Category: News

Prevent Accidents with Safety (PAWS) Award

Scott Wendt presented awards to Danielle Kehrig, Bob Lebrell, Olivia Munoz, Alex Reichenadter, and Alex Wright.

PAWS Safety Program Acknowledgements

Under the leadership and vision of Dr. Anton Pintar, the PAWS safety program was initiated during Spring Quarter, 1989.

The name of the program was suggested by Elizabeth A. Vary, a 19880-89 student in the Unit Operations Laboratory. Various aspects of the program were suggested by other students of the Class of 1989.

The program is a combination of features used in the SOAR (Stop, Observe, Act and Report) program at the BASF Corporation and the Praise Positive Program at the Dow Chemical Company.

The program continues to evolve and is supported financially through generous contributions from Professor Emeritus Dr. Anton Pintar.

Kimberly-Clark Communication Award

Laurie Couture-Dorschner presented the award to Alex Bank.

This award recognizes the winner of the Award for Excellence in Communication from the department of chemical engineering for the academic year.

Kimberly-Clark Professional Ethics Award

Laurie Couture-Dorschner presented the award to Olivia Munoz.

This award recognizes a student who has exhibited exemplary ethics and admirable professional conduct during Plant Design and Unit Operations experiences, and throughout their academic career at Michigan Technological University.

Dow Chemical Marriott W. Bredekamp Award

Tim Eisele presented awards to Michelle Hoard, Jonathan Iafrate, Dylan Turpeinen, and Kyle Thompson.

This award recognizes outstanding technical skills in the laboratory, outstanding teamwork and professionalism, effective oral and written communication, and strong adherence to process safety practices as recognized by your peers and supported by the faculty of the department. This award is in memory of Dr. Marriott W. Bredekamp.

 UOP Davis W. Hubbard Plant Design Team Award

Tony Rogers presented awards to Paul Langford, Travis Pellosma, Alex Reichanadter, and Cameron Roman.

This award recognizes an outstanding team in Chemical Engineering Plant Design during the academic year. Also, this award recognizes technical ability, consideration of the safety and environmental aspects of process design, outstanding written and oral communication skills, and overall teamwork and professionalism. This is awarded in memory of Dr. David W. Hubbard.

AIChE Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) of the Year

Jacqueline Harms, AIChE Student President, presented the award to Richard Machiela.

AIChE Research Faculty of the Year

Jacqueline Harms, AIChE Student President, presented the award to David Shonnard.

AIChE Teaching Professor of the Year

Jacqueline Harms, AIChE Student President, presented the award to Julia King.

Keynote Address

William Colton was the keynote speaker for the 2016 Department of Chemical Engineering awards convocation. Mr. William (Bill) M. Colton is Vice President, Corporate Strategic Planning for Exxon Mobil Corporation. Mr. Colton received his BS degree in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Technological University in 1975.

View the Convocation Photo Gallery in Chemical Engineering 2016

Michigan Tech Employee Service Recognition Event

On Wednesday, May 11, faculty and staff members, along with their guests, gathered at the Memorial Union Ballroom for an awards dinner recognizing 25, 30, 35 and 40 years of service to Michigan Tech. The following Chemical Engineering faculty were recognized:

25 Years
Faith Morrison, Chemical Engineering

30 Years
Gerard Caneba, Chemical Engineering

Read more at Tech Today, by Human Resources.

A Michigan Tech Professor has received a rare honor from a national professional society.

Faith Morrison (ChE), has received the Distinguished Service Award of the Society of Rheology. The award was presented to Morrison, who earlier this year was elected to the inaugural class of Fellows of the Society of Rheology, during the Society’s 87th meeting Oct. 13 in Baltimore. She was inducted as a Fellow at the meeting in Baltimore as well.

Morrison was just the tenth recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. She was recognized for her exceptional service to the Society of Rheology. She has been active in the society for decades having chaired the membership committee and constitutional reform committee and served on other ad hoc committees. She has served as both president and vice president and on the executive committee for six years. Morrison is currently the editor of the Rheology Bulletin.

Morrison says she was “surprised” at the banquet with the award. “I am honored to have been recognized in this way. The Society of Rheology is a wonderful professional home that has given me much more than I have given to the Society. I look forward to many more years of service.”

Komar Kawatra, chair of Michigan Tech’s Chemical Engineering Department, says Morrison’s recognition is deserved, “We congratulate Faith Morrision on this honor,” Kawatra says.

Morrison has served as the Society of Rheology designee to the board of directors of the American Institute of Physics since 2013.

The Chemical Engineering Department held a dedication to Dr. Komar Kawatra for the Unit Operations Laboratory on Wednesday, September 30th. The department’s External Advisory Board from industry attended and Dr. Glenn Mroz, Michigan Tech president and Dean of Engineering, Dr. Wayne Penington spoke at the dedication and several other Michigan Tech officials attended.

More photos can be seen on the Chemical Engineering Photo Gallery