Pi Tau Sigma

In the spring of 1965, a group of junior and senior mechanical engineering students under the leadership of Dr. Donald J. Helmers, initiated the idea of forming a Pi Tau Sigma Chapter at what was then called Texas Technological College. With the help of and guidance of Professor James W. Bayne, National Secretary-Treasurer, a petition for membershi... p was circulated among the existing chapters in the fall of 1965. The petition was approved and the Texas Tech Sigma Epsilon Chapter was officially installed on April 15, 1966, by Professor E. Kent Springer, National President: Dr. D. R. Haworth, Regional Vice President: and Dr. John W. Weibelt of Oklahoma State University. The chapter is actively involved in support efforts for both Mechanical Engineering department and the College of Engineering. A recently initiated project is the evaluation of professors in the department. This evaluation process is organized at the end of each semester so that suggestions regarding the quality of the course can be made by students. Evaluations are reviewed by the chairperson and appropriate steps are taken. Other activities include Professor of the Year Award, which is given to the best professor and the Purple Shaft Award, which is given to the professor with a quality to improve upon. With the twentieth century came the realization that honor societies made a definite contribution to the department and that membership required active participation. Pi Tau Sigma came into being on March 16, 1915, at the University of Illinois. A similar organization embarked November 15, 1915, at Wisconsin, and other local organizations (such as the Carzeuran of Purdue) were soon to become active. The early leaders: Professors C. R. Richards, A. C. Willard, and 0. A. Leutwiler of the University of Illinois; G. L. Larson of the University of Wisconsin; G. A. Young of Purdue University; and J. V. Martenis of the University of Minnesota, stand out for their early contributions. In ten years Pi Tau Sigma grew to six chapters in the Midwest ...Read More