The Texas A&M Nuclear Engineering department proposal was chosen to host the 2015 ANS Student Conference. The decision was announced at the most recent student conference at Pennsylvania State University. Anywhere from 550-650 students and professionals attend these conferences each year. Very similar to the ANS conference, events at the student conference include paper competitions, workshops, panels, podium and poster sessions, a career fair, tours, socials, and speakers.
The students who made up the proposal committee are:
- Timothy Crook (Graduate Conference Co-Chair)
- Sarah Camba (Undergraduate Conference Co-Chair)
- Lane Carasik (Technical Director)
- Matthew Fitzmaurice (Logistics Director)
- Natalie Galegar (Marketing Director)
- William Gordon (Finance Director)
- Julien Clayton (Finance Liaison)
- Philip Jones (Sessions Coordinator)
- Kevin Miller (Transportation Coordinator)
- Tommy Ondara (Hospitality Coordinator)
- Cody Orsak (Professional/Industry Coordinator)
- Marina Pulley (Activities Coordinator)
- Shane Seabolt (Website Coordinator)
- Laura Sudderth (Workshop Coordinator)
- Elizabeth Tindle (Student/University Coordinator)
"[Hosting] is a huge undertaking. Winning just goes to show the strength of our committee in the long run. We took all of the feedback from our [2014] proposal that resulted in an initial dead tie between Texas A&M and Penn State, and made a proposal that won handily this time around. Our theme is 'Powering Tomorrow Together,' as we recognize progress and prosperity in nuclear science and technology is a global undertaking. We are so excited to be hosting all of our friends and colleagues in Texas and look forward to showing them all this great state, school and department have to offer to the world," Crook said.
While at the conference, graduate student Timothy Crook was also awarded Best Paper in thermal hydraulics. The 2015 conference's specific date is to be determined, but will take place either the last weekend of March or the first two weekends in April.
Fun fact: Texas A&M hosted the conference in 2001 and 2008, and is the only school to host the conference three times in the past 15 years. Gig 'em!
The contact email for the conference is ansstudentconference2015@gmail.com and the twitter handle is @ANSstucon.