COSAM News Articles 2023 November COSAM honors Audrey Goins Cormier ’74 ’77 and Hyundai Motor Manufacturing at the Distinguished Alumni and Partner Awards ceremony

COSAM honors Audrey Goins Cormier ’74 ’77 and Hyundai Motor Manufacturing at the Distinguished Alumni and Partner Awards ceremony

Published: 11/13/2023

By: Maria Gebhardt

On Nov. 10, 2023, alumni, faculty and staff gathered for the 18^th annual Distinguished Alumni and Partner Awards in the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM). The highly anticipated event, hosted by COSAM’s Office of Advancement, provides an opportunity to celebrate the work of a COSAM graduate supported by the Dean’s Leadership Council. The 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to Audrey Goins Cormier ‘74 ’77. Additionally, a new award, the Distinguished Partner Award, was presented to Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) for their significant efforts to increase STEM skills with robotic programming and outreach for K-12 students throughout the state.

“I am beyond proud of the bold impact that these two outstanding award recipients have on students at Auburn University, future students that will benefit from their dedication and the entire workforce in the state of Alabama,” said Edward E. Thomas, Jr., dean of the college. “They have demonstrated an incredible commitment to COSAM, and they are leaving a lasting legacy through their hard work.”

2023 Distinguished Alumni and Partner Awards

</" width="640" height="480" />

Goins Cormier, who has had an impressive four-decade career at Chevron, is also a published author, excitedly accepted the award.

“I never imagined as a student at Auburn in the 1970s that I would one day receive such an honor,” she said.

Receiving an undergraduate degree master’s degree from COSAM, Goins Cormier shared her memories of what sparked her lifelong passion for science.

“I remembered as a little girl having test tubes of algae in my bedroom windows,” she explained. “We would even stop on family road trips to collect algae!”

Her time on the Plains helped her as she managed multiple aspects at a top-ranking Fortune 500 corporation.

“Auburn has set a standard that prepared me for my career at Chevron,” said Goins Cormier. “It is my goal to continue to give back, support and advocate for COSAM and this university.”

Dean Thomas then presented the Distinguished Partner Award to HMMA who partnered with Auburn University’s Southeastern Center of Robotics Education (SCORE) to create the Hyundai Initiative for Robotics Excellence (HIRE).

Beginning in the 2021-22 school year, the HIRE program helped to create and supported robotic teams in public middle schools in Montgomery County.

HMMA also sponsored the 2023 SCORE Showdown where 179 robotic teams from the U.S. and Canada competed.

Then in 2023, HMMA expanded their initial HIRE program to Autauga County Schools through the 2024-2025 school year.

“Hyundai is helping students develop critical STEM skills though robotics education in the state of Alabama and COSAM is grateful to help students in the state of Alabama prepare for rewarding career opportunities to add to this state’s talented workforce,” said Dean Thomas.