Kathryn Cooper, secretary, received the Staff Service Award. In her nomination, she was cited for her across-the-board support of students, staff and faculty. She has been with the Weldon School for six years in a support role to Brian Knoy and the development efforts and Alyssa Panitch and the school's research efforts.  However, she has responded to requests for help on workshops, symposiums, seminars, visit schedules, printer supplies, and ordering food and making coffee. According to the nomination: "Kathryn has a non-stop positive attitude. She greets every visitor with a genuine warmth and caring. There is no better representative of the Weldon School, nor a more deserving nominee for our service award. Going "above and beyond" is standard operating procedure for her."

Kevin Otto, associate professor of biomedical engineering and biological sciences,  received the Faculty Service Award. This award is presented to the faculty member who contributes the most to the School in a service role. In the nomination, Kevin was praised for his high level of energy, thoughtfulness and organization as Chair of the Awards Committee. The Weldon School has needed to have significant effort and awareness regarding awards to raise the profile of our school for quite some time. Kevin has put in the needed effort.  In addition, he is organizing information (Google Scholar, and Cvs) to improve the nomination process and increase school visibility. He is also a faculty advisor to two student groups, the Purdue chapter of BMES and BMEGSA.

Deva Chan, a December PhD candidate, received the Geddes-Laufman-Greatbatch Award.  This award is presented to the most outstanding BME student or post-doctoral fellow for the academic year and recognizes outstanding research.  Dr. Leslie Geddes, late professor of biomedical engineering, established this award after he received the 1987 Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation Laufman-Greatbatch Prize in recognition of the importance and unparalleled diversity of his contributions in biomedical instrumentation. Already at this early stage in her career, Deva is an exceptional researcher who is well on her way to becoming an authority in the areas of medical imaging (specifically MRI) and soft tissue biomechanics. She is currently collecting final data and writing initial drafts for an additional manuscript that she will submit as a first author before her graduation. According to her nomination, "Collectively, her work will likely represent a new paradigm in noninvasive experimental measures of soft tissue mechanical behavior."

A new award, the Tacker Prize for Outstanding Teaching in Biomedical Engineering, was also presented this year.  Named after Willis Tacker, professor emeritus of basic medical sciences and biomedical engineering, and established in 2011, this award recognizes the top teaching faculty member in biomedical engineering nominated by biomedical engineering students, faculty, or alumni. The selection is based on student evaluations, teaching innovations, and level of engagement between candidates and students.  Charles Babbs, associate research scholar in basic medical sciences, and Young Kim, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, were the 2011 and 2012 recipients, respectively.

The BMEGSA awarded the Staff of the Year and Faculty of the Year awards to the staff and faculty members who contributed the most to BMEGSA and the graduate student population in general.  Amanda Dalton, custodian in building services, received the Staff of the Year Award. Amanda has been with BME since the MJIS building opened, 6-1/2 years ago.  Young Kim, a dual winner this year, won the BMEGSA Faculty of the Year Award.

Congratulations to all of our award winners for recognition of a job well done!