Home > 25th Anniversary Celebration

1983-2008
25th Anniversary Celebration

The Department of Polymer Engineering will begin 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 will include a symposium by alumni, presentation of the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award, a poster session, building tours, and a roundtable involving several distinguished speakers. Opportunities to socialize will include a family picnic, reception and banquet.

Please register now to join us as we honor this important milestone in University of Akron history.

Click here to download the brochure
for the 25th Anniversary Celebration

Organizing Committee

• Dr. Avraam Isayev, Chair - aisayev@uakron.edu
• Dr. Kevin Cavicchi - kac58@uakron.edu
• Cheryl Collins - cac32@uakron.edu
• Cameron Fraser - cfraser@uakron.edu
• Dr. Hendrik Heinz - hh29@uakron.edu
• Marcinda Jackson - mj4@uakron.edu
• Dr. Sadhan Jana - janas@uakron.edu
• Todd Lewis - tml4@uakron.edu
• Kent Marsden - kent1@uakron.edu
• Sarah Thorley - sarah3@uakron.edu
• Dr. James L. White - mj4@uakron.edu

Tentative Schedule of Events

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

Registration

Please print and fill out the registration form available on the brochure: 25th Anniversary Brochure.

Hotel Information

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

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