Rakesh Agrawal, the Winthrop E. Stone Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering, received the 2006 Chemical Engineering Practice Award. This award recognizes outstanding chemical engineering contributions in the industrial practice of the profession.

Ron Andres has been selected to receive the 2006 AIChE Nanoscale Science & Engineering Forum Award. The award was given for the first time last year and Ron is the first academic to receive it.

Chelsey Baertsch received the NSF Career Award. The award "recognizes outstanding scientists and engineers who, early in their careers, show exceptional potential for leadership at the frontiers of knowledge. This Presidential Award is the highest honor bestowed by the United States Government on scientists and engineers beginning their independent careers."

Steve Beaudoin was named Associate Head of the School of Chemical Engineering, replacing Prof. Ramkrishna, who is returning to full-time teaching and research.

W. Nicholas Delgass was awarded the New York Catalysis Society Excellence in Catalysis Award "for his numerous, significant, contributions to catalysis science...as a premier teacher, mentor, and collaborator whose enthusiastic support of catalysis science and technology continues to inspire his many students, associates and colleagues in the field."

Michael Harris, who is now also the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, was honored with national and local awards: He received the 2005 AIChE Grimes Award for Excellence in Chemical Engineering--an award presented by AIChE's Minority Affairs Committee recognizing his outstanding achievements as a distinguished role model for minorities. Prof. Harris was also honored at the Engineering Faculty Recognition Banquet, receiving the Mentoring Award (won previously by Profs. Delgass and Houze).

Hugh Hillhouse was promoted to Associate Professor

Joe Pekny, professor and director of the E-Enterprise Center, was honored with Purdue's "One Brick Higher" Award. The School now has two individuals within the past year who have received the award. Jeff Valley on the Staff won last Fall. According to Purdue President Martin Jischke, who presented the award, "Joe's nominators call him enthusiastic, positive and inclusive. He encourages teamwork and his creative ideas continue to help advance Purdue's strategic missions...He has shown through his work exactly what Purdue is all about. He has shown that topnotch work leads to topnotch results."