Alumni Recognized at 2015 Homecoming Event
The University of South Carolina’s College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) recently honored three alumni for their professional accomplishments and devoted service to the College and its students. The CEC named J. David Waugh as 2015 recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award, and Kelvin Moore and Bobby Scott accepted the 2015 honor for the Young Alumnus Award.
The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes an individual who has made notable contributions to his or her profession, community and university.
This year, the CEC honored David Waugh, class of 1954. Waugh earned a degree in civil engineering and spent most of his career teaching future generations of engineers. Waugh served as dean for the then USC College of Engineering from 1977 to 1987. In addition to his tenure as professor, his many accomplishments include being awarded the Order of the Palmetto by two different South Carolina governors and becoming first in the state to be elected president of a major national engineering society (National Society of Professional Engineers). He is a fellow of the American Society of Engineering Education and the National Society of Professional Engineers.
Waugh also led the creation of the CEC’s multi-media engineering education program – at the time one of the five largest in the United States. He also served nine years on the national board for the MATHCOUNTS competition. Perhaps his crowning achievement was overseeing and raising funds for the Swearingen Engineering Center and 300 Main Street buildings at USC.
“I’m deeply thankful for receiving this honor,” said Waugh. “I believe that every student who walks our halls leaves a little of themselves here just as alumni take a little of the University with them as they go. This is our legacy as students and a university.”
Waugh is married to the former Sylvia Hill, and they have five children and five grandchildren.
The Young Alumni Award recognizes an individual who graduated within the last decade and who shows the potential to make a positive impact professionally and serve as an example for other recent graduates. This year, the CEC honored two alumni with this honor – Kelvin Moore and Bobby Scott.
Kelvin Moore graduated in 2006 with a degree in chemical engineering. He works at Wood Mustang Group in Greenville as a process engineer. Moore is active in the company’s Young Guns Program, where he has participated in community outreach events as well as mentored new employees. Outside of work, he is a volunteer mentor for the Citizen Scholar Program, which assists underprivileged, academically gifted Spartanburg County students in advancing their education. He is engaged to Chanta Pressley, also a USC graduate.
“While contributing financially is one important way to remain connected to your alma mater, interacting with prospective and current students is equally as important.” said Moore. “To invest in and stay connected to your alma mater is to guarantee the strength of your degree for years to come. Connected alumni, around the world, are uniquely positioned to serve as ambassadors for their beloved university; helping to secure its prosperity, longevity and competiveness.”
Bobby Scott graduated in 2010 with a degree in electrical engineering. Since November 2014, Bobby has been project manager with REI Automation in Columbia, where previously he was quality manager and electrical design engineer. Scott assisted with the development of the Levolor Blind Cutting Machine, which is found in Lowe’s stores across the country. He also installed robots, integrated a safety control system and performed hazard risk assessment at the USC McNair Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research.
“As USC alumni, we share a huge common interest. Staying connected strengthens the CEC and its future degree recipients as well as increases the value of our own degrees,” said Scott. “We should support the CEC so it may grow and increase our footprint in the world.”
Scott lives in Cayce with his wife Katie Scott, a 2009 USC graduate with a degree in business administration.