The University of Toledo University Transportation Center : Student-of-the-Year

Joining Samir at dinner was his wife, Madhavi

Samir Dhar, a graduate student in the Department of Geography and Planning, was selected as the UT-UTC Student-of-the-Year. In addition to the $1,000 award, Samir received a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend the Council of University Transportation Centers (CUTC) Award Banquet and registration and expenses for the Transportation Research Board conference which started the following day. Joining Samir at dinner was his wife, Madhavi. Samir was one of the 46 students from across the country being recognized for their exceptional work in transportation.

 Keynote speaker at the dinner was the Honorable James Oberstar, Chairman of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, who also received the CUTC Lifetime Achievement Award.

Samir Dhar was born in Mumbai, India. He received a BS in Chemistry & Bio-Chemistry and minor in Dyes & Drugs. His MBA focused on IT, but he augmented his skill set by also working toward a Masters in Transportation Planning/GIS in the Department of Geography and Planning. 

His research has included work in developing and managing the GIS Data-Viewer for the  Upper Midwest Freight Corridor Study, developing the Great Lakes Maritime Information Delivery System for the Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute, and developing the GIS of all Ports/Docks in the Great Lakes region for the US Army Corps of Engineers. He has also worked on Location-Analysis for site selection for retail outlets and fire stations; developed the EMS routing between emergency centers and trauma centers; developed a detailed regional database of international air freight import/export volumes from the US to Europe, Asia and South America; and also worked on developing the GIS for the sewer system in the City of Toledo.

Samir was selected as Student of the Year because of the integral role he played in the successful completion of the Corridor Study and the combination of IT and academic rigor he brings to his research. 

UT Student Honored as MIOH-UTC Student-of-the-Year Chris Schroeder, a graduate student in the College of Engineering at UT, was selected as the Student-of-the-Year by the Michigan-Ohio UTC and was honored at the Council of University Transportation Centers Award Banquet in Washington, D.C. Joining him at this special occasion was his proud father, Thomas Schroeder, and MIOH-UTC assistant director, Patricia Martinico.

Chris received a $1,000 award plus registration and expenses for the Transportation Research Board conference in Washington, D.C.

Guy Schafer being congratulated for being named the Student-of-the-Year for the UT-UTC at the CUTC award banquet in Washington, DC

Guy Schafer, a graduate student in the department of Geography and Planning was named the Student-of-the-Year by the newly formed University of Toledo University Transportation Center and was recognized at the annual awards dinner of the Council of University Transportation Centers in Washington, DC on January 20th. The award is given to a student who has demonstrated technical merit and accomplishments in research, superior academic performance and displayed professionalism and leadership in transportation related work.

In addition to a $1000 cash award, Guy received funding for his expenses and registration to attend the annual Transportation Research Board conference in Washington which began the day after the awards dinner. Support for his wife to join him at the dinner was also included.
 

Guy Schaefer was born in Toledo, Ohio and remained in the area graduating from a suburban high school. He received a BA in Visual Communications from the University of Toledo in 1999. From 1998 to 2005 he worked in the transportation and logistics industry including employment at National Logistics Management where his duties included coordinating shipments and routing for Ford, General Motors and Daimler-Chrysler. In 2005, he returned to the University as a graduate assistant working toward a Masters in Transportation Planning/GIS in the Department of Geography and Planning.

His research has included work on the Upper Midwest Freight Corridor Study, work with the Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute and a study commissioned by a local port authority of air freight in the mid-west including imports and exports from Europe, Asia and South America. Guy was selected as Student of the Year for the University of Toledo UTC because of the integral role he played in the successful completion of the Corridor Study and the combination of industry perspective and academic rigor he brings to his research.

In May, immediately after the end of the spring semester, Guy started his new job at Ohio Module Manufacturing Co. LLC (OMMC), a division of Hyundai Mobis, in the materials department. Within a few months he was already involved in transportation changes that saved the company significant transportation costs. OMMC is part of an innovative co-located manufacturing project with the Chrysler Group in the City of Toledo. The suppliers – Hyundai Mobis, the Kuka Group and Durr Industries – are partners in the development, construction and daily operations at the Toledo manufacturing complex. OMMC will house a rolling chassis module which will include power train and drive train components, as well as wheels and tires for Jeep Wranglers.

Those of us at the UT-UTC are pleased that this outstanding transportation professional has remained in our region and is contributing to an exciting new automotive related endeavor.