NEWS

Louisiana Tech University Mechanical Engineering senior, Corey Fyfe, earned the Society of American Military Engineers Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (SAME ROTC) Award of Merit, being selected as an Outstanding Air Force ROTC Engineering Student of the Year.

The SAME Award of Merit is a bronze medal with a bronze key replica that is awarded to junior and senior engineering students in the ROTC. Fyfe, a member of the Air Force ROTC was one of only 20 students across the nation to win the award.

“I am honored to have been nominated and selected to receive the SAME Award,” Fyfe said. “One of my greatest desires in life is to positively impact the lives of others by taking on challenges that America faces, so I am grateful that a society with the same passion has recognized me. I owe a huge thanks to all those who have invested in me and supported me throughout my college journey including my professors, both at Northeast Texas Community College and Louisiana Tech University, my AFROTC leadership at Detachment 305, and my wife, family and friends.”

The award has been issued each year since 1948, and awardees are nominated by professors in military science and technology, naval science, and aerospace studies.

U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Ritter, Commander of Louisiana Tech Air Force ROTC Detachment 305 and Dr. Heath Tims, associate dean of undergraduate studies for the College of Engineering and Science nominated Fyfe for the award because of his drive and success in engineering competitions and projects.

“Corey Fyfe has competed and won various level awards at bridge building competitions, aerodynamic modeling competitions and ‘open’ engineering design expositions,” Ritter explained. “He’s an aspiring pilot who was awarded an Air Force ‘You Can Fly’ scholarship. Additionally, he has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, led our largest cadet corps as Cadet Wing Vice Commander, planned and executed a 15-school AFJROTC drill competition and pioneered a tutor/mentoring program designed to better prepare engineering freshmen for their impending coursework.”

“I am pleased that the ROTC selected Corey for the Outstanding AFROTC Engineering Student of the Year,” Tims added. “He is a dedicated student who performs his academic duties with the same commitment that he shows in his ROTC activities.”