Herff College of Engineering Award Honors April 1
For release: April 1, 2003
For press information, contact Gabrielle Maxey

The Herff College of Engineering honored its outstanding alumnus, faculty and staff at a dinner Tuesday, April 1, at 6 p.m. at The University of Memphis Holiday Inn.

Dr. Rick A. Smith is the Outstanding Alumnus for 2003. An associate physician with the Mid-South Urology Group, he graduated magna cum laude from The U of M. As an engineering student, he was president of Tau Beta Pi and charter president of Alpha Delta Society, the pre-med honor society. He earned his MD degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in 1983. Smith is active with The U of M, serving on the Electrical Engineering Advisory Board and with the Highland Hundred.

The Distinguished Service in Engineering Award will go to Donald O. Barber, senior vice president of air operations for FedEx Express and a past recipient of Engineering's Outstanding Alumnus Award; to Carol Ferguson, former academic adviser for the Herff College, who served an estimated 6,000 students during her career; and to three trustees of the Herbert Herff Trust, a major supporter of programs and students in the college: George Cates, William B. Rudner, and Dr. R. Eugene Smith, who served as vice president for business and finance at The U of M for 19 years until his retirement in 2000.

Dr. Paul J. Palazolo, assistant professor of civil engineering, will receive the Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award. Patricia Vasser, administrative secretary in mechanical engineering, will be honored with the Outstanding Staff Award. Dr. Jae-Young Rho will receive a posthumous award for Outstanding Faculty Research.

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