News Releases
Engineering Student Presents at Symposium of Student Scholars
Places Second Runner-up
April 17, 2020
Dr. Adeel Khalid and his engineering research student, Ryan Foster, have been working
in collaboration since fall of 2019. The current project is titled, "Blade Optimization
for Ground Level Low Speed Wind Turbines." Foster won the second runner-up award during
the 24th Annual Symposium of Student Scholars held virtually at KSU, this April. He
is one of the three undergraduate students and the only engineering student to win
an award among hundreds of students that presented. The award comes with a gift card
and certificate. (Full Symposium Story here)
This work entails designing new wind turbine blades for low wind speed environments like coastal Georgia. Foster performed physics-based modeling, wind tunnel testing, and computer modeling and analyses. He also used the 3D printer in the AERO Lab to fabricate turbine blades based on his optimized model and will be using the wind turbine apparatus to run tests and collect data. As a result of this work, small scale wind turbine blades will be optimized for residential and small commercial operations. This work will be published in regional conference proceedings and an undergraduate research journal. Foster will also present at an upcoming AIAA conference.
Aerial Robotics Team Competes in SAE Aero Design Competition
Team Places 4th in flight
March 12, 2020
For over a year, KSU Aerial Robotics Competition Team (ARCT) has been working on designing, analyzing, fabricating, and flying a large un-manned aircraft system. After numerous design iterations and flight attempts, some successful and others not so much, the team was ready for the international SAE Aero 2020 Design Competition - held in Lakeland, FL.
ARCT participated in the advanced class category. Their mission was to fly a mother
ship to an altitude above 100 ft, then deploy two autonomous aircrafts to land in
a pre-determined drop zone, lastly deploy nerf balls and water bottles without breaking
them. After a fierce competition this year, KSU ARCT placed 4th in flight. 
The yearly competition is intended to provide students with a real-life engineering challenge. 80 teams from top schools, including Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, University of Michigan, etc. participated in the competition. Also in attendance were highly reputable international universities from countries including China, Brazil, India, Poland, Mexico, Canada, etc.
The advanced class category requires teams to have a systems approach to their design, while integrating several engineering disciplines: aeronautical, mechanical, electrical, and computer. The ultimate end goal for this category is autonomous flight with a purpose, which is decided yearly by rules committee members.
All ARCT design and fabrication work were completed in the AERO lab, on the Marietta campus. This included utilizing 3D printers, 5-axis milling machine, CNC hot wire cutters, CFD analyses, wind tunnel testing, and flight simulations. Dr. Adeel Khalid is the advisor for KSU ARCT.
SPCEET Alumni Presents Research
Kara Dees Unveiled Research Findings to State Senator Steve Gooch
February 21, 2020
Recent Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology graduate,
Kara Dees, presented her broadband research to State Senator Steve Gooch, the chief
sponsor of the rural broadband bill. Dees’ research focused on the effects that lack
of adequate internet access has on KSU students. When students are away from their
homes, as a matter of course, they are inclined to enlist public libraries for internet
access.
Dees measured internet upload and download speeds at 22 public libraries, in the 11 counties that contribute to more than 500 students attending KSU. Her research showed that 19 out of 22 libraries did not meet the FCC standard of 25 Mbps for download speeds.
Senator Gooch was highly intrigued by Kara's research, stating, "We need to consider a bill requiring libraries to provide Wi-Fi to at least meet the FCC standard of 25 Mbps.” Senator Gooch invited Dees to test the new library being built in Dahlonega, after its completion.
Dees earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from KSU with a statistics minor.
Pictured: Dees and her research advisor, Susan Mathews Hardy, are pictured with Senator Gooch.
Aerospace Program Attains Siemens Software
SPCEET Receives Software Grant
September 25, 2019
SPCEET’s aerospace engineering program recently received a suite of Siemens software,
worth over $175,000. The software includes a robust Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
package STAR-CCM+ CFD Suite FloEFD, MotorSolve and EM Simulators, Teamcenter Product
Costing, and Fibersim.
The software will be implemented throughout various aerospace courses. In addition to using the software for classes, they will be employed by student design competition teams, including the Aerial Robotics Team (ART) that competes in the SAE Aero Design competitions, the IARC – International Aerial Robotics competition, and the AIAA Student Design Build Fly competition. The software will also be wielded by student researchers. SPCEET anticipates up to 100 students will benefit from the software each year.
