Kansas
State University achievements
2003
Engineering
*
Peter Pfromm, K-State associate professor of chemical engineering,
has been awarded a $25,000 Cargill Faculty Fellowship for bioprocessing.
The purpose of the fellowship is to strengthen the communication
and contacts between K-State engineering faculty and Cargill researchers
and production in the area of bioprocessing. Pfromm was presented
the award at a meeting Oct. 31 of Cargill representatives and
K-State faculty. November 2003
*
L.T. Fan, university distinguished professor of chemical engineering
at K-State, was awarded the 2003 Computing in Chemical Engineering
Award at the Computing and Systems Technology meeting of the American
Institute of Chemical Engineers at its annual meeting Nov. 16-21,
in San Francisco. The award recognizes outstanding contributions
in the application of computing and systems technology to chemical
engineering. Fan has traveled throughout the world for sabbaticals,
conferences, collaborative research and as a consultant to governmental
agencies and private corporations. He is the recipient of various
awards and honors including the Iionoya Award of the Society of
Powder Technology, Japan; an honorary doctorate from the University
of Veszprem, Hungary; and the Taiwanese-American Foundation Achievement
Award in Science and Engineering. Fan's research is diverse and
extensive, and has focused on process system engineering, reaction
engineering, biochemical engineering, transport phenomena, particle
technology and environmental engineering. He has authored or coauthored
seven books, several hundred refereed journal articles, and many
non-refereed articles. He is also credited with 14 patents. November
2003
*
K-State's chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers
was recognized with the "AIChE Outstanding Student Chapter
Award" for the ninth year in a row. The award is based on
many factors including chapter activities and student involvement.
It was presented at the Institute's 2003 Student Conference Nov.
15-16, in San Francisco. November 2003
*
A K-State graduate student in industrial engineering has received
a prestigious Graduate Student Researchers Program scholarship
to participate in research at NASA. Kyle Grabill, Kansas City,
Kan., was one of nine graduate students in the nation to receive
the scholarship from NASA, Kennedy Space Center. The scholarship
is for two years, $24,000 each year. It is awarded to graduate
students conducting research of high value to NASA. Grabill received
the award for his project, "Useful Life Prediction of Payload
Carrier Hardware," which examines the probability that various
carriers, fixtures that secure the payload to the space shuttle
payload bay, will reach their end-of-life term prematurely. The
project is headed by David Ben-Arieh, a professor of industrial
and manufacturing systems engineering at K-State, and is managed
by the Launch Services Program at Kennedy Space Center. Grabill
was vice president of the K-State Institute of Industrial Engineers
student chapter and graduated in May 2003 with a degree in industrial
engineering. He is now pursuing a master's degree in the industrial
and manufacturing systems engineering department at K-State under
the direction of Ben-Arieh. The NASA Graduate Student Researchers
Program awards about 300 fellowships each year for graduate study
leading to research-based master's or doctoral degrees in the
fields of science, mathematics and engineering. The program is
designed to help meet the continuing needs of the aeronautics
and space effort by increasing the number of highly trained scientists
and engineers in aerospace, space science, space applications
and space technology. September 2003
*
Brad Hammerschmidt, senior in geography and natural resources
and environmental science, Salina, and Renee Ecklund, junior in
electrical engineering, Herington, are among the 100 recipients
of the first Homeland Security Scholars and Fellows Program awards
from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The new scholarship
program was created to support the growth and mentoring of the
next generation of scientists who study ways to prevent terrorist
attacks within the United States, reduce America's vulnerability
to terrorism and minimize the damage and recovery efforts from
attacks that occur. August 2003
*
Kyle Mankin, K-State associate professor of biological and agricultural
engineering, was honored as the American Society of Agricultural
Engineers A.W. Farrall Young Educator for 2003. He received the
award at the society's annual meeting in Las Vegas July 27-31.
