| Vol 5. Num. 6 | March 17, 2008 
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SAMPE's 2009 Fall Technical Conference to be held in Wichita
 | The Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE) has selected Wichita, Kan., home of the National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State University, for its Fall Technical Conference scheduled for Oct. 19–22, 2009. |
“The SAMPE technical conference is one of the premier events in the advanced materials industry that provides interchange among some of the best scientists and researchers in the world,” said Dr. John Tomblin, NIAR executive director.
“Wichita is rapidly becoming recognized as a leader in advanced materials manufacturing, and having this conference within the region provides additional opportunities for the area to display its unique attributes within this specific advanced manufacturing cluster that exists within Kansas.”
SAMPE Executive Director Gregg Balko expects attendance at Wichita to be higher than other fall conferences because of Wichita’s good name in the industry, especially among the aviation and aerospace industry. About 800 to 1,000 people are expected to attend. Attendees include engineers, scientists, technologists and educators.
“We are very pleased to select Wichita for this conference,” Balko said. “Our professional members know Wichita for its reputation in the advanced materials field.”
SAMPE provides its members the only place where materials and processes come together. In addition to the Fall Technical Conference, SAMPE also holds a national spring symposium and regional symposiums in the United States, as well as international symposiums.
The 2008 conference is scheduled to be held in September in Memphis, Tenn.
NIAR team rolls in $1,900 for Big Brothers Big Sisters
A five-member team of National Institute for Aviation Research employees raised $1,900 of the $11,500 brought in by 12 teams that bowled recently in a Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids’ Sake fundraiser.
The NIAR team’s funds will help to match two children waiting for mentors through Big Brothers Big Sisters. BBBS started in Wichita in 1969 and during the last 38 years has matched more than 25,000 at-risk children with volunteers, or “Bigs.”
Members of the NIAR Bowl for Kids’ Sake team pictured from left: Jeff Gilchrist, Allison Crockett, team captain Tom Aldag, Lamia Salah and Kraig Rowe. Crockett had the team high score of 143, bowling three strikes in a row on two occasions.
Bowl for Kids’ Sake generates one-third of the BBBS annual operating budget and is the single largest source of funds and new Bigs. So far, the Wichita events have raised about $300,000 of an overall goal of $650,000 for the 2008 Bowl for Kids’ Sake campaign.
“For me, supporting BBBS is the right thing to do,” said Tom Aldag, NIAR director of research and development and Bowl for Kids’ Sake team captain. “The statistics are impressive on how this organization helps matched kids stay in school and stay out of trouble.”
Aldag has often participated in Bowl for Kids’ Sake events over the last 20 years.
“It was especially fun this year forming a team at NIAR,” Aldag added. “My colleagues were enthusiastic and did an outstanding job getting pledges. We are looking forward to doing it again next year.”
Lamia Salah, manager of NIAR’s Fatigue & Fracture Lab, said she hopes to find time to become a “Big” in the future. Salah bowled on the NIAR team and raised $325 for BBBS.
According to its mission statement, BBBS of Sedgwick County helps boys and girls ages 5-17, most of whom are considered at-risk and living in single-parent homes, achieve their full potential through long-term personal relationships with carefully screened and caring volunteers. BBBS volunteers spend 1-3 hours a week with a youth developing a relationship that provides a bridge to cultural, social, educational and economic opportunities often lacking in a Little’s life.
For more information, visit Big Brothers Big Sisters online at www.kansasbigs.org or call 263-3300.
The National Institute for Aviation Research is a prestigious state-of-the-art aerospace research and development laboratory with global reach and expertise in research, design, testing, and certification. The Institute’s clientele includes many of the world’s aerospace manufacturers, NASA and the FAA. It is the largest aviation R&D academic institution in America. The National Institute for Aviation Research is an unincorporated division of Wichita State University.