The aerospace engineering minor is housed in the department of systems & industrial engineering. The minor is comprised of five courses, which are open to all engineering students. The courses include aerodynamics, aircraft design, aircraft propulsion, helicopter theory, and senior design project.
Recently, the program established an Aerospace Engineering Research Organization (AERO) laboratory. The laboratory is equipped with several high-power computers that are designated for aerospace applications. Availability of the software will familiarize students with Siemens software, enhance learning outcomes, promote research, mold a more robust AE program, and give rise to student competition teams creating superior designs.
A New Adventure and New Beginnings
Finding Your Wings at SPCEET
September 6, 2019
As the school year gets underway with the University welcoming a record-breaking number of freshmen students, celebrating with First Day of School Cake and launching the Find Your Wings campaign, it represents a new beginning for everyone in the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (SPCEET).
This fall, SPCEET embarks on a new adventure with newly appointed Dean Ian Ferguson,
a proven leader who brings with him a passion for student success and a strong track
record of academic and industry accomplishments. A prolific researcher, Ferguson has
collaborated with individuals and organizations across three continents, which has
resulted in more than 500 peer-reviewed journal articles and conference proceedings,
as well as numerous patents.
“It is a privilege and honor to be a part of SPCEET at a time of rapid growth and innovation,” Ferguson said. “I look forward to finding my own wings within a college already rich with history and well-respected across the region, as well as collaborating with the talented faculty and diverse student body.”
Ferguson added that he understands faculty and staff have the unique opportunity to transform the lives of students, encouraging them to gain from their experiences at SPCEET, so students may soar toward their dreams. This year, the College is welcoming several new faculty to the nest. The full-time tenure track faculty who have joined the College are:
- Dr. Coskun Tekes, Computer Engineering
- Dr. Billy Kihei, Computer Engineering
- Dr. Sylvia Bhattacharya, Electrical Engineering Technology
- Dr. Josh Tolbert, Mechanical Engineering Technology
- Dr. Yizeng Li, Mechanical Engineering
- Dr. Dal Hyung Kim, Mechanical Engineering
- Dr. Amir Ali Amiri Moghadam, Mechatronics Engineering
- Dr. Mahyar Amirgholy, Civil Engineering
- Dr. Parth Bhavsar, Civil Engineering
This list does not include the new brilliant limited term full-time faculty and new part-time faculty in all seven SPCEET departments. Additionally, SPCEET has been given nine new faculty positions that will be filled in the near future.
As in years past, students will be exposed to a multitude of research opportunities
alongside the College’s many talented faculty members. Mechanical engineering student
Carnell Tate said it’s just one way he can see the immediate social impact of his
studies.
“Undergraduate research is important to me because it contributes to the world's ever-growing knowledge pool and impacts the world,” Tate said. “More importantly, for the researcher, it allows us to apply current knowledge and transfer the skills we learn in the classroom into tangible results. My heart is imbued with gratitude towards Kennesaw State University. As a proud student, I look forward to furthering our impact in the academic community.”
Creating an environment where passion, eagerness, optimism and tenacity can thrive in order for students to realize their educational goals will be Ferguson’s focus in the upcoming academic year.
“SPCEET’s commitment to helping students discover their own path forward in their engineering education will leave clear mark in the world,” Ferguson said. “They will find their wings, soaring high and far, reimagining the world and shaping the future.”
Photos by David Caselli
The Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology at Kennesaw State University offers students hands-on learning experiences and produces Georgia’s next generation of work-ready engineers. It is the second largest engineering college in Georgia, serving more than 4,000 students and offering 20 undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering and engineering technology led by industry-expert faculty in the University’s state-of-the-art facilities.
SME Selects KSU Professor as 2019 Distinguished Faculty Advisor
SPCEET’s Simin Nasseri named
July 22, 2019
SME has selected a KSU academic leader to receive its 2019 Distinguished Faculty Advisor Award. This annual award, established in 2011, recognizes the SME’s student chapter faculty
advisor for both her service to the organization and ongoing efforts to advance manufacturing
and its associated careers on campus and in the classroom. 2019 Distinguished Faculty
Advisor named is Simin Nasseri, PhD, Professor.