Mankin was recognized for his dedication and contributions to
research, engineering education and development of innovative
educational materials. His teaching efforts have included development
of an online engineering course offered through the Internet as
well as co-authoring a textbook, "Dynamics of Biological
Systems," released earlier this year. Many of his educational
efforts have sought to make teaching and research complementary
endeavors. He is an adviser of student research at the undergraduate-honors,
graduate and postdoctoral levels at K-State. August 2003
*
Extension engineers in the biological and agricultural engineering
department at K-State received two of the 15 awards given for
outstanding educational materials submitted for consideration
at the annual meeting of the American Society of Agricultural
Engineers. The first award recognized the computer program, "Mobile
Irrigation Lab Tool Kit and Software Users Guide," written
by Danny Rogers, Mahbub Alam, Gary Clark and Bob Stratton, extension
irrigation engineers; and Dale Fjell, extension agronomist. This
material provides irrigators a way to effectively schedule additions
of irrigation water, estimate fuel costs and use other tools to
minimize water use and costs for irrigation. The second blue-ribbon
was awarded for the fact sheet, "Nozzle Types for Boom Sprayers
for Crop Protection Products," by Robert E. Wolf and John
Slocombe, extension agricultural engineers at K-State; with colleagues
from two other universities. This sheet provides characteristics
of various types of spray nozzles and describes patterns of spray
and effect of wear on the flow through the nozzles. August 2003
*
Joseph P. Harner, professor and extension engineer for livestock
and grain systems, received the 2003 G.B. Gunlogson Countryside
Engineering Award at the annual meeting of the American Society
of Agricultural Engineers. He was selected in recognition of his
distinguished accomplishments in the design and development of
engineering practices concerning grain handling and storage and
livestock production practices. Harner is internationally recognized
for his efforts toward the improvement of animal production facilities
and waste management systems. He was a contributor to the Livestock
and Poultry Environmental Stewardship curriculum, a joint effort
of land-grant universities, funded by a grant from the Environmental
Protection Agency to harness the wisdom of experts across the
country in the establishment of a single core curriculum. August
2003
*
Zachary Cook, Plains, 2003 K-State graduate in agricultural and
biological engineering, was awarded the Robert E. Stewart Engineering
Humanities Award from the American Society of Agricultural Engineers
at their annual meeting in Las Vegas July 27-31. This award acknowledgesd
Cook's accomplishments as an outstanding student and a student
leader in the advancement of the interaction of the profession
and the humanities. Cook served as K-State's student body president
in 2002-2003, advocating increased international awareness among
students. His administration passed legislation to direct $80,000
of support for international programs each year. In August 2002,
Cook visited Israel and the West Bank on a Project Interchange
Leadership seminar to examine crisis resolution in the Middle
East. During the spring of 2001, he was an exchange student studying
at the Czech Technical University in Prague. His future plans
include pursuing a career in the field of environmental engineering
and public service through the U.S. Air Force. August 2003
*
Kimberly Kramer, an assistant professor of architectural engineering
and construction science, has received one of 10 national design
awards presented by the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute for
Design Excellence in 2002. The citation was presented in recognition
of excellence and exemplary efforts as a project team member on
an award-winning project. Kramer was the structural engineer while
working with the engineering firm of Gideon Toal Inc., Fort Worth,
Texas, on the award-winning Valeo Electronics Manufacturing facility
project in Forth Worth. July 2003
*
Steve Starrett, associate professor of civil engineering at K-State,
was named Outstanding Young Engineer of the Year for 2003 by the
Kansas Society of Professional Engineers. The award was announced
at the 2003 Kansas Society of Professional Engineers Annual Conference
June 11-13 in Overland Park. The Outstanding Young Engineer must
be under 35 years of age, be a licensed professional engineer,
and present evidence of professional, technical and civic activity
on both the national and state level. Starrett was nominated by
the Tri-Valley Chapter of the Kansas Society of Professional Engineers,
which includes the Manhattan and Salina area. Starrett's area
of concentration in the civil engineering department is water
resources engineering. He holds a B.S. degree from the University
of Missouri-Rolla and both an M.S. and Ph.D. from Iowa State University.
June 2003
*
Competing May 29-June 1 at the 2003 American Society of Agricultural
Engineers International Quarter-Scale Tractor Student Design Competition
in Moline, Ill., the 18-member Powercat Pullers team from K-State
outscored 29 other teams to capture first place. Last year's team
had taken second place, following three consecutive years of winning
the top prize. They scored 2027 out of a possible 2100 points,
being judged in five categories. They earned perfect scores in
written design report, oral presentation and maneuverability course,
took second overall in performance pulls and sixth in static design
judging. June 2003
*
A K-State student received a scholarship to participate in research
at NASA. Andrea Muraco, senior in industrial engineering, Manhattan,
received the $4,500 Langley Aerospace Research Summer Scholarship
to stay at NASA for 10 weeks during summer 2003 and participate
in a research project at the NASA Langley Research Center. She
will be working on a project initiated by David Ben-Arieh, associate
professor of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering,
in the Model Systems Branch, which is responsible for building
reduced-scale air and space experimental vehicles used for advanced
flight-testing and analysis. Muraco plans to graduate in December
2003, continue her NASA research and obtain a master's degree
in industrial and manufacturing systems engineering at K-State.
May 2003
*
Two K-State students received 2003-2004 American Nuclear Society
Undergraduate Scholarship Awards. Clell Solomon Jr., Wichita,
and Rebecca Simon, Topeka, both juniors in mechanical engineering,
each received a $2,000 scholarship for the fall academic semester.
Only 21 such scholarships are given nationally each year. The
scholarships are given to students who have completed two or more
years of undergraduate study leading to a degree in nuclear science,
nuclear engineering or a nuclear-related field. The American Nuclear
Society is a not-for-profit, international scientific and educational
organization established in 1954 for the development and safe
application of nuclear science and technology for public benefit.
