College of Engineering Celebrates Alumni; Jones Inducted Into Hall of Fame

Photo Submitted

Front row, from left: Bob Etien, Thomas Wright, Deva Hupaylo, J.R. Jones, Michael Elmore, Cristine Wolf and Michael Blinzler. Back row: Tracie Nutter, Steven Danforth, Royce Floyd, Kyle Kruger, Scott Bennett, Ben Rainwater, Willie Montgomery III, Brian Rowden and Alfonso Camerlingo.

More than 200 alumni, family and friends of the College of Engineering gathered April 13 to celebrate the accomplishments of the college's graduates.

The Annual Alumni Awards Banquet brings together alumni from all eight departments within the College of Engineering to recognize graduates who have achieved distinction in their fields since graduating from the University of Arkansas.

Hall of Fame

Established in 1965, the Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed by the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas. The award recognizes prominent graduates and leaders who have made outstanding contributions to the engineering profession and society as a whole. Members of the Hall of Fame have, throughout their careers, made a difference to the engineering profession and demonstrated concern for improving their communities. Their achievements have brought favorable attention to the College of Engineering, the University of Arkansas and the state of Arkansas.

Inductee:

• Joe Ray "J.R." Jones, B.S.M.E.'82
  Executive Chairman, Rheem Manufacturing Company

Distinguished Alumni Award

The College of Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award honors the exceptional professional and personal achievements of the University of Arkansas College of Engineering graduates. Recipients have achieved distinction in their fields and have provided outstanding leadership and service to the College of Engineering, and to the organizations and communities to which these distinguished alumni belong. Recipients were:

• Scott E. Bennett, B.S.C.E.'89, M.S.C.E.'94
  Director, Arkansas Department of Transportation
• Michael W. Blinzler, M.S.O.M.'10
  Chief Information Officer, Leggett & Platt
• Steven D. Danforth, B.S.Ag.E.'80
  Principal and President, Agri Process Innovations
• Michael Elmore, B.S.C.S.'86
• Bob Etien, B.S.I.E.'66
  World-Wide Manager, Total Cycle Time Motors Business, General Electric Co. (Retired)
• Deva Antoinete Hupaylo, B.S.Ch.E.'80
  Financial Manager, Merrill Lynch
• Cristine Wolf, B.S.M.E.'83
  Senior Project Leader, Launch Directorate, National Systems Group, The Aerospace Corporation
• Thomas J. Wright, B.S.E.E.'68, M.S.E.E.'70
  Senior Vice President, Mergers and Acquisitions, Entergy Corporation (retired)

Early Career Award

The Early Career Alumni Award is presented to College of Engineering graduates who are achieving distinction in their fields and show significant promise for professional leadership in state, national and international activities. These individuals have served in their industries for 15 years or less. Recipients were:

• Alfonso Camerlingo, M.S.O.M.'14
  Director, Global Supply Chain, Walmart
• Royce W. Floyd, P.E., B.S.C.E.'08, Ph.D.'12
  Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator, University of Oklahoma
• Kyle Kruger, P.E., B.S.B.E.'05, M.S.En.E.'09
  Oklahoma Plant Team Leader, Garver
• Willie Montgomery III, B.S.I.E.'04, M.S.I.E.'09
  Senior Director, Data Science and Advanced Analytics, Walmart
• Ben Harris Rainwater, Ph.D., P.E., B.S.M.E.'10
  Design Engineer, Brown Engineers, LLC.
• Brian Rowden, M.S.E.E.'05, Ph.D.'10
  Senior Application Engineer-Americas, Danfoss Silicon Power-U.S.
• Tracie Stauffer Nutter, B.S.Ch.E.'04
  Business Manager, KOH, OxyChem