TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama Society of Automotive Engineers chapter was recently recognized as the SAE International 2007 Honeywell Outstanding Collegiate Branch for Class Three. The chapter will be presented with a certificate and a monetary prize during the SAE 2008 World Congress Faculty Advisors Committee Meeting in April.

This award recognizes SAE collegiate branches for exemplary performance in the areas of membership and recruitment, technical meetings, networking opportunities, SAE collegiate design series teams and community service programs.

The Society of Automotive Engineers is a non-profit engineering and scientific organization dedicated to the advancement of mobility technology to better serve humanity. The organization focuses on standards development and promotes the testing, measurement, and design of automobiles and their components.

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 more than 2,300 students and more than 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.

The University of Alabama, a student-centered research university, is in the midst of a planned, steady enrollment growth with a goal of reaching 28,000 students by 2010. This growth, which is positively impacting the campus and the state's economy, is in keeping with UA's vision to be the university of choice for the best and brightest students. UA, the state's flagship university, is an academic community united in its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Alabamians.