OXFORD, Miss. – A 2010 University of Mississippi School of Engineering graduate has been tapped as one of five Tau Beta Pi laureates nationwide.
Tau Beta Pi, the world’s largest engineering honor society, will recognize Christina Bonnington, who earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, and the other honorees at its national convention in October. The laureates, who receive $2,500 and a commemorative plaque, are honored for excelling in areas beyond their technical majors.
“There have been only 69 laureates named since 1982 and Christina is the first from Mississippi, so it’s wonderful to have someone from Ole Miss receive this recognition,” said Allen Glisson, UM electrical engineering chair. “This honor is well-deserved, and we congratulate Christina on this achievement.”
Cited for her achievements in the arts, Bonnington has studied ballet since she was 4, performing with troupes across the country. A founding member of the Oxford Ballet Company, Bonnington volunteered to teach at the Oxford Ballet School and spent the 2006-07 season performing professionally with Ballet Memphis.
“It’s really exciting and an honor to be recognized nationally for both of my passions,” Bonnington said.
A Taylor Medalist, UM’s highest academic honor, Bonnington was named a 2010 UM Outstanding Senior Engineer and was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi. Also an alumna of the UM Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, Bonnington served as an engineering ambassador, helping recruit potential students to Ole Miss.
A Houston, Texas, native, Bonnington lives in San Francisco, where she is working as an intern for gizmodo.com. She is continuing her ballet training and hopes to find a small dance company to work with part time.
The Tau Beta Pi Laureate Program, which exists to foster a spirit of liberal arts culture in engineering colleges, recognizes students of superior scholarship and exemplary character.
To learn more about UM’s School of Engineering, visit http://www.engineering.olemiss.edu.