Guests returned to the Shively Club at Ross Ade Stadium on Friday, Dec. 10, to personally recognize the 27 College of Engineering staff members for the 20th Annual Staff Awards of Excellence celebration. Mung Chiang, the John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering, welcomed nearly 160 guests, who included staff members and their families, friends and colleagues. “Our staff keep us moving, advising us what to do, enabling Purdue to be the largest top 10 engineering school in the country,” Chiang said.

Assistant Dean for Staff Will Sondgerath emceed the event and recognized the members of the Dean’s Staff Affairs Committee, which is responsible for reviewing all nominations and selecting the award winners each year. “Tonight, we are recognizing leadership, hard work, dedication, a positive outlook, teamwork, and going above and beyond. Excellence is part of the character of the College of Engineering,” said Sondgerath.

Lori Pence, Professional and Management Customer Service Award

For the Professional and Management Customer Service Award, Brian Barrett (Herrick Labs), Lori Pence (Dean’s Office), and Tyler Stone (ECN) were named finalists for the award. Pence, associate director for student success, was named the winner for “providing solutions to myriad financial challenges facing students and their families related to college affordability through honest, intentional and informative conversations.”

Michelle Moody, Support and Customer Service Award

Finalists for the Support and Customer Service Award were Tami Armstrong (ME), Cathy Elwell (ME), and Michelle Moody (Zucrow Labs). Moody, a lead operations clerk at Zucrow Laboratories, was announced the winner for "her exceptional level of professionalism in providing services to students, faculty and staff.”

William Schoenlein, Leah H. Jamieson Leadership Award

The Leah H. Jamieson Leadership Award finalists were Deborah Horton (JTRP/CE), Julia King (ME), and William Schoenlein (BME). Schoenlein, preclinical studies manager in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, was named the winner for "leading large-scale preclinical trials with Cook Biotech and other external stakeholders.” 

Francisco Montalvo, New Employee Award

The New Employee Award finalists were John Grundy (Dean’s Office), Francisco Montalvo (OPP), and Kaylene Shepherd (ME). Montalvo, who is the assistant director of global projects in the Office of Professional Practice, was announced the winner for “his skill in developing new programs in collaboration with global university partners to provide experiential learning opportunities for students.”

Maeve Drummond Oakes, Professional Achievement Award

Finalists for the Professional Achievement Award were Maeve Drummond Oakes (CISTAR), Beth Hess (ME), and Beth Holloway (Dean’s Office and WIEP). Oakes, assistant director for education for CISTAR, was named the winner for “her exceptional leadership in strategic planning and implementation of core CISTAR educational programs.”

Melissa Westendorf, Business Office Staff Excellence Award

Melissa Westendorf, who serves as the business manager for CEM, EEE, GEPP, INMaC, and CMSC, was recognized as the first recipient of this new award, for her "exemplary skills in providing business support for multiple departments, always with a positive and professional attitude.”

Curt Oechsle, Academic Advisor Excellence Award

Also, the first recipient of a new College Award, Oeschsle is the interim director of First-Year Engineering advising and academic success coordinator. He was recognized for “his exceptional skills and consummate professionalism in advising a wide variety of students.”

Kaisa Ejendal, Research Staff Excellence Award

The third new award recognized Karin (Kaisa) Ejendal, who is a research scientist in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, for her “enormous, positive impact on a variety of research groups and her excellent mentoring of graduate students.”

The CE, ECE, and ME Online MS Staff Team Award

The Team Award, which was announced prior to the awards banquet, was given to the Civil Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering Online MS Staff Team. The team consists of Deborah Bowman (ECE), Matt Golden (ECE), Xiaomin Qian (ME), Cathy Elwell (ME), Stacy Lane (CE), Elisheba VanWinkle (ECE), Lynn Hegewald (ECE), Jennifer Ricksy (CE), and Sheri Tague (ME, not pictured). The team was recognized for their hard work, dedication, initiative and innovation that was instrumental in the successful implementation of the online master’s degree programs launched in the College of Engineering.