NSBE - Convention 2014 - (Page 91)

40th NSBE Annual Convention * March 26-30, 2014 Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center * Nashville, Tenn. 'NSBE40: Engineering and Leadership in Harmony' National Society of Black Engineers Golden Torch Honorees PIONEER OF THE YEAR Charles A. Stout, Ph.D., P.E. Director of Research and Development Mueller Industries, Inc. Dr. Charles Anthony Stout was a freshman at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) when he realized he wasn't prepared for the challenge. The oldest of seven siblings, he became the first member of his family to complete college. "It wasn't easy, because I didn't have the role models in academics," he recalls. "In high school, I got by on talent without working very hard. In college, this caught up with me, and the dean of engineering actually suggested that perhaps my talents lie in another field.... However, I persevered and eventually earned a doctorate in mechanical engineering." As an undergraduate at the University of Memphis, which he attended after leaving IIT, he followed through on an early interest in engineering. He was very active in engineeringbased organizations such as NSBE, in which he was chapter president. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, he went to work as an HVAC design engineer. Two years later, he returned to the University of Memphis to complete the Master of Science in mechanical engineering program. While he was working as a graduate student teacher of mechanical engineering courses and a researcher at The University of Memphis Flow Research Center, he decided to study for his doctorate. Since August 2010, Dr. Stout has been Mueller Industries director of research and development. In this position, he leads the company's product development efforts to compete for the dominant market positioning in pipe, tube and fitting products. Earlier, he was a member of the Boeing Environmental Control Systems (ECS) team, where he worked on air quality research and development. With his commitment to career, Dr. Stout has not neglected his community. He www.nsbe.org enjoys volunteering with children to get them interested in science and engineering and has continued to help steer youth into higher education. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN INDUSTRY George A. Parker Associate Technical Fellow Technical Lead Engineer, Chemical Technology/ Northwest Analytical The Boeing Company From the hard streets of Harlem to the bright lights of the NBA, George Parker has gained experience and knowledge that make young people take notice. Parker uses his influence in his never-ending quest to promote the importance of education to young people, especially young black men. Parker grew up on the Lower Eastside of Manhattan and West Harlem, where he attended New York City public schools and learned to play music and sports. A skilled athlete, he grew up playing his favorite sport of basketball with friends including Nate ("Tiny") Archibald, Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Julius ("Dr. J") Erving and Earl ("the Goat") Manigault. He received All-City and All-Manhattan honors as a high-school junior and senior. Upon graduation, Parker was given an athletic scholarship to attend St. Martin's College in Olympia, Wash., where he played basketball all four years as a starter. Upon graduation, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. During his senior year, Parker was drafted by the Portland Trailblazers of the NBA. In 1972, en route to the Baltimore Bullets NBA team, Parker was drafted into the United States Army, where he spent two years as a scientist and engineer. Parker has worked at Boeing for more than 25 years and participates in numerous activities that educate and promote scientific opportunities for young students and newly hired engineers. For instance, through Boeing/ Edmonds Community College, he developed the Material Science Technology Exposure Program, which is particularly beneficial to minorities. Parker also lectures and mentors university students on chemistry and material science subjects, as well as on life skills such as communication, time management, self-awareness, reading and math. MINORITY ENGINEERING PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR Stephen R. Cox Project Director Greater Philadelphia Region Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Stephen R. Cox graduated from Drexel University with a Bachelor of Science degree in physics and atmospheric sciences in 1974 and a Master of Science degree in biophysics and biomedical engineering in 1976. He is the founder and developer of the Greater Philadelphia Region Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (Philadelphia AMP) funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Philadelphia AMP is a tri-state alliance of nine higher education institutions whose mission is to substantially increase the quantity and quality of underrepresented minority students, in particular, African-American, Hispanic and Native American students, receiving baccalaureate degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and subsequently, entering graduate school to attain doctoral degrees. Cox has served as the project director of Philadelphia AMP since its inception in November 1994 and since its subsequent movement in 2000 to Drexel University, where it has remained to the present. As project director of Philadelphia AMP, Cox has raised more than $23 million and fostered inter-institutional relationships across the nine participating institutions. Through the Educational Advancement CONTINUED ON PAGE 92 NSBE MAGAZINE * C ONVENTION 2014 * 91 http://www.nsbe.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NSBE - Convention 2014

Table of Contents

NSBE - Convention 2014