One Voice | Government Advocacy for the Metalworking Industry

The Middle Tennessee State University Experimental Vehicles Program has received national acclaim, the university announced in a press release.

MTSU was presented the 2016 Clips & Clamps Industries Educational Institution Award as part of the Precision Metalforming Association Awards of Excellence in Metalforming.

The university earned the award for its Experimental Vehicles Program, which provides extensive hands-on experiences gained by creating and assembling vehicles to compete in collegiate competitions.

Saeed Foroudastan, adviser for the program and associate dean in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, accepted the award in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jeffery Aznavorian, president of Clips & Clamps, presented the plaque and a $1,500 grant to Foroudastan.

“This is a very prestigious award because Precision Metalforming Association is a nationwide organization with more than 900 member companies and represents $137 billion of the metalforming industry in North America,” Foroudastan said.

MTSU students “are devoted to excellence and working as team members to prepare their projects for competition,” Foroudastan added.

The program includes four experimental vehicle projects that divide students into peer-led teams where they must research, design and manufacture original vehicles. On average, 70 to 80 students per semester participate in the program.

Students are able to use the skills they gain from the program, including problem-solving, innovation and resourcefulness in the metalforming industry.

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