Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award

Awards to USA, Canada, and International young engineering educators affiliated with accredited engineering schools who are successfully preparing students for future challenges. Selected awardees will participate in an international program that fosters contact with practicing engineers in the government and industry.

Program Overview:

Reflecting the firm belief of its donor that young engineering educators are the most effective link between engineering students and their future careers, the SAE Ralph R. Teetor Educational Fund's major program is focused on younger engineering educators. Its objective is to provide an engineering atmosphere that these teachers can meet and exchange views with practicing engineers.

The program accomplishes this by underwriting the costs of annually bringing engineering educators to the SAE World Congress & Exposition in Detroit, Michigan, or the SAE AeroTech meeting held every other year. These events attract more than 45,000 engineers who share common interests in research, design, development, production, and utilization of land, sea, air, and space vehicles.

Besides having the freedom to attend their choice of technical sessions, the SAE Teetor Award participants are invited to attend SAE technical committee meetings, take part in visits to industrial and research facilities, and an awards ceremony. Special functions allow the group to meet with officers of SAE, as well as to get to know each other better. The participants are encouraged to tour the Exposition and to talk with as many practicing engineers as possible.

As a feature of the Award program, one of the major automobile manufacturers and one of the leading aerospace corporations are hosts-for-a-day to the participants. The host's engineering and research department customarily arrange specialized tours and sessions where new techniques are demonstrated and discussed. At other forums, views are exchanged on subjects of mutual interest to the engineering educators and the host engineers.

The Teetor Program has been an important part of the SAE service and educational story since 1963. It has provided an unparalleled opportunity for more than 800 engineering educators to develop a better understanding and closer relationship with practicing engineers. Since its inception, Teetor Award recipients have represented over 200 universities and colleges.

SAE Teetor Award Alumni continue to develop new concepts in teaching, engage in research programs, participate in local industrial-college efforts, and assist SAE Sections, thanks to their exposure to industry via this unique program. They have continued to interface with industry and government bodies by serving on the SAE Board of Directors, on administrative , executive & technical committees, and by actively supporting other educational programs administered by SAE.

Judging and Criteria:

A board of judges comprised of both academic and industry personnel will review the material and select the participants. Outstanding educators will be chosen from the ground vehicle category and from the aerospace category.

The judges will base their selection on the following criteria:
-Contributions to teaching and curriculum development
-Contributions to research, including grants, independent research and professional development
-Publications related to SAE mobility interests
-Applicant's education, leadership in student activities, and participation in engineering society activities
-Applicant's three support letters
-Benefits anticipated from participation in the Teetor program