IN THIS ISSUE: ACES | CAMPUS REC | ENGINEERING | FAA | RESEARCH SAFETY | UNI HIGH
agricultural, consumer and environmental sciences
Charles Olson, assistant dean in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, received the first Jeffrey Moss Outstanding Leadership Coach Award from the Illinois Leadership Center in the Office of Student Affairs. Olson was nominated by Adam Schwartz, a 2006 graduate in agricultural accounting who earned his Illinois Leadership Certificate from the center. The award recognizes exceptional service as a Leadership Coach to a student working toward their certificate.
campus rec
Campus Recreation Center East recently won the Outstanding Sports Facility award from the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association. The award was presented April 8 at the association’s annual conference in Louisville, Ky. CRCE opened on March 30, 2005, to complete Phase 1 of the Campus Recreation renovation project.
engineering
The College of Engineering recently honored faculty and staff members with the following awards:
Bruce A. Conway, professor of aerospace engineering, received the Everitt Award for Teaching Excellence. Established in 1968 to honor retiring Dean William L. Everitt, the award annually recognizes one or more faculty members for their outstanding undergraduate teaching. Those honored are chosen by undergraduate students in the college.
Dale J. Van Harlingen, professor of physics, received the Tau Beta Pi Daniel C. Drucker Eminent Faculty Award. The award, considered the top award in the college, demonstrates the ideals of Daniel C. Drucker, dean of the college from 1968 to 1984. Youssef M. A. Hashash, professor of civil and environmental engineering, received the Collins Award for Innovative Teaching. Liang Y. Liu, professor of civil and environmental engineering, received the Stanley H. Pierce Faculty Award, which is presented to a faculty member and student who have “done the most to develop empathetic student-faculty cooperation.”
Leonard B. Pitt, professor of computer science, received the College of Engineering Teaching Excellence Award.
Mark A. Shannon, professor of mechanical and industrial engineering, received the BP Award for Innovation in Undergraduate Instruction. The award is presented to a faculty member who has introduced a successful innovation into undergraduate instruction in the areas of chemical engineering, chemistry, mechanical engineering, civil engineering and electrical engineering.
Stephen D. Bond, professor of computer science, and John S. Popovics, professor of civil and environmental engineering, received the Rose Award for Teaching Excellence. Intended to foster and reward excellence in undergraduate teaching, the award recognizes teachers who excel at motivating undergraduate students to learn and appreciate engineering.
Eight faculty members were honored with the Xerox Awards for Faculty Research. Awards are given to associate professors judged by colleagues to have conducted the best research during the past five academic years and to assistant professors judged by colleagues to have conducted the best research during the last academic year. This year’s award winners are assistant professors Gustavo Gioia, theoretical and applied mechanics; Farzad Kamalabadi, electrical and computer engineering; Paul J.A. Kenis, chemical and biomolecular engineering; and Erik Luijten, materials science and engineering. Associate professors honored: Jennifer T. Bernhard, electrical and computer engineering; Philippe H. Geubelle, aerospace engineering; Barbara S. Minsker, civil and environmental engineering; and Taher A. Saif, mechanical and industrial engineering.
The Materials Research Society announced its Top 5 Hot Talks/Cool Papers from its spring meeting last month in San Francisco for research that translates to general public interest or application. Research presented by Yi Lu, professor of chemistry, was named No. 3. He presented “Detecting Poisons Using DNA and Nanoparticles” which revealed the results from a team of UI scientists who developed technology to detect poisons in water.
fine and applied arts
Kyong Mee Choi, visiting lecturer in composition-theory in the School of Music, was honored with the American Society for Composers, Authors and Publishers/Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States Student Composition Commission First Prize Award at SEAMUS’ recent national conference at the University of Oregon. Choi, who received a doctorate from the UI in 2005, was recognized for work submitted while she was a student. The commissioning program is intended to stimulate student participation in SEAMUS activities, and to encourage young composers to pursue creative endeavors in electro-acoustic music. Choi’s piece will be performed at the 2007 SEAMUS conference and recorded for inclusion on the SEAMUS Compact Disc Series.
research safety
The Web site of the Division of Research Safety (www.drs.uiuc.edu) recently won second place in the national Home Page Competition sponsored by the Campus Safety, Health and Environmental Management Association, a division of the National Safety Council. The site was redesigned last year by Mike Kammin, visiting database interface specialist. Web sites were judged on editorial content, ease of navigation, consistency with the school’s image and goals. Winners will be recognized at the awards luncheon during the International Conference on Campus Safety at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, Calif., in July.
university laboratory high school
Elizabeth Jockusch, a math teacher at the University of Illinois Laboratory High School was selected to receive the 2006 Edyth May Sliffe Award for Distinguished High School Mathematics Teaching from the Mathematical Association of America. Jockusch, who is retiring this year after 26 years of teaching at the school, is one of 24 winners. The awards are given based on nominations from students on the 60 U.S. and Canadian school teams scoring highest on the MAA’s American Mathematics Contest 12, for high school seniors and below.