“Our student faculty advisors play an important role in showcasing how vital the manufacturing industry is and how the advanced technology landscape is constantly evolving,” said Karl Haapala, PhD, 2019 chair of SME’s Student Relations Committee and associate professor and Tom and Carmen West Faculty Scholar at Oregon State University. “They are key to filling the critical manufacturing workforce pipeline and building the network of professionals within SME.”
With over 70 student chapters located through the U.S. and in 16 other countries, advisor Simin Nasseri is a dedicated on-campus volunteer who works in conjunction with SME’s professional chapter to secure funding, provide continuing education opportunities, and develop and enhance the leadership skills of her student members.
“When a student chapter has an active, engaged faculty advisor, students flourish,” said Edye S. Buchanan, CMfgT, 2019 chair of the SME Member Council and a product manager at BriskHeat. “The work performed by our faculty advisors is essential to connecting our future workforce to careers in manufacturing.”
As part of her recognition, she receives a monetary award that can be used for professional and/or student chapter development/activities. To learn more, click here.
About SME
SME connects manufacturing professionals, academia and communities, sharing knowledge and resources to build inspired, educated and prosperous manufacturers and enterprises. With more than 85 years of experience and expertise in events, media, membership, training and development, and also through the SME Education Foundation, SME is committed to promoting manufacturing technology, developing a skilled workforce and attracting future generations to advance manufacturing. Learn more at sme.org.
Plant Tour
Students Tour Anheuser-Busch
March 21, 2019
Supply Chain and Logistics professor Heather Lawder, took logistics students on a tour of Anheuser-Busch's bottling operations at the Cartersville facility where they got introduced to how their supply chain works. Two different tour groups went; one is pictured in the photo.
Engineering Technology Seniors Submit Abstract for NCUR
Impact Event Data Recorder
December 5, 2018
Five Engineering Technology seniors, James Thompson, Felix Febres, Najim Muhammad,
Jordan Gaines, and Christian Tiomo, submitted their research to the National Conference
on Undergraduate Research (NCUR). They completed their research on impact event data
recorder this semester, during their senior capstone course with Professor Daren Wilcox.
The National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) is the largest conference on undergraduate research in the country. Each year, approximately
4,000 undergraduates from all over the country present their scholarship as posters,
oral presentations, performances, and works of art.
The objective of their project is to produce an Impact Event Data Recorder (IEDR) to take pictures of the scene when a vehicle accident occurs. In addition to this capability, this IEDR will capture the values of an accelerometer sensor to analyze acceleration upon impact and time elapsed from the start of car drive until impact (assuming the car and IEDR go ON and OFF simultaneously). The accelerometer sensor parameters are selected based on high values of acceleration measured in “G” units (gravity). The accelerometer continuously monitors the acceleration of the vehicle and upon collision, if these pre-established values are reached, the system will trigger two cameras to take a series of pictures for a few seconds.
These images may be used by accident investigators to analyze collision data before coming to a conclusion about what caused the accident. The analysis of the images and the accelerometer sensor readings are intended to assist in increasing safety and protection to motor vehicle operators during road accidents. The investment made in this device is significantly less than a conventional Device Crash Data Retrieval installed by Bosch in cars such as Nissan, Volvo, and Toyota, among others.
Pictured from left to right: Najim Muhammad, Felix Febres, James E. Thompson, Jr. (Project Manager), and Jordan Gaines
Technology Square Field Trip
Computer Engineering Students toured Emerson and AT&T
October 26, 2018
The computer engineering students went on a technology square field trip.
Located in Midtown Atlanta, Tech Square has the highest density of startups, corporate innovators, and academic researchers in the entire southeastern United States. This makes it simple to benefit from the proximity to and interaction with other startups, researchers, labs, venture and capitalist. Students toured the Emerson and AT&T innovation centers and met with engineers and professionals to learn about what they do as well as emerging technologies.
Formula SAE Shootout
The KSU team set an all-time record
October 25, 2018
Congratulations to KSU Motorsports Formula SAE team for their stellar performance at the 5th Annual FSAE Shootout hosted by GSKA in Barnesville! There were five others schools present at this event, Clemson, Central Florida, Georgia Southern, Alabama, and Florida Atlantic. Open Testing began on Friday and the feature Race was on Saturday, from the very beginning it was a battle with Clemson for 1st place. The KSU team set an all-time lap record of 23.136, missing first place by 0.065 seconds! KSU Motorsports Formula SAE team came in second place. Henssler Financial was the team sponsor for this event.
