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Dr. Gary S. Clevinger, Sr.
Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Dr. Gary S. Clevinger, Sr., earned three degrees from the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Virignia Tech in the 1970s. He was an energetic student, lettering in track, performing in the University band, and taking on a leadership role in the Cotillion Club. He was also active in community affairs. Following graduation, Dr. Clevinger began his career with Babcock and Wilcox.

Following his untimely death in 1991, Dr. Clevinger's family established a scholarship in his memory in 1998. The scholarship is designed to benefit graduate students pursuing materials-related disciplines who also received a B.S. in materials from Virginia Tech. Each student is selected based on "scholastic achievement, good character, and demonstrated leadership potential."

2003
Bryan Dickerson (B.S. '95, M.S. '97) is currently working on a doctoral degree in MSE. Bryan is a firm believer in service; "Holding to principles despite personal cost builds character," Bryan says. "Service to those less fortunate demonstrates faith in God." To this end, "I try to balance academic work and family life with dynamic faith and community service."

Before beginning work on his doctorate, Bryan and his family traveled to Bangladesh with the Mennonite Central Committeen. From 1998 through 1999, the Dickersons worked to improve the lives of Muslim widows and abandoned mothers through a variety of projects. Bryan led a team of 8 Bangladeshi, American, and Canadian engineers and technicians. One project involved developing safe alternatives to carcinogenic dyes used at MCC’s papermaking cooperatives where many widows worked. When much of Bangladesh suffered severe flooding in August 1998, Bryan’s team worked to design home construction methods that would be flood resistant and acceptable in the culture. Their design was implemented by about 50 families.

Bryan is now involved in doctoral work with Dr. Louis Guido in MSE. His research will evaluate gallium nitride use in short-wavelength communication and diagnostics lasers. He continues reaching out to those in need through his work with the Mattapon Indian Reservation in Richmond and through a home renovation project for a mother and child recovering from domestic violence.

2002
Keith Knipling (MSE '98) is finishing his master's thesis investigating high-cycle fatigue/low-cycle fatigue interactions in Ti-6Al-4V under the tutelage of Drs. Norman Dowling and Steve Kampe. Prior to entering the master's program at Virginia Tech, Keith spent 5 1/2 months hiking the 2,160-mile Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia in 1998. When he's not in the lab, Keith can usually be found on one of the numerous mountain trails surrounding Blacksburg, where he trains for ultramarathons, 50- and 100-mile trail runs. To date, he has finished seven 50s and five 100s. He is also an accomplished cellist and participates in the New River Valley Symphony and other community ensembles.

This September, Keith will head to Chicago to begin work on his Ph.D. in MSE at Northwestern University.

2001
Shawn Kelly (MSE '99) recently completed the Master's program in MSE and has entered the doctoral program here at Virginia Techl. As an undergraduate, Shawn was active in the American Society of Materials/The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society (ASM/TMS) and the Materials Engineering Professional Society (MEPS), holding executive positions in both. He was instrumental, along with Jeff Schulz, in starting up MEPS, which is an umbrella organization housing student chapters of ASM/TMS, ACerS, and MRS.

Shawn's research deals with heat treatment of a "laser-formed" titanium alloy. His research interests include laser processing of metals and bulk amorphous alloys.

2000
Jeff Schultz (MSE '99) is a Ph.D. candidate in the MSE Department. During his undergraduate years, Jeff became an enthusiastic promoter for the MSE Department. He participated in Freshman Recruiting Night by sharing his positive experiences and also by organizing graduate student demonstrations. He served as a tutor for a high school student in math and basic materials science and encouraged the student to consider materials engineering as a career.

Along with Shawn Kelly, Jeff worked to revitalize MEPS in order to boost student morale and encourage participation in educational, professional, and social activities. He also worked to encourage and maintain social and professional relationships between alumni and faculty by planning social events such as an annual alumni/faculty golf tournament and other outings.

Jeff's research focus is on the development of materials and processes for selective laser sintering rapid prototyping.

 
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Please direct comments to: mse@vt.edu Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Last Updated 07/08/03 by L.A. Ellis 213 Holden Hall, Virginia Tech
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