DEAN'S CORNER

Thirty advisory board members. Several members of our faculty and staff. Key student project team representatives. Countless alumni, donors and friends. All culminating in one day of collaboration and celebration.

On March 29th, the College of Engineering held its Spring Advisory Board meeting, followed by its Second Annual Distinguished Honors Celebration. An especially productive afternoon business meeting was gladly adjourned into the evening's festive tone as advisory board members mingled with other celebration attendees prior to the evening's main event.

Then, Mistress of Ceremonies, Cathy Lewis, founding host of NPR's "HearSay with Cathy Lewis" and local personality, approached the microphone. And the crowd knew they were in for a night of delights.

Some of my favorite moments from that evening:

• The keynote speaker, Tom Winborne, CEO of Clark-Nexsen, letting the audience in on his secrets of leadership during his address.
• Our students and alumni sharing some time together, relating stories of their time at ODU.
• The evening's award winners imparting the journeys which have led them to these awards. In particular, Tricia Gramstad, mother of Gavin Gramstad, winner of the Humanitarian Award, giving a stirring acceptance speech on behalf of her son.
• The College having the occasion to recognize the remarkable support we receive from corporations, alumni, donors and friends of the College.
• The Distinguished Honors Celebration touching alumni near and far, including areas such as Florida, Kentucky, Connecticut and, of course, Sudan.

It was a gladdening sight indeed to be able to count six main sponsors for the event and over 100 guests, all for the benefit of our student project teams. I am overjoyed at the success of the 2012 Distinguished Honors Celebration and am looking forward to another noteworthy and momentous event in 2013 commemorating 50 years of ODU Engineering!