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The AIST Foundation, with support from eleven industry companies – AK Steel, ArcelorMittal, Carpenter Technologies, CMC Americas, IPSCO, Midrex, Nucor, Praxair, SMS Demag, Steel Dynamics, and U. S. Steel — held special student-specific programs at AISTech 2008 in Pittsburgh, Pa., May 5–8.

Engineering students from all related disciplines were encouraged to attend, being offered complimentary registration, travel grants and paid session monitor positions. A total of 79 students registered for the conference from 25 universities. In addition, AIST held an Attendance Challenge. The university with the highest number of students in attendance received $500. The winner of this challenge was the Missouri University of Science & Technology.

Student activities began with a plant tour to the U. S. Steel Research & Technology Center, Munhall, Pa., on Sunday, May 4, 2008. The 42 students were divided into 4 groups which rotated to four different locations; the water modeling lab, a hot rolling demonstration, the hot dip galvanizing simulator, and the metals characterization lab.

The students returned for a Student Orientation, which included information about AIST from Ron Ashburn, AIST Executive Director; the importance of belonging to AIST from AIST President, Charlie Messina; the industry and industry’s need for young engineers from Nucor’s Dan Krug; and networking tips from Clay Spangler, Steel Dynamics Inc. Those attending enjoyed dinner and networking with the corporate sponsor representatives. A scavenger hunt began at this orientation to encourage students to visit the exhibit hall booths and ask questions about steel companies and the industry. Those who completed the scavenger hunt were given a ticket for a door prize drawing.

A Student Project Presentation Contest was held on Monday, May 8. During this contest, seven students presented their projects before a panel of judges. The judges were Kelly Dallas from ArcelorMittal, Bonnie Alan from AK Steel, Sunday Abraham from IPSCO Inc., Ed Rios from CMC Americas, and Mike Peretic from SMS Demag. Participants were judged on technical content, topic coverage and presentation skills.

The contestants included Patrick Lueckenhoff, Laura Bartlett, and Seth Vandiver from Missouri S&T, Brian Boguski from The Ohio State University, Eric Singer from Virginia Tech, Charles Fisher from Iowa State University and Kale Stevenson from Washington State University.

• First place ($1,500): Charles Fisher, Iowa State University Presentation: “Evaluation of Shear Punch Testing to Simulate Conventional Tensile Testing of Small Samples”
• Second place ($1,000): Brian Boguski, The Ohio State University Presentation: “CNC Router Design/Build Project”
• Third place ($500): Kale Stephenson, Washington State University Presentation: “Characterization Methods for Ti-6A1-4v Implanted with High Energy Ions”

Following the contest, tickets for door prizes were drawn. Laura Bartlett from Missouri S&T won a Nintendo Wi donated by Nucor Corp., and Tom Bailey from Missouri S&T won the Xbox donated by ArcelorMittal. Charles Fisher from Iowa State University and Ye Sun from the University of Kentucky each won a gift card donated by SMS Demag. Pat Leuckenhoff from Missouri S&T won a DVD player. AIST would like to express a special thanks to the contest chair, Kevin Bort, Steel Dynamics Inc., along with all contest judges.

The students and sponsoring company representatives spent Monday evening at Dave & Busters for dinner and fun.

A group of about 30 students were transported to a second plant tour at U. S. Steel – Mon Valley Works on Tuesday, May 6, 2008. They were divided into two groups to tour the Edgar Thompson Plant and the Irvin Plant with a lunch provided by U. S. Steel in between tours.

Click here for additional photos from the Student Activities.