Home > 25th Anniversary Celebration
The Department of Polymer Engineering held a three-day celebration on Aug. 6, 2008, in honor of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the polymer engineering program at The University of Akron. In 1983, the Akron Polymer Engineering Center (APEC) was established under the leadership of Dr. James L. White. The Department of Polymer Engineering came into existence one year later. In 1989, APEC was renamed the Institute of Polymer Engineering.
The celebration included a symposium by alumni, presentation of the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award, a poster session, building tours, a roundtable involving several distinguished speakers, a family picnic, reception and banquet.
The celebration was a great success and pictures from the events are below:
Thanks to all of those that worked so hard to make this event possible and to all of those that came!
Click here to download the brochure
for the 25th Anniversary Celebration
WEDNESDAY, August 6, 2008
Noon - 7 p.m.
Family Picnic at Munroe Falls Metro Park
Amenities include lake swimming, children's play area, soccer field, paddleboat rental, and basketball, volleyball and tennis courts. Complimentary shuttle service will be provided between the Polymer Engineering Academic Center and the park.
THURSDAY, August 7, 2008
8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Registration and refreshments - Student Union, second floor
Check-in, on-site registration, parking permits, Continental Breakfast
8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
Welcome and Introductions - Student Union Theatre
Dr. Avraam Isayev - Distinguished Professor and Event Chair
Dr. Stephen Z.D. Cheng - Dean, College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering
8:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
Featured Speaker - Student Union Theatre
Dr. Luis Proenza - President, The University of Akron
"Science, Technology and Economics"
9:20 a.m. - Noon
Alumni Symposium - Student Union Theatre (speakers below)
9:20 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Rochelle Woods - (M.S. 1992)
Technical Service and Development Leader - North America, Dow Water Solutions, Dow Chemical Company
"Keys to Success in Corporate America - Tales from a Mother Who Happens to Work"
9:50 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
Suresh Swaminathan - (M.S. 1988)
Vice President, TPE Division
Teknor Apex Company, Rhode Island
"Innovation Pushing Boundaries"
10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Coffee Break - Student Union, second floor
10:30 a.m. - 10:55 a.m.
Dr. Chi Wang - (Ph.D. 1992)
Professor, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
"Some Interesting Findings in the Electrospinning of Polymer Solutions"
11:00 a.m. - 11:25 a.m.
Boonharn Ou-Udomying - (M.S. 1993)
Executive Director, Saeng Thai Rubber Company, Thailand
"Thailand Rubber Industry"
11:30 a.m. - 11:55 a.m.
Dr. Andrew Guenthner - (Ph.D. 2000)
Head, Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering Branch,
U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center, California
"Nonlinear Optical Polymeric Materials and Devices for Navy Applications"
12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Alumni Luncheon and Awards - Student Union Ballrooms A & B
Dr. Sadhan Jana, - Department Chair
Awards and Recognition Presentation
- Presentation of the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award
- Special Recognition - Millie Pearson
- Special Recognition - Dr. James L. White
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Tours - of the Polymer Engineering Academic Center (PEAC) and Sidney L. Olson Research Center (OLRC)
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Poster Presentations - Student Union Ballrooms C & D
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Reception - Student Union, Outside Ballroom A
Music by Dan Murphy
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Banquet - Ballrooms A & B
Dr. Elizabeth Stroble - Featured Speaker
Senior Vice President and Provost, Chief Operating Officer, The University of Akron
FRIDAY, August 8, 2008
8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Registration and refreshments - Student Union, second floor
Check-in, on-site registration, parking permits, Continental Breakfast
8:30 a.m. - 8:40 a.m.
Welcome and Introductions - Student Union Theatre
Dr. Avraam Isayev - Distinguished Professor and Event Chair
8:40 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Roundtable: Global Competition - Student Union Theatre
Moderators:
Dorothy Baunach - President and CEO of NorTech
Dr. Erol Sancaktar - Professor
Participants:
Joseph M. Gingo - President and Chief Executive Officer, A. Shulman, Inc.
Dr. Frank N. Kelley - Dean Emeritus, College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, the University of Akron
Dr. Jean-Claude Kihn - Senior Vice President and Chief Technical Officer, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Dr. Thomas Stanley - General Manager of Plastics Technology, SABIC Innovative Plastics
Thomas A. Waltermire - Chief Executive Officer, Team NEO
10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Coffee Break - Student Union, second floor
Roundtable resumes after break.
11:30 a.m.
Closing and Thank You
Dr. Avraam Isayev
Please print and fill out the registration form available on the brochure: 25th Anniversary Brochure.
Please contact one of the participating hotels below if you need a hotel reservation.
Quaker Square Inn at The University of Akron (one block from campus)
135 South Broadway St.
Akron, OH 44308
Phone 330-253-5970
www.quakersquare.com
Radisson Hotel Akron City Centre (3 blocks from campus)
20 West Mill Street
Akron, OH 44308
Phone 330-384-1500
www.radisson.com/akronoh_westmill
Additional area hotels:
Country Inn and Suites (3.9 miles)
1420 Main Street
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221
Phone 330-926-1233
www.countryinns.com/cuyahogafallsoh
Sheraton Suites Akron/Cuyahoga Falls (4.9 miles)
1989 Front Street
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221
Phone 330-929-3000
www.sheraton.com
Four Points Sheraton Suites Akron West (6.6 miles)
3150 West Market St.
Akron, OH 44333
Phone 330-869-9000
www.sheraton.com
Hilton Akron/Fairlawn (6.7 miles)
3180 West Market Street
Akron, OH 44333
Phone 330-867-5000
www.hilton.com
Courtyard Akron/Montrose (13 miles)
100 Springside Drive
Akron, OH 44333
Phone 330-668-9090
www.courtyard.com
© 2009 by The University of Akron - Contact Us
Address:
Department of Polymer Engineering
Polymer Engineering
Academic Center
The University of Akron
Akron, OH 44325-0301
Phone: 330-972-5281
Fax: 330-258-2339