Colorado State University Celebrates 25 Years of Chemical Engineering
Colorado State University’s Department of Chemical Engineering is celebrating 25 years of success.
On Oct. 12, as part of Colorado State’s homecoming weekend, chemical engineering faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members are gathering from 7 a.m.-noon in the West Ballroom of the Lory Student Center to celebrate past successes, learn about present activities and look ahead to future goals.
"This event marks a milestone for the Department of Chemical Engineering," said department head Ted Watson. "We have come a long way since our beginning as a program in 1977, and we intend to develop our department into one of the strongest in the nation."
The celebration includes a welcome breakfast, keynote speakers, a history and memories display and a department logo contest. Speakers include ROCHE engineer and Colorado State alumnus Bill Evanko, dean of engineering Neal Gallagher and Professors Naz Karim, Vince Murphy and Watson. Presentations will include a history of the program and an outlook of where the department is headed for the future.
"This event is important because it recognizes not only the excellence of our students, faculty and alumni, but also acknowledges the importance of chemical engineering becoming its own department," Watson said.
Until last year, chemical engineering and bioresource engineering were combined in the same department. According to Watson, chemical engineering, as its own department, now will benefit from better focus and visibility. Since 1977, chemical engineering has grown from a student enrollment of 18 to 130 students, with the most recent class graduating 30 students.
Awards attributed to the department include 14 Awards of Excellence from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and winning the national Chem-E-Car student competition last year.
More than 100 people are expected to attend Saturday’s event. For more information, contact Claire Lavelle at (970) 491-5253 or via e-mail at cheme-25@engr.colostate.edu.