Academy of Distinguished Alumni

2024 class of the mechanical engineering 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.

VIEW THE CLASS OF 2024 HONOREES 

The Academy recognizes alumni in five categories:

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.

Giving to the ME ADA 

With your donations the Academy supports several activities in the Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, like the Byron Short Lecture Series, in which many Academy members have participated as speakers to share their stories with the students and faculty. We also maintain the Academy alumni recognition wall that has your biographies on display, and we host the induction banquet each fall. We host the Success Exchange each Spring with the ASME student chapter where Academy members sit on a moderated panel to answer questions and share their insights. And this year we have added the Mentoring program. We would not be able to do these things without the generous support of our Academy Members through their time and finances.  

The Academy has two funds to which we would like you to consider making a tax deductible contribution.  First is the ME Academy of Distinguished Alumni Endowed Excellence Fund. This endowment was started 3 short years ago with the goal to create a fund that would generate enough income each year to pay for our annual banquet and other Academy activities.  In this short time, the fund balance has grown to a market value of $86,000. The second is the ME Academy of Distinguished Alumni Operating Fund, which is the primary source of funds for the Academy Member wall maintenance, the fall induction banquet, the Success Exchange and the mentoring program. We can’t do the things we do without your generous contributions to this fund. 

GIVE TO THE ENDOWED EXCELLENCE FUND

GIVE TO THE OPERATING FUND