UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

Society of Automotive Engineers Student Chapter at UT Tyler Recognized

August 3, 2012

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

August 3, 2012

The University of Texas at Tyler was recognized at the 2012 Society of Automotive Engineers’ Supermileage Competition, Dr. James Nelson, College of Engineering and Computer Science dean, announced.

The UT Tyler SAE student chapter earned the ‘Best Demonstrated Overall Team Attitude’ Award along with a cash prize in the amount of $200. Fifteen student teams nationwide participated in the competition, which was held at the Eaton Corporation Marshall Proving Grounds in Marshall, Mich.

This was UT Tyler’s first appearance.

“The SAE organizers stated that very few first-time teams make it through the technical portion of the competition successfully, and the UT Tyler SAE team accomplished that feat,” said Dr. Y.J. Lin, UT Tyler Department of Mechanical Engineering chair. “Technical problems are common at the competition. Several registered teams were unable to compete or pass the technical inspections.”

UT Tyler SAE team members are Sean Pitts of Spokane, Wash., Steven Hemphill of Eustace and John Scripsick of Whitehouse. Dr. Fredericka Brown, UT Tyler associate professor of mechanical engineering, serves as faculty adviser. James Mills, CECS technical equipment specialist, also assisted the team through out the project period, Lin added.

The Supermileage® competition, one of SAE’s Collegiate Design Series competitions, provides engineering and technology students with a challenging design project that involves the development and construction of a single-person, fuel-efficient vehicle. The vehicles run a specified course and are judged by a miles per gallon rating plus design segment points. Students have the opportunity to set a world fuel economy record and increase public awareness of fuel economy.

For more information, visit the SAE website or contact Lin, 903.566.7468 or yjlin@uttyler.edu.

One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler offers excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of almost 7,000 high-ability students at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine.