UA Engineering Dedicates Design Laboratory

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama College of Engineering will hold a dedication ceremony in honor of naming the James Massey Hire Jr. and Mildred Ray Hire Design Clinic Laboratory on Friday, March 23, at 10 a.m.

The James Massey Hire Jr. and Mildred Ray Hire Design Clinic Laboratory, located in Hardaway Hall, room 109, was made possible by a generous donation from Mildred Ray Hire to honor the memory of her husband, Jim.

The donation was specifically dedicated to operating the mechanical engineering design clinic, upgrading laboratory equipment, promoting the academic excellence of students in the College of Engineering, and purchasing necessary materials for student design projects.

Student engineering projects are expected to greatly benefit from the laboratory, and the projects designed in the lab resemble those that occur in “real-world” environments. Senior mechanical engineering students will use the lab to design projects, such as shingle lifting devices for Habitat for Humanity to reduce work-related injuries, and ride-on toys for children who have motor skill limitations and attend the RISE Program.

The Hires also endowed a scholarship that provides assistance to students pursuing degrees in mechanical engineering. The Hires are contributors to the Capstone Engineering Society. The couple supported UA’s Intercollegiate Athletics’ academic counseling fund, joined Tide Pride at its inception, and belonged to The University of Alabama National Alumni Association.

In 1837, The University of Alabama became one of the first five universities in the nation to offer engineering classes. Today, UA’s fully accredited College of Engineering has about 1,900 students and nearly 100 faculty. In the last seven years, students in the College have been named USA Today All-USA College Academic Team members, Goldwater scholars, Hollings scholars and Portz scholars.