West Virginia Wesleyan College
Physics & Engineering News
December 2007
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Meet Our Freshman Class

The Department of Physics and Engineering is pleased introduce our freshman class. Sixteen 3/2-Engineering students are enrolled in our Engineering Design course, and we have 7 freshman Physics majors.

Our students have expressed interest in the following fields of engineering: civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and petroleum engineering. Other students have expressed interest in medical physics, physics teaching, and becoming a research physicist.

Students are participating in football, soccer, snowboarding, percussion ensemble, student government, jazz band, guitar, Bonner scholars, and the Green club.

 The 2007-8 Freshman General Physics class

The 2007 Physics and Engineering Homecoming Reception

Our department's homecoming reception was held on October 20, 2007. We asked our alumni about their jobs. Barry Carbaugh (1982) works in Pittsburgh for Chicago Bridge and Iron, where he designs liquefied natural gas terminals. Barry earned an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University.

Andy Aurelio (2002) works as a mechanical engineer at the National Lab in Morgantown. Beth Doleschal Crutchfield (1991) works as an electrical engineer at RMF Engineering in South Carolina. Brian Montgomery (1998) works as an electrical engineer for the National Institute of Justice in Washington, DC. Joe Burgess (1982) works for U.S. Bank in Minneapolis.

Dr. Gary Nichols (1997) obtained an M.D. from West Virginia University and works at the Sistersville General Hospital along with his wife, Dr. Amanda Myers Nichols. Jessica Cochran (2002) has earned a D.O. from the Illinois College of Optometry.

 Photographed at the homecoming reception are: Michael Scruggs, (father of student Mike Scruggs), Dr. Popson, Andy Aurelio (2002), Dr. Wiest, Trent Girard (Computer Science, 1997), Joe Burgess (1982), Laurie and Brian Montgomery (1999), and Beth Doleschal Crutchfield (1991).
Internship News
In February, Dr. Wiest announced that Wesleyan has received funding from NASA for 5 summer internships for students to work on projects at Wesleyan in the summer of 2008.

Last summer, Jackie Queen had an internship at Penn State's Department of Electrical Engineering, where she studied nuclear quadrupole resonance under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Schiano. Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation. The previous summer, Tom Tyson had an internship with Dr. Schiano, and Tom is now pursuing an M.S. in Electrical Engineering at Penn State.

Phil McElfresh and Josh Mullenax worked at a NASA summer internship at Wesleyan involving cosmic ray research under the supervision of Dr. Wiest.

Scott Roberts worked at a NASA internship involving hyperfine structure using Raman spectroscopy in Dr. Wiest's laser lab. Duncan Oliver worked at a NASA summer internship involving high-temperature superconductivity in Wesleyan's solid state lab.

Meet Bob Grose

In 1998, Bob Grose started working as our instrument technician after retiring with 37 years of experience as a machinist at Corhart Refractories. We are fortunate to have a person with Bob's skills.

Bob has worked on a van de Graaff generator, the vacuum system for the mass spectrometer in Dr. Wiest’s lab, an open channel fluid loop in the Engineering Measurements lab, and the helium dilution refrigerator in Dr. Popson’s lab. Bob has also supervised internships in the machine shop for our students.

In his spare time, Bob enjoys restoring antique automobiles. He also participates in Civil War re-enactments. He dresses up as a soldier and shoots a cannon that he built.

Can-Struction

Our students participated in Can-Struction project at Homecoming. They constructed a model of Wesley Chapel from donated cans of food. Afterward, the food went to the Food Pantry to help needy families.

Model of Wesley Chapel, constructed of cans of food. Note the shrubbery in front.

News From Our Alumni

Dr. Gary (1997) and Dr. Amanda Myers Nichols (1997), Sistersville, WV, announce the birth of their third child, Colby Dane, who was born on August 20, 2007. He is welcomed home by his sister, Sadie, and his brother, Mason (see photo).

Zach Fowler (2002) was nomed Outstanding Teaching Assistant at West Virginia University, where he is pursing a Ph.D.

On July 7, 2007, James Abraham (1994) married Meghan Walsh. Jim is the Radiation Safety Officer at Colorado State University.

Brian (1998) and Laurie Kimball Montgomery (1998), Glen Burnie, MD, announce the birth of their first child, Paige Rhianne, who was born on April 10, 2007.

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