The college recently dedicated two areas, thanks to the generosity of two prominent alumni. The Thomas Walter Center for Technology Management was rededicated, rebranded and relocated to 3341 Shelby Center following a generous gift from Walter, ’55 engineering physics. Established in 1989, the center is home to the business-engineering-technology minor, which is a joint program between the College of Engineering and the College of Business. The B-E-T minor educates and trains engineering and business students to develop new products, business models and startups, while working in a team environment. The two-year minor consists of seven courses that provide a thorough overview of all aspects of business. It is designed to add significant value to the engineering or business degree by preparing students to work in technology-intensive firms by training them to have the skills necessary for developing business plans, including market research, marketing, accounting and production management. The program also teaches technical skills, including intellectual property evaluation, patent research and engineering analysis of products and components.

The college also dedicated the first named area in the soon-to-be-constructed Brown-Kopel Engineering Student Achievement Center as the Ed and Peggy Reynolds Classroom. This state-of-the-art facility will enhance a multitude of student support services and revolutionize the engineering educational experience at Auburn. Ed,’70 electrical engineering, has demonstrated a strong commitment to the college throughout his career, serving as a member of the Auburn Alumni Engineering Council, the Electrical and Computer Engineering Industrial Advisory Board and the Wireless Engineering Industrial Advisory Board. He is a member of the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame and the Robert E. Lee High School Hall of Fame. He received the Distinguished Auburn Engineer award in 2012 and the Outstanding ECE Alumni award in 2013.