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For Immediate Release

Edited by: Nancy A. Bremer, university relations and communications, 260-481-6808

Media contact: Suleiman Ashur, professor of engineering and coordinator of the Civil Engineering program at IPFW, 260-481-6080

First Civil Engineering Degrees Conferred at IPFW

(Fort Wayne, May 19, 2009) -- The Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) Department of Engineering has awarded its first Bachelor in Science in Civil Engineering (B.S.C.E.) degrees to Bradly T. McNair of Taswell, Ind., and Wayne Richardson of Hanover Park, Ill. In addition to earning their degrees, both minored in mathematics.

“Graduating our first civil engineering students is a real milestone for IPFW and the community. I could not be more proud of Brad and Wayne; they are excellent representatives of our department,” stated Professor Donald Mueller, chair of the IPFW Department of Engineering.

During his time at IPFW, Bradly McNair served as president of the IPFW chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). This year, he led the IPFW team to a second-place win in the Wastewater Treatment division of an Environmental Engineering competition, held during the ASCE conference at the University Notre Dame. In addition, his development of a tool that simplifies the process of highway design won the Best Paper award at an engineering education conference 2008. McNair is currently working with Mohammad Alhassan, assistant professor of engineering at IPFW, on a project to develop low-cost, long-lasting materials for bridge surfaces under a grant funded by the Illinois Center for Transportation at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. During his undergraduate studies McNair worked for the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) through the IPFW cooperative education program. He will begin a full-time position this month as an INDOT construction engineer.

While a student, Wayne Richardson worked as a teaching assistant for an engineering design class and as an intern for Bertsch-Frank and Associates, LLC: Land Surveying and Land Planning. He was also active as the ASCE treasurer as well as serving as a mentor to new engineering students. Richardson has a distinguished record of academic achievement, earning the Chancellor’s Distinguished Scholarship as well as the College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science Scholarship for Excellence. He has also been active in the community as a youth baseball coach and a National Engineering Week Future City competition judge. This summer he will be employed by Walsh Construction on a $128 million road construction project in Georgia. This fall he will begin graduate studies at Purdue West Lafayette, where he plans to earn a degree in transportation engineering.

“Brad and Wayne’s record of achievement and excellence is inspiring. They are another IPFW success story,” stated Suleiman Ashur, professor of engineering at IPFW and the student’s advisor.

IPFW initiated a civil engineering program in fall 2006 as a response to regional needs. The program requires the study of mathematics, physics, and chemistry in addition to their engineering curriculum. The coursework includes structural analysis and design, transportation engineering, construction engineering and management, soil mechanics, hydraulics, and environmental engineering. This suite of courses prepares students to plan, analyze, design, construct, and maintain the nation’s infrastructure, including highways, bridges, airports, and large municipal structures such as wastewater treatment facilities. For more information about the IPFW Civil Engineering program, visit www.engr.ipfw.edu or contact the program coordinator, Professor Suleiman Ashur, ashurs@engr.ipfw.edu or 260-481-6080. Downloadable images of McNair and Richardson can be found at www.ipfw.edu/news/resources/downloads.

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