 31 years ago, the University of Alabama College of Engineering began to recognize a select number of alumni who demonstrated excellence through their career and personal lives. Since 1988, more than 300 individuals have been recognized with this honor. Selection as a Distinguished Engineering Fellow is the highest honor the College of Engineering bestows. Through the hard work and dedication of each of these individuals, the field of engineering has been impacted greatly, and therefore, they have brought remarkable prestige to the University of Alabama. It's really about twofold. One, what you've been able to do in your professional career, but then also what you've been able to do as far as giving back to the university. To be classified in that group with them is a real big honor for me. These five outstanding individuals have proven themselves as excellent engineers, and they have contributed to their communities in numerous ways. Our fellows have worked diligently to enhance the rich tradition of the University of Alabama College of Engineering, and for their accomplishments, we salute this distinguished group. Johnny James Howes III, Richard Allen Nail II, Samir Shah, Annette Maddox Sled, Joan Reichwein Smith. Each of these individuals have represented the College of Engineering well by being a member of the University of Alabama community, pursuing knowledge, acting with fairness, integrity and respect, promoting equity and inclusion, fostering individual and civic responsibility, and striving for excellence in all they do. In doing so, the College of Engineering is humbled to call you our own, and takes pride in your accomplishments. It's humbling, actually, when you think about the history of the university and the history of the College of Engineering, it's the fifth engineering college in the country, so being recognized like this is just really humbling. To be named a fellow of the College of Engineering is really pretty cool to me. You go to school here, you do the work, you go out and you just try to be a good person and contribute to society, and when you get a recognition like this, it's just kind of overwhelming.