Department of Industrial Engineering
4207 Bell Engineering Center
1 University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Phone: (479) 575-3156
Fax: (479) 575-8431
Arkansas Alumni Association Honors the Class of 2018 Seniors of Significance
The Arkansas Alumni Association honored its fourth class of Seniors of Significance
during a reception at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House on Dec. 1. A total of 71
graduating seniors, commemorating the university's founding date of 1871, were recognized.
During the reception, the Seniors of Significance received a special gold honor cord
to wear during graduation.
The 71 students were selected from more than 600 nominations and represent each University
of Arkansas undergraduate academic college. These Seniors of Significance were selected
based on their academic achievements, leadership skills and extracurricular campus
and/or community activities.
Industrial Engineering Seniors of Significance
Rachel Holmer is an industrial engineering student with a Spanish minor she completed while studying
abroad in Madrid, Spain the summer after her first year. She is currently serving
as vice president for Alpha Pi Mu, the industrial engineering honor society. While
at the university, Rachel has worked with the Engineering Student Council, Alpha Pi
Mu, and Tau Beta Pi. Besides her coursework, Rachel has been involved in research
all four years of college, contributing to several different projects. Through her
involvement in research, she has been able to travel to exciting places to present
research at conferences, from Anaheim, CA to Delhi, India. In April 2017, she received
the Undergraduate Research Award, awarded to one student in the department by faculty
vote for contributions to departmental research efforts. To fund her senior thesis,
Rachel was awarded a State Undergraduate Research Fellowship. She is working to build
a predictive model for HPV infection risk in young adult females. In May of 2017,
she received the UPS Scholarship for Minority Students, a nationally competitive scholarship
awarded by the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers. The past two summers
Rachel has interned with the Walmart Logistics Engineering team in Fort Worth, TX
and New Braunfels, TX. Rachel makes it a priority to volunteer weekly for Potter’s
House Academy, a community program aimed at improving K-12 students’ performance in
school through authentic relationships and tutoring. On being chosen as a Senior of
Significance, Rachel commented, “It is an incredible honor to be recognized as a Senior
of Significance. My four years at the University of Arkansas have shaped how I see
myself, the world, and those around me. I cannot imagine a better community for students
to come to learn and grow as individuals. I can only hope the impact of my contributions
come close to the impact the university has had on me.”
Grace McGee is an industrial engineering student minoring in finance and is proud to be a Razorback.
She was quick to get involved on campus as a first-year student, becoming a member
of the Chi Omega Fraternity, joining The Wells Project RSO, and participating in undergraduate
engineering research, ending the year with the Outstanding First-Year Student Award
from the First-Year Engineering Program. Grace spent the following summer serving
as a R.O.C.K. Camp Mentor in Ponca, Arkansas for extended first-year student orientation
which she credits as one of her most valuable experiences at the University. Determined
to be involved within the College of Engineering, Grace became the Vice President
of the industrial engineering honor society Alpha Pi Mu, the University Relations
Coordinator of Society of Women Engineers, and a Peer Mentor for the First-Year Engineering
Program. Her campus and community involvement continued as she served as the Community
Service Director and later Sustainability Chair for Chi Omega, the Campus Relations
Chairman for The Wells Project, a Visual Director Volunteer for the Production Team
at New Life Church Fayetteville, and an Honors College Student Ambassador. As a senior,
she is the current Alpha Pi Mu President, a member of the Honors College Advisory
Council Service Committee, the Product Development Manager of Society of Women Engineers,
and a Student Engagement Coordinator for the Volunteer Action Center. Off campus,
Grace enjoys volunteering weekly at The Salvation Army as a meal server where she
feels a part of the Fayetteville community. During the summer months, Grace has been
fortunate enough to work for John Deere as a Reliability Engineer (2016) and for Cummins
as a Supplier Quality Improvement Engineer (2017) and participate in a study abroad
program to Cape Town, South Africa (2017). After graduating in May 2018, Grace will
complete another internship with Cummins as a Project Engineer. The following fall
semester, Grace will be working for a nonprofit in Galway, Ireland before continuing
in her engineering career in early 2019 as a proud alumna of the Department of Industrial
Engineering. After learning of her selection as a Senior of Significance, Grace remarked,
“It is an honor to be learning from the faculty, staff, and students who make up this
campus and an honor to add to the history of this University. Over the past four years,
I have been surrounded by Razorbacks who have challenged me to think deeply, work
diligently, cheer wildly, and live passionately. I will forever be grateful for my
time at the University of Arkansas.”
The full Newswire story can be found here.
January 17, 2018