Clemson awards more than 1,000 degrees, including first Ph.D. in automotive engineering

Published: December 17, 2009

CJ Spiller accepts his diploma from President James F. Barker. image by: Clemson University

CLEMSON — Among the more than 1,000 degrees awarded during winter graduation Thursday at Clemson University was the first Ph.D. in automotive engineering, earned by John Limroth of Austin, Texas.

“The recognition and attention associated with being the first Ph.D. graduate are nice,” said Limroth, ”but I am more excited to be graduating with the experience I received from a premier program that has an international focus.”

Limroth has already started working at Michelin as a tire-performance research engineer. Clemson launched its automotive-engineering program in 2006 at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) campus. The program graduated nine master’s degree students in 2009. Limroth is the first to graduate with a Ph.D.

Also graduating with Ph.D.s were three PEER alumni: Sarina Kay Sinclair in bioengineering and James Gibert and Tiffany Camp in mechanical engineering. PEER — Programs for Educational Enrichment and Retention — assists minority students in the College of Engineering and Science at Clemson.

Of the 1,188 degrees conferred, 877 were bachelor’s, 251 master’s and 60 Ph.D.s.

Judge Joseph Fletcher Anderson Jr., a 1972 Clemson graduate, received an honorary Doctorate of Laws during the ceremony. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan appointed Anderson to the federal bench. At 36 years old, Anderson was the youngest federal judge in South Carolina history. He still holds the position to this day. He completed a term as chief judge for the District of South Carolina, serving from 2000 to 2008.

Webb Smathers Jr., a professor of applied economics and statistics at Clemson, received the Class of ’39 Award for Excellence. The award, which includes a $5,000 stipend, was established by that class to recognize faculty members for the highest achievement of service to the student body, the university and the community. The recipient also becomes an honorary member of the class.

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