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School of Engineering honors graduates, faculty
LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas School of Engineering honored its graduates at a recognition ceremony May 17. More than 300 students at the graduate and undergraduate levels earned the right to take part in the ceremony.
During the ceremony, nine undergraduate students were honored as the outstanding graduating seniors in their degree programs. The distinction recognizes involvement and leadership as well as academic ability. One of these students, Erin Lewis, was named the recipient of the Sammie and Carl E. Locke Award for outstanding graduating senior in the School of Engineering for 2009.
The outstanding graduating seniors for 2009 are
— Emily Julianna Arnold, Hillsboro, aerospace engineering
— Cory J. Chermok, Perry, computer engineering
— Michael Ryan Cribbs, Eudora, electrical engineering
— Eric Dale Fattig, Kearney, Neb., engineering physics
— Anthony Joseph Hoover, Wichita, chemical engineering
— John Dannley Kenny, Leavenworth, civil engineering
— Erin M. Lewis, Fort Scott, mechanical engineering
— Kevin Joseph Matlage, Olathe, computer science
— Katherine M. Rozkuszka, St. Louis, Mo., architectural engineering
The ceremony also recognized the academic, research and service endeavors of five faculty members.
Alice L. Bean, professor of physics and astronomy and engineering physics program director, was selected by students to receive the Henry E. Gould Award for Undergraduate Education. The award provides $4,000 for the recipient.
Bean has dedicated herself to developing undergraduate students into scientists, researchers and engineers. Her passion for her own research percolates into her teaching and drives her to push her students to develop a passion in each of them, a passion that along with the skills acquired in the classroom leads students to success. Bean provides opportunities for students to work on long-term research projects, expanding the work done within the walls of Malott Hall into the science society around the world.
Marylee Z. Southard, associate professor of chemical and petroleum engineering, was selected by students to receive the Henry E. Gould Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Advising. The award provides $4,000 for the recipient.
Despite a personally rigorous schedule, Southard makes an effort to be available for her students. She pays a great deal of attention to each of her advising students and helps them plan out an individualized schedule for anyone with special needs or interests.
Her concern for students exceeds her role as an academic adviser. Southard is more than willing to answer any question for any student in hopes of giving them guidance through their academic and professional careers. She engages her students wherever they cross paths, ensuring the students are doing well personally and academically.
Michael S. Detamore, assistant professor of chemical and petroleum engineering, was selected by a faculty committee to receive the Paul and Virginia Miller Professional Development Award for Research. The award provides $4,000 for the recipient.
Since joining the university in 2004, Detamore has secured more than $2 million in research funding from leading agencies. Among his many service activities are those that advance the research mission at KU. He is the biomaterials and tissue engineering track director for KU’s bioengineering degree program.
In the past 52 weeks alone, Detamore has graduated two doctoral students, had 15 papers accepted or published, submitted a new patent application, joined the editorial board of the leading journal in the field of tissue engineering, won a prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER Award and won a local research award.
Nancy G. Kinnersley, associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science, was selected to receive the Paul and Virginia Miller Professional Development Award for Service. The award provides $4,000 for the recipient.
Kinnersley is as comfortable with students in the classroom as she is with administrators at the highest levels of university governance. Kinnersley is the chair of the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department Service Course Committee, which administers the computer service courses for the entire student population at the university. She has served as the department’s scholarship program administrator for more than 14 years. Moreover, she is the primary organizer and manager of the department’s Computer Science Accreditation Board review process.
Kinnersley also is actively involved in service to the university. She has served in numerous capacities in University Governance for the past seven years, including Faculty Council, University Council and the Senate Executive Committee. This academic year, she was appointed to lead Faculty Senate as its president and chair of the Faculty Executive Committee.
Sara E. Wilson, associate professor of mechanical engineering, was selected by a faculty committee to receive the John E. Sharp and Winifred E. Sharp Teaching Professorship. The award lasts three years and includes an annual personal award of $5,000 plus access to $5,000 annually for instructional development.
Wilson has been deeply involved across the gamut in teaching activities from K-12 outreach to undergraduates to graduate students, while, at the same time, maintaining an extremely active and productive research program. She has developed and made use of a wide variety of innovative teaching methodologies, participated in a range of educational seminars and workshops and published on her educational activities.
Among her many awards and honors, she was named a Kemper Teaching Fellow in 2006 and was selected to receive the School of Engineering Miller Professional Development Award for Research in 2005.
The funds for these awards are managed by KU Endowment, the independent, nonprofit foundation serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment is the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.
Award winners are listed below by hometown, major, parents’ names, high schools and award.
BOURBON COUNTY
From Fort Scott 66701
Erin M. Lewis, mechanical engineering, daughter of David and Debbie Lewis; Fort Scott High School; outstanding senior in mechanical engineering.
DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Eudora 66025
Michael Ryan Cribbs, electrical engineering, son of Cathy Cribbs; Eudora High School; outstanding senior in electrical engineering.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
From Perry 66073
Cory J. Chermok, computer engineering, son of John and Sharon Chermok; Perry-Lecompton High School; outstanding graduating senior in computer engineering.
JOHNSON COUNTY
From Olathe 66062
Kevin Joseph Matlage, computer science, son of Brian and Julie Matlage; Olathe South High School; outstanding senior in computer science.
LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Leavenworth 66027
John Dannley Kenny, civil engineering, son of Kraig and Deborah Kenny; Leavenworth Senior High School; outstanding senior in civil engineering.
MARION COUNTY
From Hillsboro 67063
Emily Julianna Arnold, aerospace engineering, daughter of Don and Gayla Ratzlaff; Hillsboro High School; outstanding graduating senior in aerospace engineering.
SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita 67226
Anthony Joseph Hoover, chemical engineering, son of Joe and Donna Hoover; Wichita High School East; outstanding senior in chemical engineering.
MISSOURI
From St. Louis 63109
Katherine M. Rozkuszka, architectural engineering, daughter of Janette Seper; Nerinx Hall High School; outstanding senior in architectural engineering.
NEBRASKA
From Kearney 68847
Eric Dale Fattig, engineering physics, son of Bruce and Ann Fattig; Kearney High School; outstanding senior in engineering physics.
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