Endowed Scholarship Fund Established in Polymer and Materials in Honor of Dr. Walter Bradley
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WACO, Texas (Nov. 9, 2018) – The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) South Texas Section has established The Dr. Walter Bradley Polymer and Materials Endowed Scholarship Fund in honor of Walter Bradley, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering in Baylor University’s School of Engineering and Computer Science. The scholarship serves as a tribute to Bradley’s contributions in establishing and ensuring the success of the materials science program at Baylor.
“The students from the Baylor chapter of the Society of Plastics Engineers are exceptionally grateful for the support of the South Texas Section of SPE,” said David Jack, Ph.D., associate professor of mechanical engineering and Baylor SPE faculty adviser. “The support from the South Texas Section has been invaluable since the Baylor chapter’s formation five years ago, and their guidance aided the student chapter in bringing home the International SPE Student Chapter of the Year Award in 2017 and runner-up in both 2016 and 2018.”
Members of the SPE South Texas Section announced the endowed scholarship Nov. 6, during a dinner hosted at the Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative (BRIC), a 330,000-square-foot facility optimized for both research and advanced prototyping. Attending the event were leaders of the polymers industry, Bradley’s former students and colleagues and current student members of Baylor’s SPE chapter.
Bradley retired from Baylor in 2012 after eight years of service. During his tenure, he developed a new area of research on polymer composites using agricultural waste like coconut shells and coconut husks. Prior to his time at Baylor, Bradley established and led the Polymer Technology Center at Texas A&M University for 10 years and also established and served as the director of the Composites Materials Division of the National Science Foundation’s Research Center for Offshore Technology at Texas A&M.
The Dr. Walter Bradley Polymer and Materials Endowed Scholarship Fund is a tribute to his exemplary career and a tribute to his work and influence in his field. This endowed scholarship fund provides assistance to deserving Baylor students enrolled in the School of Engineering and Computer Science.
Materials science is one of the five signature initiatives of Illuminate, Baylor’s academic strategic plan. Research in materials science has been active among Baylor faculty for several years. Working individually and across a range of colleges, schools and departments, these faculty have garnered external funding, provided high-impact learning experiences for undergraduate and graduate students and are identifying solutions to challenges facing high-visibility industries. Investments in Materials Science will position Baylor as a leader in technologies that make products faster, stronger and lighter, providing solutions for enhanced quality of life.
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Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 17,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.
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With more than 10 percent of Baylor University’s freshman class pursuing major courses of study in the School of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS), the focus remains on preparing graduates for professional practice and responsible leadership with a Christian worldview. ECS majors include bioinformatics, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, general engineering and mechanical engineering. Among ECS graduate programs are Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees in all disciplines, and several dual-degree programs. The Teal Residential College for Engineering and Computer Science, in which students and faculty live, fosters the pursuit of wisdom, academic excellence, and meaningful relationships for the development of diverse, innovative leaders.