The FEF College Industry Conference, Opportunities in Metal Casting, was held at the Drake Hotel in Chicago, November 5-7, 1998. Two hundred seventy-one industry and university people attended, along with 131 student delegates from all of FEF’s 30 schools. This unique conference brought together top industry executives, FEF Board Members, Key Professors, university officials and top student delegates, all interested in metal casting.
 
Preceding the conference was a Strategic Planning meeting and Board of Trustees meeting. The Board of Trustees accepted the recommendation of the Accreditation Team to add Kettering University in Flint, Michigan as the 30th FEF affiliated school. The Trustees also accepted the recommendation of the FEF Key Professor at Eric Community College to drop this school from the FEF program.
 
The FEF Annual Banquet was held Thursday night prior to the official beginning of the conference on Friday. Due to the generous "special contributions" of several companies and individuals (see back page), this year’s banquet was held at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. FEF’s highest award, the E.J. Walsh Award, went to Charter Lifetime Patron, Burleigh Jacobs. Special recognition was given to four contributors who have assisted FEF in its mission and goals this past year. Foundry recognition went to Grede Foundries, represented by Burleigh Jacobs and GM Powertrain represented by Ron Cafferty and Rick Sutton; Supplier recognition went to Porter Warner Industries represented by Doug Warner; and Society/Industry recognition went to the NADCA Indiana Chapter 25 represented by Chapter Chairman, Mike Cox. During the banquet it was announced that the University of Missouri-Rolla was announcing the creation of the Robert V. Wolf Endowed Professorship in the field of metals casting. The Endowed Professorship will be held by a faculty member in the Department of Metallurgical Engineering who, whenever possible, will be the FEF Key Professor. The professorship will assure the continued excellence of the foundry program at UMR. Phil Duke, this year’s Vice Chairman, was the Master of Ceremonies.
 
At the same time, the students were enjoying an exciting evening in downtown Chicago at a local restaurant, followed by free time around the city. With them were the Student Hospitality Chairman, Tim Hajduk (a former FEF student), his wife, Jodi; Jerry Clancey, his wife, Wendy; and Lee White.
 
Chuck Fowler was the conference chairman this year, assisted by a committee made up of professors, former FEF students, and FEF Board Members. The Keynote address was given by Jim Bushman, President, Cast-Fab Technologies. The three panelists were Kelley Kerns, Manager of Technical Services, Fairmount Minerals, an FEF scholar from the University of Northern Iowa; Sid Tankersley, President, American Foam Cast, Inc., an FEF scholar from the University of Alabama; and Paul Mikkola, Executive Vice President of Operations at Hitchiner Manufacturing and FEF Past President.
 
The Edward C. Hoenicke Memorial Luncheon address was given by Jack Pohlman, Vice President of Taylor-Pohlman, Inc. Each FEF affiliated school and Key Professor was highlighted through a computer presentation compiled by FEF Secretary, Paul Carey.
 
The Industry Information Session offered students an up-close and personal look at the industry. It also gave the 52 participating companies the most cost-effective way to see over 130 of the top metal casting students in the country all in one place.
 
The Awards and Recognition Breakfast speaker was the President of the University of Windsor, Ross Paul. Following his comments, 20 sponsored scholarships were awarded to the student delegates who had submitted applications for these awards (see next page). A special AFS Director’s Award was again given through FEF to one of the Key Professors. Russ Rosmait from Pittsburgh State University was the recipient of this award.
 
Bill Sorensen, FEF’s Executive Director, announced next year’s College Industry Conference, in Chicago on November 4-6, 1999. More information on this conference, or any of the FEF activities, can be obtained from the FEF office at 484 E. Northwest Highway, Des Plaines, IL 60016, Phone 847/299-1776, Fax 847/299-1789, E-Mall Pam@)FEFOffice.org, Web Page http://www.fefoffice.org.
 
1998 FEF COLLEGE INDUSTRY CONFERENCE
 
CIC Breakfast Awards, November 7, 1998
 

 
The following three students were selected from the delegates to attend the Department of Energy Office of Industrial Technologies "3rd Industrial Energy Efficiency Symposium and Exposition" in Washington, DC, February 7-9, 1999:
 
Brian Floyd - University of Alabama
James Meudt - Wisconsin-Madison
Allison Vrieze - Missouri-Rolla
 
Companies and individuals contributing special gifts for the Annual Banquet at the Shedd Aquarium:
 
Dale Bonga
Phil Duke
Doug Warner
John Welch
Ahlbeck & Company
Fairmount Minerals
Ford Motor-Canada
Foseco,lnc.
Superior Aluminum
 

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