HIGHLIGHTS ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | SEPTEMBER 2026 64 2026 G.B. Olson Undergraduate Design Competition Winners The ASM Materials Education Foundation and Design Competition Committee are pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 Undergraduate Design Competition. The event was established in 2007 and renamed in 2024 to honor Dr. Gregory B. Olson, FASM. First prize goes to Michigan Technological University for “Simulation of Extrusion Behavior and Homogenization Design of 6xxx Series Aluminum for Automotive Use.” Team members include David Abraham, Ken Cryc, Madi Kehoe, and Veronica North as well as advisor Paul Sanders. Helen Weykamp of Hydro Aluminum was the industry sponsor. The team will receive $2000 along with $500 travel assistance. Second prize goes to Massachusetts Institute of Technology for “10Ni Transformation-Toughened Naval Hull Steel.” Team members include Anna Beck, Isabella Torres, Neha Basu, Gordon Su as well as advisor You Na Lee. Charles Fisher of the Naval Surface Warfare Center was the sponsor. The team will receive $1500 along with $500 travel assistance. Third prize goes to the University of Florida for “Degradable Biopolymeric Mesh for Improved Surgical Outcomes Post-ACL Tear.” Team members include Benjamin Merkin, Zoe Lipton, Julia Lopez, Logan Hoskins, and Kayleigh Wood along with advisor Aroba Saleem. The team will receive $1000 along with $500 travel assistance. EMERGING PROFESSIONALS Young Professionals Focus on Sustainability at IMAT The Emerging Professionals Committee (EPC) is excited to host the Perspectives for Emerging Professionals symposium in Quebec City at IMAT this year. We understand that within the Quebec area, the nation of Canada, and the global materials science community, sustainability is one of the most important areas of research. We have tailored the symposium to reflect this through the presentations. Some of the talks we are excited to offer include: • Dr. Liz Hoffman, FASM, 2025-2026 president of ASM International, will provide opening remarks. • Prof. Brajendra Mishra, professor of materials science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, will talk about emerging professional opportunities in sustainable materials management. • Prof. Samira Keivanpour, professor of materials science at Polytechnique Montreal, will discuss futureproofing metal supply chains through cradle-to-cradle innovation. Following is a sneak peek of Dr. Patrick Anderson’s upcoming talk, “When Volunteering Shifts: Career Moves, Community, and Unforeseen Events:” “Twenty years ago, fresh from graduate school, I joined the ASM International Emerging Professionals Program and was elected vice chair at MS&T 2006 in Cincinnati. I helped to grow the group into the Emerging Professionals Committee and forged lasting professional connections and friendships through subsequent meetings. After doing rotations on two other ASM committees, my ASM volunteer activity waned. In this talk, I reflect on the nearly two-decade journey since. Along the way I will discuss shifts in technical focus, encounters with activist investors, involvement in community farming, major life events (births and deaths), and an unexpected FBI raid to explore how volunteer service, career, and life intersect and evolve.” During breaks, we will also host open discussion periods where you can network with current EPC members and industry professionals (and get an invite to the exclusive EPC Game Lounge). Whether you are a student, professional, new face, or a returning one, the EPC is excited to host you at our Monday, September 28, sessions at IMAT 2026. We hope to see you in Quebec City! Zoe Follman and Ben O’Donnell Materials Camp Camaraderie Naomi, Louise, Susan, and Sarah came to ASM Materials Camps for hands-on learning and found a lasting friendship along the way. Their journeys have taken them to the ASM Materials Ad- vanced Camp, ASM Materials Genome Camp, ASM Materials Specialty Camp, and ASM Teacher Institute. They continue to reconnect, share class- room ideas, and inspire one another. Their story shows that ASM Materials Camps don’t just strengthen teachers, they build a nationwide community that lasts far beyond the classroom. Follman EMERGING PROFESSIONALS
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