Academy of Distinguished Alumni
As a way of recognizing the accomplishments and careers of our outstanding alumni, the Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering established the Academy of Distinguished Alumni in 2004. The Academy’s purpose is to recognize high-achieving mechanical engineers from among the UT Austin community and from the engineering community at large, to champion the mechanical engineering profession, and to build a strong community and facilitate interactions among our students, faculty, alumni and corporate partners.
- Outstanding Young Mechanical Engineer. These members must be 40 years old or younger and have shown outstanding work in their field, plus be promising leaders for the future. They must have a strong commitment and interest in the University and the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
- Distinguished Mechanical Engineer. These members must be over the age 40 and have proven superior professional achievement, community service, and service to the University. These alumni are role models for all to follow and their example of distinguished professional practice deserves recognition.
- Mechanical Engineering Hall Of Fame. Members in this category are alumni who are retired or near-retirement with outstanding career records. This award recognizes sustained and meritorious contributions of distinguished professional practice.
- Honorary Mechanical Engineer. Recipients of this award are non-UT ME alumni who have made major contributions to the engineering profession and whose support of the Department of Mechanical Engineering merits recognition.
- Charter Members of the Academy. These are individuals who have been honored by The University of Texas at Austin or Cockrell School of Engineering as Distinguished Alumni are automatically inducted into the Mechanical Engineering Academy of Distinguished Alumni. These individuals have served the profession of engineering, The University of Texas, the Cockrell School of Engineering, and the Department of Mechanical Engineering with great distinction.
Kim Ess, President
Amanda Dodd, Vice President
Don Siegel, Secretary
Greg Smith, Membership Committee Lead
Board of Directors
Fred Buckingham
Glenn Gilkey
Dale Klein
Class of 2025 Honorees
Shatel Bhatka
B.S.M.E., University of Texas at Austin, 1999M.S. Space Architecture, University of Houston, 2007
Bunker Hill
B.S. PHY, Texas A&M University, 1991M.S.M.E., University of Texas at Austin, 1993
Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, 1997
Larry Keast
B.S.M.E., University of Texas at Austin, 1967
Marc Polanka
B.S.M.E., University of Dayton, 1992M.S.M.E., Stanford University, 1993
Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, 1999
Vivek Sakhrani
B.S.M.E., The University of Texas at Austin, 2008M.S. Technology and Policy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2010
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2015
H. Davis Thames
B.S.M.E., University of Texas at Austin, 1989M.S.M.E., Texas A&M University, 1991
M.B.A., University of California Los Angeles, 1999
Tim Van Pham
B.S.M.E., University of Texas at Austin, 1994ADA Members List
Get to know all our members dating back to the founding of the academy in 2004.
Support the Academy
There are two ways to give back to Academy of Distinguished Alumni with tax deductible donation.
Endowed Excellence Fund
A growing fund, intended to generate enough income to support the annual awards banquet
Operating Fund
The main source for funding ADA activities including the Success Exchange, Byron Short Lecture, the recognition wall and the annual awards banquet