Three students in the College's Department of Materials Science and Engineering have won high honors in the 2002 Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE) Student Symposium International Competition. The competition was held during the 47th International SAMPE Symposium and Exhibition in Long Beach, Calif., in May.

Erik Thostenson earned a first-place award in the doctorate-level category for his work on "Multi-Scale Hybrid Composites: Carbon Nanotubes as Selective Reinforcement in Carbon Fiber Composites." He will receive a society-sponsored trip to the SAMPE Europe conference next March.

This is the second consecutive year in which a member of the UD chapter of SAMPE has placed first in the international competition. Maureen Foley was the winner in 2001.

Witchuda Suwanwatana also competed at the doctoral level this year, winning fourth place for work on "Hysteresis Heating Behavior of Ni Particulate Polymer Films."

Participating at the master's degree level, Prakriti Tayalia won third place for work on "Structural Monitoring via Embedded Magnetic Wires."

Judges consider technical content, originality, significance of ideas and delivery.

Honing his skills for future competitions, chemical engineering student John Yakubic, EG 2003, received a SAMPE Engineering and Science Undergraduate Award of $1,000, one of only 10 available nationwide.