College of Engineering recognizes staff at Awards of Excellence celebration
For the 22nd time, College of Engineering staff members were recognized at the Staff Awards of Excellence celebration.
Arvind Raman, the John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering, welcomed approximately 220 people, including staff, faculty and guests, for the Dec. 8 event at the Shively Club at Ross-Ade Stadium. Raman said about 520 staff members, working in 27 departments, support the college.
Raman said the group are "professionals with expertise, mastered through years of education, sharpened through experience and unmatched in your dedication to your craft." He called staff "invaluable members of the Boilermaker family."
The Dean’s Staff Affairs Committee is responsible for reviewing all nominations and selecting the award winners each year.
The event recognized leadership, hard work, dedication, a positive outlook, teamwork and going above and beyond, said Will Sondgerath, assistant dean for staff.
"Excellence is part of the character of the College of Engineering," said Sondgerath, who thanked staff for being an "integral part" of the college.
Sheri Tague, Professional and Management Customer Service Award
For the Professional and Management Customer Service Award, Amanda Limiac (School of Agricultural and Biological Engineering), Matt Golden (Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering) and Tague (School of Mechanical Engineering) were named finalists. Tague, senior graduate program manager, was named the winner for “developing creative and innovative methods to provide a high level of customer service while consistently maintaining a positive attitude.”
Frank Lee, Support and Service Customer Service Award
Finalists for the Support and Customer Service Award were Lee (School of Mechanical Engineering), Mary Ann Satterfield (Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering) and Yvonne Hardebeck (School of Agricultural and Biological Engineering). Lee, lead engineering technician, was announced the winner for "consistently going above and beyond, demonstrating exemplary leadership, professionalism and dedication to students.”
Xiaomin Qian, Leah H. Jamieson Leadership Award
Qian, lead program admin specialist for the School of Mechanical Engineering, was named the winner for "continued demonstration of initiative, innovation and leadership while promoting a positive environment for faculty, staff, students and visitors.” The other finalists for the Leah H. Jamieson Leadership Award were Kathy Heath (Lyles School of Civil Engineering) and Joe Tort (Office of Professional Practice).
Colleen Coulter, Management and Professional New Employee Excellence Award
The New Employee Award finalists were Alan Cesar (School of Aeronautics and Astronutics), Coulter (Graduate Education) and Patrick Francis (Office of Professional Practice). Coulter, who is the assistant director of graduate recruitment, was announced the winner for “exhibiting uncommon initiative on the job, a strong desire to improve and an exemplary positive attitude."
Jordan Gilman, Support and Service New Employee Award
Finalists for the Support and Service New Employee Award were Gilman (Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering), Deborah Johnson (School of Mechanical Engineering) and Maureen Kane (School of Aeronautics and Astronautics). Gilman, facility manager, was named the winner for a "providing innovative solutions, demonstrating incomparable leadership and cultivating a positive workplace by exemplifying an encouraging and helpful attitude."
Jorge Martinez, Professional Achievement Excellence Award
Jorge Martinez (Engineering Projects in Community Service) was named the winner of the Professional Achievement Excellence Award. Martinez, lead outreach program manager, was recognized "routinely going to above and beyond expectations to achieve excellence for the EPICS program" in a field that also included finalists Denise Driscoll (Center for Innovative and Strategic Transformation of Alkane Resources) and Michael Logan (School of Mechanical Engineering).
Jami Butler, Outstanding Business Office Staff Excellence Award
Jami Butler, research account specialist, was recognized as the Outstanding Business Office Staff Excellence Award winner for “consistently performing above and beyond expectations while demonstrating genuine care for faculty, staff, students and other colleagues.” The other finalists in the category were Alexyse Martin (Davidson School of Chemical Engineering) and Kyle Nine (Lyles School of Civil Engineering).
Elizabeth Pearson, Outstanding Academic Advisor Excellence Award
The finalists for the Outstanding Academic Advisor Excellence Award were Elizabeth Pearson (School of Industrial Engineering), Jamie Seadeek (Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering) and Laurie Snyder (School of Agricultural and Biological Engineering). Pearson is a senior academic advisor and was recognized for “driving excellence, continuously going above and beyond expectations and treating others with respect" and a "positive attitude even under the most difficult of circumstances.”
James Goppert, Outstanding Research Staff Excellence Award
In the Outstanding Research Staff Excellence Award, the finalists were Anthony Cofer (School of Aeronautics and Astronautics), James Goppert (School of Aeronautics and Astronautics) and Venkat Athmanathan (School of Mechanical Engineering). Goppert, the managing director of Purdue's UAS Research and Test Facility, was selected as the winner for “striving to increase opportunities to collaborate with researchers across the university and further with the design and construction of the Purdue UAS Research and Test Facility.”
The GEARE 20th anniversary team event
The team award was given to the group that planned and executed the GEARE 20th anniversary event that includes (from L-R in the photo) Heather Fabries, Jenny Strickland, Joseph Tort, Jared Pike and Francisco Montalvo. The team was recognized for "planning and implementing a celebration highlighting two decades of a unique network of universities and industry partners dedicated to developing the world's best engineers through study abroad, global work experiences and global engineering design team projects."