HIGHLIGHTS ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | NOVEMBER 2026 60 Material Advantage Chapters of Excellence Awards Each year, ASM administers the Chapters of Excel- lence Awards Program on behalf of the Material Advantage Student Program. This competition judges student social activities, chapter management, and overall report quality. Winners were formally announced at the Student Awards Ceremony at MS&T 2026. Congratulations to this year’s winning schools! Most Outstanding Chapter – plaque and $750 prize • Suez University Chapters of Excellence – plaque and $450 prize • University of Michigan • Iowa State University • Boston University • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign • Instituto Tecnológico de Morelia Honorable Mention • ESIQIE (Escuela Superior de Ingeniería Química e Industrias Extractivas) EPC’s inaugural, recent past, and current members: Patrick Anderson, Dan Grice, and Tina Grassi respectively. Grice opened the conversation on neurodivergence in the workplace with a lighthearted, yet heartfelt presentation on the subject. Then, Anderson shared how life might sometimes take you away from the engagements that once fulfilled you, but you can always come back to them when the time is right. Finally, Grassi discussed firsthand what it means to be an emerging professional in today’s industry. Next year marks the 20th anniversary of the Emerging Professionals Committee and our yearly symposium at ASM’s annual meeting. Whether you are an EPC alum, current student, or newly emerging professional yourself, we hope that you will join us in celebrating this milestone for the committee in Columbus, Ohio, at IMAT 2027 next October. Zoe Follman and Ben O’Donnell CHAPTERS IN THE NEWS Gujarat Hosts Laser Welding Workshop The ASM Gujarat Chapter hosted a Cost-Efficient Laser Welding Workshop on September 11 at the Keepsake Engineering Consultancy Pvt. Ltd., in Ahmedabad, India. The event drew 24 participants from the textile, auto- motive, industrial products, power transmission, HVAC, CHAPTERS IN THE NEWS Tejas Mehta, chapter chair, provided workshop attendees with a review of ASM and Gujarat Chapter activities. Attendees of Gujarat’s laser welding event. Suez University Material Advantage Chapter. Current and alumni members of ASM’s Emerging Professionals Committee gathered at IMAT 2026 to celebrate the group’s nearly 20-year run. and space industries. Workshop highlights included hands-on training, personalized advice on welding challenges, safety tips, interactive learning, and networking. Each attendee received a certificate of participation. Ragesh Bateriwala, vice chair of the ASM India National Council, was instrumental in organizing the session. Through the workshop, the Gujarat Chapter added two new members to its roster.
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