Jason Stith, a CE senior from Vine Grove, Kentucky, has won a $1,000 scholarship from the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) Educational Foundation.  

Stith was one of three winners chosen from more than 150 applicants nationwide.   The three received special recognition at the AREMA 2003 Annual Conference and Exposition in Chicago earlier this month.  

“I was very happy to win, but I really had a sense of accomplishment when I found out how strong the competition was,” Stith said.

The scholarships are awarded to students with outstanding academic records and interest in railroad research.

Jason Stith (looking at screen) conducted field studies at locations in Kentucky and Indiana.   Stith’s research will allow engineers to gain more precise data on track fatigue and could lead to improved track design.  Graduate student Bei Su is shown with Stith.

“Jason is an excellent student academically and is a very diligent worker,” said CE Professor Jerry Rose. “He’s actually involved with graduate level research even though he is still an undergraduate.   I suspect he will finish his master’s thesis before he has received his undergraduate degree.”

Stith is a member of the University Scholars program and is pursuing BSCE, MSCE and MBA degrees.

His research involves developing a new technique for measuring pressures in railroad track structures using sensors made by Tekscan, a Boston-based manufacturer of measuring systems.

Stith’s research on the upper portion of track underneath the rail allows engineers to gain more precise data on track fatigue and will also provide geometry-related information that would lead to better and safer design of track elevation on curves.

Before the procedure was developed, estimates could be obtained, but the new technique permits acquisition and confirmation of hard data.   “We’ve been able to verify estimates in the field,” said Stith, who conducted field studies in Richmond, Paris and Conway, Kentucky, and Milford Junction, Indiana.

“This technique provides a much improved assessment and measure of the pressure levels and distributions under the rail than has been previously available,” said Rose.   The technique has not been used previously in railroad applications.

“This technique will likely have several direct applications in many future track research studies,” Rose added.

The research is supported by CSX transportation as part of an ongoing CE track research program at UK.

Stith is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Stith of Vine Grove and is a graduate of Central Hardin High School.   His father is a 1972 UK CE graduate.