguished Alumni Award and in 2015 he received the Engineer of the Year Award from the Arkansas Society of Professional Engineers and was named Man of the Year by the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce the same year.
Mr. Stephens and his wife, Gwen, have been giving to the university for 35 years, the longest consecutive donors. In October 2014, Stephens received the Andrew J. Lucas Alumni Service Award from the Arkansas Alumni Association. He has also served as chairman of the Hot Springs Airport Commission and the Hot Springs Civil Service Commission, as well as serving on several other government committees and commissions. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Levi Hospital at the Oaklawn Foundation Board.
See the Hall of Fame video featuring Mr. Larry Stephens here.
The Distinguished Alumni Award honors College of Engineering graduates who have provided leadership in their communities and achieved distinction in their fields of endeavor.
Pam McGinnis, BSIE 1990
The industrial engineering recipient of the 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award was Pam McGinnis. McGinnis received a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering in 1990 and has an accomplished 26 year career with Phillips66. Over her career, she has served in senior leadership positions in a variety of businesses, including Truck and Rail transportation and International Marine Shipping. As general manager of U.S. Products Supply and Distribution, she successfully expanded into new international markets, and as general manager of Procurement, she was responsible for global materials and services procurement and risk management.
Amanda Furr, BSIE 2003
McGinnis is a member of the College of Engineering Advisory Council and serves on the CAPS Research board of directors. She also serves on the executive committee of the Houston Area Habitat for Humanity board of directors.
The Early Career Award recognizes exceptional professional and personal achievements of recent College of Engineering graduates. The 2017 industrial engineering recipient was Amanda Furr. Amanda received her BSIE in 2003. Currently she serves as the youngest female chief engineer in the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. In this role she manages maintenance, construction, safety and environmental compliance of the healthcare facilities at the Central Arkansas Veteran’s Healthcare System and had been recognized for her leadership.
She will complete a master’s degree in operations management in May 2017.
The full Newswire story can be found here.