For the first time in many years, rain almost forced the ceremony into the cramped confines of the Mueller lecture hall, but a sudden change in the weather, combined with the terrific efforts of staff, students and guests, allowed the program to move outside at the last minute. That was a lucky turn of events, indeed, because there was a record number of guests as family and friends turned out to honor this year s graduates. Following a delicious brunch in the Mueller Hall lobby, guests adjourned to the courtyard for the graduation program. After welcoming guests, introducing the faculty and reading the list of departmental awards, Prof. Rajendra Bordia, MSE Chair, presented the Distinguished Service Award to alumnus Wendell Hurlbut. This year s Graduation Address was delivered by Dr. James D. Cotton of The Boeing Company, a Materials Scientist with the Materials and Processes Division.
Cotton is representative of the diverse technical leaders produced by the materials field.
He received his B.S. degree from the University of Missouri at Rolla in 1983 and his M.S. from the Colorado School of Mines in 1986. He spent the first year of his doctoral studies, 1988-89, here in our Department, before following Prof. Michael Kaufman to the University of Florida. It was at Florida, in the MSE department, that Cotton received his PHD in 1991. His thesis, the research for which was funded by NASA Lewis, was on the effect of chromium alloying on the properties of nickel aluminide. After time spent in the automotive and aluminum industries, Cotton first joined Boeing Aerospace in 1986.