Above: Professor Aaron Ball (left) works with Danny Perry, a senior engineering technology major from Canton.

Aaron Ball, professor of engineering and technology at Western Carolina University, was honored with the 2009 Outstanding Teaching Award from the Southeastern section of the American Society for Engineering Education.

The award recognizes faculty members who have made exceptional contributions to engineering or engineering technology education through outstanding classroom performance. Ball received a certificate and $500 cash prize at the annual section meeting.

Winners are selected based on criteria including knowledge in their subject area, enthusiasm for effective teaching, ability to challenge students to think creatively, availability for advising students and record of service in the field and with professional organizations. Nominators submitted evidence of outstanding classroom performance, such as regular course evaluations and letters of recommendation from students and supervisors, as well as other documentation.

Ball holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Appalachian State University and a doctorate of education with a concentration in industrial and manufacturing engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He joined the WCU faculty in 1977.

As part of his efforts to create experiential-learning opportunities for students, he recently developed an environmental test chamber, a unit the size of a walk-in cooler where temperature and humidity can be controlled for tests conducted by engineering students. In addition, his students have gained experience with cost-cutting engineering projects for regional companies including Caterpillar and Volvo.

Earlier this year, he worked with graduate students on analyzing the capabilities of a rapid prototype machine at WCU and exploring applications of quality enhancement vision systems. A third project involves research of organic-based polymers, which could under some circumstances biodegrade in as little as six weeks. In contrast, plastic drink bottles could last hundreds of years in a landfill, said Ball.

“These have provided exceptional opportunities for students to gain engineering experience,” said Ball. “As adviser for all of the Asheville-based engineering technology students, I am fortunate to be able to work with students on live projects that provide learning in and out of the classroom.”

For more information about WCU’s engineering and technology programs with the Kimmel School, call (828) 227-7368.

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Last Modified: Wednesday, May 13, 2009