Research Paper Accepted for Electrical Engineering Students
Their achievement will be presented at the EMBS Micro and Nanotechnology in Medicine Conference
September 27, 2018
Michael Nolan and Joseph Lee are co-authors of the paper entitled "Feasibility Study
of a Microfluidic Solenoid for Discrete Quantitation of Magnetized Cells." It has
been accepted for presentation at the EMBS Micro and Nanotechnology in Medicine Conference
(MNM 2018). The publication discusses microfluidic solenoid for discretely counting
white blood cells. “They did a tremendous job and put in a lot of work into the research
and the paper,” said Dr. Hosen Lee.
Nolan and Lee will be going to the conference and attending the presentations and talk with engineers, industry people, researchers, faculty, and other students to broaden their view and help provide more ideas on how to develop the research further. The conference is in Hawaii from December 10, 2018 to December 14, 2018. Read more about their research.
First Coca-Cola scholars cohort announced
Scholarships will support first-generation students at Kennesaw State
September 21, 2018
Four of the thirty-five Kennesaw State University students that have been selected
as the first cohort of the Coca-Cola First Generation and STEM Scholars program are
engineering students. They are Cristobal Gonzalez, Construction Engineering; Taofik
Lawal, Mechanical Engineering; Bradley Letchford, Electrical Engineering; and Keoni
McKeever, Civil Engineering.
Bathtub Gift Received in Name of Jordan
September 2018
Kennesaw State University recently received the unique gift of a bathtub in the name
of late alumnus and former adjunct professor Edward Jordan ’82. The tub was presented
to Renee Butler, interim dean of the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and
Engineering Technology.
Jordan earned an Bachelor's of Science in mechanical engineering technology in 1982 from what was then called Southern Technical Institute. After passing away in December 2017 at age 65, his wife, Shirley Jordan, and their close friend, Dwayne Whittle, wanted to provide a gift to the College and leave a legacy of the extremely popular bathtub races that took place in Marietta from 1966 through 1991.
Bathtub Race Throwback
KSU Motorsports Had a Day of Fun
Hosted by Henssler
July 23, 2018
Henssler Financial hosted KSU Motorsport team and recent alumni for a day at the Atlanta
Motorsports Park, in Dawsonville, GA, for a day of karting. Henssler hosted the event
to celebrate KSU Motorsports team, their work towards the competition in Lincoln,
NE, and the alumni. Congratulations to the winners – 1st Place: Robbie Lollar, 2nd
Place: Spencer Symons, 3rd Place: Troy Harmon.
Henssler S&P 500 Race and Celebration for KSU Motorsports
Pictured from left to right: Spencer Symons, Robbie Lollar, and Troy Harmon
Industrial Senior Project
Feasibility analysis
July 17, 2018
For their senior project class, industrial engineering technology students Tyler Trapp,
Damto Nhalocky Lare, and Aziz Amadou Dioffor were required to do a complete feasibility analysis of a new product line - in an existing manufacturing facility. The students performed
product design of 2 models including marketing analysis, product cost, and labor cost.
Tyler will graduate summer 2018 with his industrial engineering technology degree
and Damto and Aziz will graduate fall 2018 with their industrial engineering technology
degrees.
Pictured from left to right: Tyler Trapp, Damto Nhalocky Lare, and Aziz Amadou Dioffor
More than a Co-Op
Industrial engineering student named Shaw Industries May Co-Op of the Month
June 29, 2018
The Shaw Industries Co-Op of the Month for May is Laura Cottongim, an industrial engineering
student at Kennesaw State University, Laura works in the tufting department at Plant
80. She was nominated for Co-Op of the Month by her supervisor Tim Evans, industrial
engineering manager.
During her co-op, Laura has been the driving force behind a system that increases revolutions per minute and operator efficiency on all of their machinery. She has met with department managers, supervisors and other staff and gained enough support to implement this process on the operations floor.
“Laura was very enthusiastic and grateful to be placed on this project from the beginning,” said Tim. “She has managed to overcome every obstacle that has been put in front of her to get this project off the ground and running. She will begin training all of our associates next week and results should be seen immediately.”