May 2003
*
Two K-State students received Tau Beta Pi-Record scholarships.
Ben Downey, fifth-year student in architectural engineering, Evergreen,
Colo., and Sarah Woodard, senior in architectural engineering,
Colwich, each received $2,000 for the following academic year.
Only 40 such scholarships are given nationally per year. Students
are selected based on scholarship, extracurricular contributions
and accomplishment in areas that advance interests of the engineering
profession. Tau Beta Pi is an engineering honor society founded
in 1885 to recognize students of distinguished scholarship and
exemplary character. May 2003
*
A K-State professor received a Fulbright award from the J. William
Fulbright Scholarships Board to help develop guidelines to maintain
Malaysia's continually growing highway infrastructure. As a U.S.
Fulbright Visiting Scholar, Mustaque Hossain, professor of civil
engineering, will instruct a graduate level class in highway infrastructure
asset management and conduct research on "Development of
a Framework for Federal Transportation Asset Management in Malaysia,"
at the Universiti Putra Malaysia from August to December 2003.
Asset management includes maintaining and upgrading transportation
infrastructure to provide efficient, economical and safe transportation
for economic progress, social welfare, national defense, domestic
security and emergency preparedness. April 2003
*
Ruth Dyer, assistant provost at K-State, was awarded a national
fellowship that identifies and prepares promising faculty and
administrators for senior positions in college and university
administration. Dyer was named an American Council on Education
Fellow for the 2003-2004 academic year. She is among 38 individuals
selected for the fellowship this year in a national competition.
This prestigious fellowship program recognizes only those who
have demonstrated strong leadership abilities in higher education.
The fellowship program is designed to strengthen institutions
and leadership in American higher education. Of the 1,400 participants
in the first 38 years of the program, more than 250 have become
chief executive officers and nearly 1,000 have become provosts,
vice presidents or deans. April 2003
*
Two K-State architectural engineering students were elected in
January 2003 to national positions in the Architectural Engineering
Institute. Audra Dudte, Newton, was elected national student president
and John Schalekamp, Mission Hills, was elected national student
secretary by student representatives of the 14 student university
chapters of the Architectural Engineering Institute. They will
serve until January 2004. Dudte is also vice president of the
K-State Architectural Engineering Institute chapter. The Architectural
Engineering Institute provides a multi-disciplinary national forum
for members of architectural engineering and structural, mechanical,
electrical and architectural communities to examine technical,
educational, scientific and professional issues. The organization
was formed in 1998 through a merger of the National Society of
Architectural Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers
Architectural Engineering Division. April 2003
*
Three K-State students were offered Washington Internships for
Students of Engineering, bringing K-State's total WISE scholarships
to 35 –- more than any other school in the nation. The K-State
students selected are: Laura Bienhoff, senior in chemical engineering,
Kensington; Erin Green, senior in chemical engineering, Manhattan;
and Julie Quackenbush, senior in industrial engineering, Salina.
The WISE program provides an outstanding opportunity for engineering
students to learn how government officials deal with complex technological
issues. Each intern's summer experience culminates with the development
of a research paper on an engineering topic that is related to
a public policy issue. Each year, the WISE summer program selects
14 to 16 outstanding engineering students to spend 10 weeks in
Washington, D.C. March 2003
*
David Soldan, professor and head of electrical and computer engineering
at K-State, has been appointed to the Engineering Accreditation
Commission. Soldan is one of six members of the Institute for
Electrical and Electronics Engineers chosen to be on the commission,
which sets policies and criteria by which engineering programs
are accredited. The Engineering Accreditation Commission is part
of ABET Inc., a federation of 31 professional and technical societies.
ABET serves the public through the promotion and advancement of
education in applied science, computing, engineering and technology.
Among the most respected accreditation organizations in the United
States, ABET accredits some 2,500 programs at more than 550 colleges
and universities nationwide. Soldan has been an accreditation
visitor for 14 years. He is also a fellow of the Institute for
Electrical and Electronics Engineers and member of the committee
on engineering accreditation. March 2003
*
Yanzheng (Don) Guan, a K-State postdoctoral research associate,
has received the Ralph G. Nevins Physiology and Human Environment
Award. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning
Engineers sponsors the award, which recognizes individuals for
accomplishments in the area of humanity's response to the environment.
Guan received the award for research done at the Institute for
Environmental Research, a part of the K-State College of Engineering.
His major professor was Mo Hosni, head of the department of mechanical
and nuclear engineering. Guan has studied in both China and the
United States and received his doctorate in mechanical engineering
from Kansas State University in December 2002. March 2003
2005
Engineering
2004
Engineering
2002
Engineering
Achievements
index
K-State
College of Engineering
