ITE Students Shine During the Summer at U of M
For release: September 20, 2010
For press information, contact Dr. Stephanie Ivey, 901-678-3286

With the new fall semester underway, students from the University of Memphis (U of M) ITE chapter have plenty to reflect upon besides the typical summer vacation activities. Their summer was filled with activities such as research, mentoring, volunteering and attending ITE events.

This summer, two U of M ITE chapter members were awarded MemphiSTEM undergraduate Research Fellowships.  Stephen Edwards and Jason Dittrich received this National Science Foundation (NSF) funded fellowship to conduct research in their field.  Several chapter members worked and volunteered at two summer programs for middle and high-school aged students, Girls Experiencing Engineering (GEE) and Transportation Engineering Careers (TREC), where they mentored students participating in hands-on engineering design projects.  Chapter members also worked as college mentors for the MemphiSTEM summer program Math Bootcamp, which helps in-coming or current science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) majors at U of M to sharpen their math skills during a two-week long program.

U of M ITE chapter members traveled across the state this summer to attend ITE Tennessee Section (TSITE) meeting where student chapter member and past Vice-President, Jeffery Karafa, was honored as the undergraduate paper competition winner.  Jeffery was also awarded the William L. Moore, Jr. Student  Scholarship for his outstanding commitment to ITE.

The chapter also participated in continuing education by hosting sites for two Webinars; creating an atmosphere for local transportation professional and students to interact.  To read more about the University of Memphis ITE chapter, click here.

U of M ITE Student Chapter Secretary Lindsey Thomas (left foreground), looks on as GEE students prepare for the Transportation Final Challenge.

ITE Student Chapter member Patrice Thomas with GEE Transportation Focus Session participants.

From L to R Stephen Edwards (U of M ITE Treasurer), Ethan Skaggs (U of M ITE President), and Hisham Gnedy (U of M ITE VP) compete in the Southern District ITE Traffic Bowl competition at the annual meeting in April 2010.  The meeting was held in Portsmouth, VA.