Increasing the speed of the tufting process leads to an increase in production, resulting in a surplus of cost savings for Plant 80. The savings associated with a slight increase in this department would help them meet their overall goal for 2018.
“Shaw has given me the opportunity to fail and try again, as well as the resources I need to succeed,” Laura said. “One of my favorite things about my co-op is the people. I have always felt welcomed by someone who is willing to answer my questions with a smile,” she recalled. “If it weren't for the great people I have worked with, I wouldn't have had such a beneficial learning experience.”
Pictured above: Laura Cottongim, Industrial Engineering student
Story Credit: Shaw Industries
A Stellar Moment
Mechanical Engineering Technology Graduate Saves Company Millions
June 4, 2018
Jeffery Thomas, saved the day with knowledge he obtained from a Mechanical Engineering
Technology degree at KSU.
The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system incorporates computers, network data communications, and graphics. When the SCADA system at Pole Bridge began to fail, a replacement became necessary. The division discovered that the department's version of the program was outdated and stock parts were no longer being manufactured.
To remedy the issue, two engineering firms provided quotes in the range of several hundred thousand dollars for the design of a new system, while the actual construction would be in the millions. Jeffery Thomas quickly asked if he could inspect the broken system, as he had recently earned an engineering degree. Thomas was able to identify and match the outdated parts with the latest versions available on the market. He then secured the manufacturer's assistance to update the SCADA system's software - allowing the new parts to recognize Pole Bridge plant's old system. After a day of uploading software and replacing parts, the Pole Bridge SCADA system began working without error.
Because of Thomas' knowledge and resources, Pole Bridge has a fully functioning SCADA system, which saved the department millions of dollars in replacement costs. Thomas' determination to keep the plant operating correctly and his resolve to solve the problem quickly and efficiently saved the day.
Pictured above: Jeffery Thomas, Mechanical Engineering Technology graduate
Looking to the Future
Founding dean of engineering college Tom Currin to retire
May 22, 2018
When Tom Currin joined the former Southern College of Technology in 1991 as a professor
of civil engineering, he gave himself a two- to three-year window before he would
return to private consulting.
A few years earlier, he had left the private sector after achieving all of his goals in order to try his hand in academe at Western Kentucky University. Within six months of his hire date, he became chair of the university's Engineering Technology Department. Three years later, after constant prodding by a colleague, he made his way to Marietta to interview for another teaching position at Southern Tech.
“I came down and saw the campus and decided that if I was going to stay in teaching, this would be a great place to be,” Currin said. “It was a growing university and had a great reputation. I told myself that if it didn’t work out, the Atlanta metro area is an excellent place to go back into consulting.”
Currin never did return to consulting full time, and on June 30, he will retire as the founding dean of what is now Kennesaw State University's Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology following an illustrious 27-year career at the Marietta campus.
When Currin joined Southern Tech, a little more than 4,000 students were enrolled. There was no engineering college, just a handful of engineering technology programs. Through September 2006, Currin taught in the civil engineering technology department at Southern Polytechnic State University, and in October of that year became the founding dean of the School of Engineering. As part of the transformation into the state's second largest engineering school, he was tasked with initiating and obtaining national accreditation for the school's first undergraduate and graduate engineering programs.
“When we received accreditation, we did so without any negative findings,” said Currin, who previously served as an evaluator and commissioner of ABET, the primary accreditation agency for engineering education in the U.S. “All we received was praise. That never happens. What that tells the rest of the country is that we’re just as good as any other engineering school. We’ve always had the quality of students that would make extremely successful engineers, and we still do. That makes me proud.”
In the fall of 2015, SPSU consolidated with Kennesaw State, and Currin became dean of the newly formed Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology. Currently, the college offers more than 20 undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering and engineering technology. As of fall 2017, the college has more than 4,400 students.
Before he would consider retiring, Currin made a goal of creating master's degrees for each of the programs offered by the college. He succeeded in getting them in all programs except mechatronics, which he feels confident will come after his retirement.
While reaching for those goals, however, Currin had not anticipated burgeoning minors in nuclear and aerospace engineering and the creation of the Department of Computer Engineering. In 2016, he was named Georgia Engineer of the Year, an honor bestowed annually by the Georgia Society of Professional Engineers on only one of the state's 22,000 professional engineers. A plaque commemorating the honor hangs in his office behind his desk.
