Thanks to the generosity and commitment of our alumni and friends we once again have good news to share with you in this issue of Virginia Engineering magazine.

Award-winning faculty and students, innovative research and school-wide excellence continue even in these troubled financial times, thanks to the support of our friends and benefactors.

Anticipated budget shortfalls over the next few years will impact our ability to attract and hire faculty and to offer students scholarships and innovative out-of-class experiences, such as you'll read about in this magazine.

Despite these financial challenges, we know we will continue to produce well-trained, well-educated engineers who are prepared to take leadership roles in the world of tomorrow. But we can do this only with your continued support. The survival of our school depends on it.

One of our most exciting achievements this year was hiring Deborah Johnson as the Anne Shirley Carter Olsson Professor of Applied Ethics. Professor Johnson came to us from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she directed the Program in Philosophy, Science and Technology. This chaired position was created by alumni Sture Olsson and his wife, Shirley. Other contributors provided matching funds for this wonderful gift. We would not have been able to establish this professorship or to attract an educator of Deborah Johnsonıs caliber without the support of our friends.

Another exciting addition made possible by alumni funds is the Washington, D.C., Internship Program launched last summer and supported entirely by annual fund contributions. This program allowed U.Va. Engineering School students to explore science and engineering policymaking at the highest national levels through internships in a variety of government offices. The students worked on projects such as space tourism, EPA regulations, science education funding and technology for national defense.

Other activities supported by donations this past year include a trip taken by AIAA students to Kennedy Space Center, where they witnessed a shuttle launch; and student participation in the American Solar Challenge, the world's longest solar car race. The solar car team worked throughout the year on design and construction of the car with major assistance from Boeing engineers. The race began in Chicago and ended 2,200 miles later in Los Angeles. In the process the students learned the importance of teamwork as well as the intricacies of solar-powered technology.

The list goes on. The A Wing of Thornton Hall got a face-lift with a beautiful renovation and construction of a display case that will showcase our works. Undergraduates participated in a design symposium with projects that included wireless communications and in-vitro evaluation of medications. Students in our Computer Science department won honors at a national web competition. All of these activities and more were made possible with contributions from many people who joined together to keep us on the forefront of engineering education and research.

We thank you for your generosity and assure you we will continue to put your support to good use for our students, our faculty and our programs.

Dean Richard Miksad