Melanie Vedvei, a 2008 industrial engineering graduate, has been named a Laureate by Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society. The annual program recognizes gifted engineering students who have excelled in areas beyond their technical majors.
The Laureate Program exists to further Tau Beta Pi's second fundamental purpose as stated in the Association's Constitution: " . . . to foster a spirit of liberal culture in engineering colleges." The primary concern of the society is to recognize students of superior scholarship and exemplary character and to honor eminent practicing engineers. The Society also encourages excellence in engineering education and in the ethical practice of engineering.
Vedvei is a 2008 Tau Beta Pi Laureate for her achievement in athletics. Vedvei displayed talent in basketball at an early age, earning a starting position on her high-school varsity basketball team as an eighth grader. She continued to exhibit her characteristic hard work and determination to excel on the squad at the School of Mines, winning the 2008 LeRoy Walker champions of character award, considered one of the most prestigious accolades in the NAIA. It honors a student athlete who excels in sports, integrity, and academics.
Vedvei was an NAIA Basketball All-American for the past three years, an NAIA Academic All-American in 2007 and 2008, and Dakota Athletic Conference basketball MVP for the past two years. She holds most of the school's records for women's basketball and is the all-time career steals leader for the NAIA. All this, in spite of collapsing with a season-ending knee injury during a game in January 2008.
Vedvei began coaching basketball, volleyball, and track in high school and continued coaching while in college. This has included serving at numerous youth camps and coaching a YMCA team. She led a youth basketball camp at the School of Mines for three summers.
On the academic front, she achieved a GPA of 3.94 and made the dean's list for seven out of seven semesters. Vedvei was a key contributor to many projects and was named to the school's Leadership Hall of Fame in 2008. She was a TBP - Record Scholar for 2007-08 and served as chapter vice president. Vedvei currently works as a manufacturing engineer with Daktronics in Brookings, South Dakota.
The Laureates will be honored with other 2008 national award winners on October 25, 2008, at the 103rd annual Convention to be held in Sacramento, California. Tau Beta Pi President Dr. Larry A. Simonson, P.E., assistant dean of the School of Mines College of Engineering, will present each recipient with a $2,500 cash award and a commemorative plaque.