Though he holds professional engineering licenses in several states, including Massachusetts and Georgia, as well as graduate degrees in civil engineering from North Carolina State University and the University of Connecticut, Currin said he intends to enjoy retirement with his wife at their Marietta home, where he hopes to entertain friends and family.
“We may take on some writing and music projects,” said Currin, who played drums in a rock band while earning his undergraduate degree at the University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth.
Those who have worked with him over the years say his absence will be felt.
“Under his leadership, many of us learned how to become effective leaders by navigating so many diverse areas,” said Lance Crimm, chair of KSU’s Department of Electrical Engineering. “Tom has done too many things for us to list them all. He looks toward the future with incredible vision, and we will miss him tremendously.”
-Travis Highfield
Leadership and Professional Development Workshop
Students hear from QTS Data centers vice president
May 2018
The Computer Engineering department and IAB member, Dave Burns, VP of QTS Data centers,
collaborated to bring students a half-day professional development workshop to teach
interpersonal and leadership skills. Many walked away excited with a framework and
set of tools to kick-start their career. One of the participants said, "The class
helped me highlight the areas I need to grow in order to be a better leader and team
player. I greatly value the practical tips given through the seminar such as how to
make a good first impression, speeches, and public speaking." Another student shared
how he got a job from Lockheed Martin because of a successful interview with many
discussion points on leadership and temawork.
Pictured: Students and speakers posing at the Leadership workshop.
Nuclear Power Plant Tour
Students minoring in nuclear engineering visit Plant Vogtle
April 26, 2018
KSU students pursuing a nuclear engineering minor visited Plant Vogtle in Waynesboro, GA.
The Vogtle Electric Generation Plant is located adjacent to the South Carolina border, in Waynesboro Georgia. The two-unit plant broke ground in 1974, with its first commercial operation beginning in May of 1987. Unit two started commercial operation in May of 1989. The plant is powered by Westinghouse pressurized water reactors and each unit is capable of generating 1,215 megawatts for a total capacity of 2,430 megawatts. Plant Vogtle employs approximately 900 people who oversee the plant's operations around the clock.
This experience expanded the students' knowledge far beyond the classroom. They toured training reactor control rooms for old reactors (units 1& 2) as well as new reactors, AP1000(units 3 & 4, currently under construction).
In addition, they were able to observe the main nuclear reactors components- including the 548-ft cooling towers. Students who participated in the tour are pursuing majors in mechanical engineering, mechanical engineering technology, electrical engineering, and systems and industrial engineering.
Engineering Receives a $69K Grant
Dr. Lee and Dr. Diong secure funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
April 2018
Dr. Hoseon Lee and Dr. Bill Diong seek to reduce energy use by wireless power transfer.
They have obtained a $69K grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to do
so. This project develops a method of replacing power cables in aircrafts with wireless
power transfer systems that are lighter and reduce the weight of the plane. This reduction
factor per plane multiplied by the total number of flights in the world, results in
a substantial reduction in fuel used during flights. This reduction in aircraft weight
and fuel consumption will support the goal of improving air quality, while also having
the potential to support the aircraft industry with more environmental efficient technology
and practices- resulting in decrease emissions.
Image source: EPA - United States Environmental Protection Agency
Industry Seminar
Students attend seminar by The Dennis Group
April 2018
In April, one of the Computer Engineering IAB members from The Dennis Group - a consulting
and design firm in the industrial automation and process control industry - gave a
technical seminar to 45+ students. They were intrigued to hear about building an automation
plant to manufacture thousands of pizzas per day. Senior Manager, David Ziskind said,
"It's a pleasure for us to come here and share with Kennesaw State University students
some real world applications and career aspects in this industry."
Pictured: Zac Messer, Automation engineer at Dennis Group, demonstrated PLC device at the industry seminar.
Giving back to Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology
Give opportunity, Invest in KSU Engineering
November 6, 2017
Kennesaw State University’s Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (SPCEET) students are scholars you would appreciate. Oftentimes, they are married with a family and still pursue their education, on a full-time basis – while holding down a job.
While today’s students carry on many of SPCEET’s traditions, the cost of their education is certainly higher than it used to be. In Georgia, full-time undergraduate students (12 or more credit hours per semester) currently pay $4,476 per semester in tuition and fees.
