The Iowa State Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) beat out schools across the Midwest and Canada to claim the Outstanding Four-Year Student Chapter Award for 1994-95.

At the SME North Central Regional Conference in Madison, Wis., Oct. 20-21, ISU was given top honors in “recognition of overall education and teamwork in manufacturing,” said Cathy Curtis, College of Education relations coordinator.

The judging was based primarily on an annual report submitted by each student chapter.

“I’m kind of tickled,” said Terry Forgette, SME secretary. Forgette compiled and submitted the report. “I’ve kept complete minutes, reported on our activities and spent hours on graphics,” Forgette said.

Forgette said he was glad the group did so well. “We beat out UNI,” Forgette said with a laugh.

SME also earned first place for participation in the Certified Manufacturing Technology Exam and second place for its conference display. The display consisted of a scrapbook of activities and fund raisers the society has participated in during the last year.

John Riley, SME advisor, said the group’s display showed SME’s many innovative money-making ventures.

“They have a contract with an artist to cast buffalo heads for bookends,” Riley said. “The SME also takes field trips and invites speakers on subjects related to manufacturers.”

In the next year, Riley said, the ISU chapter will be “actively involved” in helping the senior SME chapter in Des Moines plan the 1995-96 regional convention that will be held in Des Moines.