AIST Promotes the Steel Industry to
Students at AISTech 2007

The AIST Foundation, working to fulfill its mission to ensure the iron and steel industry of tomorrow will have a sufficient number of qualified professionals, with the support of industry companies such as CMC Steel Group, IPSCO, Mittal, Nucor and Steel Dynamics, planned special student programs at AISTech 2007 in Indianapolis, Ind. 

Engineering students from all related disciplines were encouraged to attend, being offered complimentary registration, travel grants, and paid session monitor positions.  The University of Missouri Rolla won the Attendance Challenge, winning $500 for bringing the most students.

The students began with a plant tour to Nucor Steel – Indiana, Crawfordsville, Ind. on Saturday, May 5, 2007, followed by a great dinner sponsored by Nucor.

On Sunday, May 6, 2007 the student were bused to Steel Dynamics, Inc., Pittsboro, Ind. for lunch and a plant tour.  The students returned in time for a Student Orientation filled with information on the industry, the industry need for young professionals, networking tips, and AIST.  They enjoyed dinner and networking with representatives from the 5 corporate sponsors.

The first annual Project Presentation Contest, sponsored by The Timken Company and Midrex Technologies Inc., was held on Monday, May 7, 2007 where 9 students presented their senior projects before a panel of judges.  Participants were judged on technical content, topic coverage, and presentation skills.

	The first place winner, receiving $1,500, was Ryan Wojes from Northwestern University for his presentation on “Atom Probe Tomography Study of CU-Rich Precipitates in Blast-Resistant HSLC Steel.”
	Second place, receiving $1,000, was Samuel Gabay from New Mexico Tech for his presentation entitled “Analysis of Anodic Iron Oxides on Steel using Highly Assymetric Bragg XRD and SEM.”
	The third place winner, receiving $500, went to Zane Voss and Ryan Spoering from the University of Missouri Rolla for their presentation entitled “ Life Cycle Green house Gas Emission Comparison of Steel and Concrete Structural Members for Bridges.”

All participants did a wonderful job presenting their projects and had a great experience.

AIST thanks the contest chair, Kevin Bort from Steel Dynamics, and the judges, Jay Martin from IPSCO Inc., Daphne Messer from CMC Steel Group, Clay Spangler from Steel Dynamics, and Jay Watson from Nucor Steel – Indiana.

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The participants included, from left to right.  First row:  Meghan McGrath and Jacob Heithold from the University of Missouri Rolla, Ryan Wojes from Northwestern University, and Michael Asaro from Virginia Tech.  Second row:  Ryan Spoering and Zane Voss from the University of Missouri Rolla, Whitney Patterson from Washington State, Samuel Gabay from New Mexico Tech, and Charles Fisher from Iowa State.