Join us in supporting our students and programs by:
- Making an online gift via our secure online giving site.
- Making a gift via mail. Please remember to designate your gift to KSU’s Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology on the “For” line of your check.
- Putting your matching gift program to work, if a company that matches employees’ gifts employs you.
For more information on establishing an endowed scholarship or including SPCEET in your estate plans, please contact:
Kit Trensch
Director of Development
Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology
ktrensch@kennesaw.edu
(678) 925-3678 (cell)
Students take plant tour
Systems & Industrial engineering students visit Anheuser-Busch
October 25, 2017
Systems & Industrial professor, Dr. Christina Scherrer took here undergraduate logistics students on a tour of the Anheuser-Busch facility in Cartersville, GA. Students had the opportunity to walk around the facility and get a real-world experience of the industry.
KSU's Motorsports Formula SAE Team brings home a win
Team competes in the 4th annual FSAE match race
October 24, 2017
Kennesaw State University’s Motorsports Formula SAE Team traveled to Lamar County Speedway on Saturday, October 29th for the 4th annual FSAE match race hosted by the Georgia Sprint Karting Association. The FSAE team won fastest Georgia FSAE team and second overall.
Photo Credit: KSU Motorsports Formula SAE Instagram
KSU's Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) student chapter is doing big things
October 13, 2017
KSU juniors and officers of the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) student chapter,
Addie Thornton (President, Civil Engineering major and Construction Management minor)
and Adam Minor (Vice President, Construction Management major with a concentration
in Land Development), recently attended the World Energy Engineering Congress (WEEC),
held at the Georgia World Congress Center September 27-29, 2017, where they each were
presented with a $1,000 AEE scholarship and had the opportunity to meet former President
George W. Bush. Adam is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served under President Bush.
The KSU AEE student chapter is an organization which enables students to promote the scientific and educational interests in the fields sustainability and energy by offering informational meetings with industry professionals, scholarships, internships, conferences and certification opportunities.
Addie and Adam have worked diligently to grow the new student chapter, which began in October 2016, under the supervision of their advisor, Prof. Jacqueline Stephens, with additional guidance from Darrel Sandlin and Dan Shabo from the local Georgia AEE chapter.
The student chapter already has an impressive twenty three members and has held eleven events, including presentations from energy professionals, organization fairs and an international student chapter luncheon. Student chapter members are also welcome to attend the local AEE Georgia chapter monthly speaker meetings.
On October 16th KSU AEE will tour the Dekalb County Landfill to learn about how methane gas can be converted to energy.
For more information about KSU AEE please visit their OwlLife page here.
Pictured above left to right: Bernadette Ogunmuto (AEE KSU Member), Steve Waldron (AEE KSU Member), Addie Thornton (AEE KSU President), Professor Stephens (AEE KSU Advisor), Andres Peres (AEE KSU Member), Damari Weaver (AEE KSU Member), Jacob Barron (AEE KSU Member)
Industrial Engineering Professor Wins Award
Dr. Christina Scherrer receives the 2017 Outstanding Research and Creative Activity Award
September 29, 2017
Dr. Christina Scherrer has been selected as a recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Research
and Creative Activity Award. She is a professor in the Systems and Industrial Engineering
department in the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology
and has been faculty since 2005.
Christina Scherrer’s primary research has been in the application of industrial engineering to the public sector, especially public health. Federal and state agencies, state dental directors, and the governor’s office to inform policy – both in Georgia and nationally have used her work. She has collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and with the Georgia Health Policy Center. Recently she served on a systematic review for the Community Preventive Services Task Force of the cost effectiveness of school based dental sealant programs.
The Outstanding Research and Creative Activity Awards are designed to encourage, reward, and publicly acknowledge sustained excellence in research and creative activity by members of Kennesaw State University’s faculty. The award recognizes excellence in the visual and performing arts, in the publication of scholarly work, in the completion of research and sponsored projects, and in the development of new and innovative ideas in research, and creative activities.
Any full-time teaching faculty with an earned terminal degree and minimum of 5 years of service at Kennesaw State University, with a total of 10 years of higher education experience, is eligible to apply for the award. Each award consists of $10,000 and a plaque, with up to eight awards presented annually.
