Lehigh News

Lehigh and Tau Beta Pi - Where excellence in engineering was born

National engineering honor society to commemorate its 125th birthday here at Lehigh

Tau Beta Pi, the national engineering honor society, will celebrate its 125th year at its annual convention held in Valley Forge, PA, October 7-10. The event, hosted by Lehigh’s chapter of Tau Beta Pi, will see some of the country’s top engineering students and educators visit Lehigh on Saturday, October 9, to commemorate Tau Beta Pi: 125 Years of Integrity and Excellence in Engineering.
The National Convention is an annual occurrence; however, Tau Beta Pi is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year and we're '‘bringing The Bent home' to Lehigh, says Rob Asselin, a fifth-year art and architecture major and president of Lehigh’s local chapter of Tau Beta Pi. Many members of our campus community aren’t aware that TBP, engineering’s recognized honor society, was created in 1885 right here at Lehigh by Dr. Edward Williams, the namesake of Williams Hall.
Leaders in engineering from all over the country, including many noteworthy Lehigh alumni, will be attending the four-day event. Former astronaut and current Lehigh professor Dr. Terry J. Hart ’68 and Dr. Alton D. Romig Jr. ’75, ’77G, ’79Ph.D, deputy director of Sandia National Laboratory, will act as keynote speakers during the convention. On Saturday, some 500 TBP delegates – the country’s top engineering students and academic leaders -- will be bused to Lehigh for campus tours and a ceremony to rededicate the Bent in its new location.
It is truly an honor for our chapter to have been selected to help host this memorable occasion, says Asselin. Over the past year, each member of our chapter has actively contributed in helping to plan and prepare for the National Convention. It should be an exciting weekend!
Highlights for celebrating Tau Beta Pi's quasquicentennial are as follows:
Thursday, October 7:
  • Welcome Dinner with guest speaker Dr. Lyle D. Feisel
Friday, October 8:
  • Banquet with guest speaker Dr. Terry J. Hart, Pennsylvania Alpha 1968
  • After-Banquet presentation: Einstein the Man, with Bill Landry, a one-man play.

Saturday, October 9:
  • Lehigh campus visit/Bent rededication
  • Initiation and Award Banquet with keynote speaker Dr. Alton D. Romig, Jr, Pennsylvania Alpha 1975
  • Entertainment Event- Casino night
For a detailed schedule of events or more information about Tau Beta Pi, visit Tau Beta Pi's Web site.

Posted on:

Wednesday, September 29, 2010