To be awarded, the candidate must demonstrate a sustained record of research or creative activity and an impact on his or her field of study. The selection committee looks for originality, creativity, productivity, and for an outstanding body of scholarly or creative activities that has gained national and international recognition.
Dr. Christina Scherrer was recognized at the University’s annual Honors and Awards Ceremony at the beginning of fall semester, for Engineering Applications.
Pictured above left to right: Dr. Ken Harmon, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Kennesaw State University; Dr. Christina Scherrer, Professor of Systems and Industrial Engineering; Dr. Samuel S. Olens, President of Kennesaw State University
Gift-in-Kind to benefit Surveying and Mapping students
Two SubSurface Magnetic Locator instruments
September 5, 2017
Terry Nutt, of Leica Geosystems Solution Center, presented two SubSurface Magnetic
Locator instruments to Professor Daniel Branham of Kennesaw State University’s Southern
Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology for the Department of
Civil and Construction Engineering on August 24, 2017.
This gift of equipment will benefit students in their hands-on fieldwork as they progress toward their B.S. degree in Surveying and Mapping, the only BS program for surveying offered in the state of Georgia.
Kennesaw State University’s Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology appreciates this generous gift-in-kind from Leica Geosystems Solution Center and SubSurface Instruments, Inc.
AIAA Competition
Aerospace Engineering students win award
September 5, 2017
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) holds an annual student
aircraft design competition. This competition has several categories – for undergraduate
and graduate students. In Spring 2017, a group of three Kennesaw State University
(KSU) students, pursuing minor in Aerospace Engineering, submitted their design for
the competition. They designed a multi-mission amphibian aircraft that is capable
of taking off and landing from water or ground and accomplish three pre-defined missions.
As part of their design, the students built Computer Aided Design (CAD) models and
performed Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) analysis as well as multiple other disciplinary
analyses. Dozens of teams from all over the world submit their designs for the competition.
The KSU team designed their aircraft as part of their senior design project and won
an overall second place award – in the undergraduate category submitted. The award
comes with cash prizes and certificates.
The announcement was made by AIAA:
http://www.aiaa.org/WinningReports2016-2017/
KSU offers a minor in Aerospace Engineering. The minor is open to all engineering students.
Computer Engineering Open House
Students and professors converse about the new department
August 23, 2017
New and prospective Computer Engineering (CpE) students, along with faculty members
from the CpE department as well as other departments, celebrated the official commencement
of the CpE department.
Students were able to interact with other students and become acquainted with fellow professors in the department. They were also able to ask questions about the new major as well as view the projects displayed around the department. “I really appreciate this opportunity to meet with the faculty and staff. This is exciting,” said one of the student visitors. This celebration included refreshments and a chance for students to win awesome prizes, like a Raspberry Pi!
Alumna speaks at Summer Commencement
CEO of Jabo Industries was the 10:00 am ceremony presenter
August 18, 2017
The Honorable LaDoris “Dot” Harris and Dean Thomas Currin were featured at the July
28th commencement ceremonies for Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering
Technology graduates. Dot provided the commencement address for the 10:00 AM ceremony.
Dot Harris graduated from the University of South Carolina with a BS in Electrical Engineering and earned her MS in Technology Management from Southern Polytechnic State University.
She has more than 25 years of leadership in corporate America, ranging from engineer to corporate officer. From April 2012 through January 2017, Dot served as the Director of the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity at the U.S. Department of Energy - under President Barack Obama. She also served in an assistant secretary level position at the Department of Energy.
Dot is the Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Jabo Industries - a successful minority-woman owned engineering management consulting firm concentrated primarily in the energy, information technology, logistics, and healthcare industries.
KSU Motorsports competes
FSAE Student Design Competition – Lincoln, Nebraska
July 7, 2017
Kennesaw State University’s Motorsports Formula SAE Team traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska
– to compete with over 100 universities in the FSAE Student Design Competition, June
21 -24. Approximately 80 teams competed in the Internal Combustion category and 20
teams competed in the Formula Electric category.
KSU Motorsports competed in the Internal Combustion category. For the fourth year in a row, they brought home a trophy. This year they brought home 3rd place for cost, which is the third year in a row KSU Motorsports has brought home a trophy for cost – showing their steadfast ability to manage their costs in a highly competitive environment. Overall, the team finished 59th – ahead of local rival, Georgia Tech.
