USC Viterbi School of Engineering : Viterbi Departmental Awards

Eyre Associates Award - For Outstanding Achievement in Mechanical Engineering
2008 Award Winner: Reed Doucette
Prior to the department merger, the Erye Associates were an alumni support group for Mechanical Engineering. This award, which recognizes an AME student who has demonstrated academic excellence throughout their undergraduate academic career, honors the Erye Associates’ contributions over many years to the support and development of the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering.

John Laufer Memorial Prize
2008 Award Winners: David Bunch, Tomas Campuzano, & Lane Dalan

John Laufer established the Aerospace branch of USC’s AME Dept in 1964 and served as chairman of the Department for 19 years. He was an internationally known experimentalist in fluid mechanics and had an illustrious career that included spans at Cal Tech, NBS and JPL, in addition to the many years he spent at USC. He was instrumental in developing the Sr. Experimental Projects Laboratory, a culminating experience for all students within the AME Department. In his honor, the Department established the John Laufer Memorial Award to recognize the student or students with the most scientifically meritorious project in the Senior Experimental Projects Laboratory.

Bleeker Award - For Craftsmanship
2008 Award Winners: Matthew Miller, Sarah Straus, and Matthew Warren

Al Bleeker was an enthusiastic, dedicated supporter of undergraduate experimental studies. As a friend, technician and teacher, Al counseled over two generations of laboratory students. The faculty, students and friends of the AME Department as a tribute to Al’s contributions established this award, for excellence and imagination in the design and construction of experiments during the senior year laboratory course.

Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Student Achievement Award
2008 Award Winner: Robert Bowman and Jennifer Colgrove

The Achievement Award is given to the students in the AME Senior projects laboratory who have shown outstanding ingenuity and performance in the design, construction and testing of their senior project.

ASTRONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

Astronautics Faculty Award for Student Achievement
2008 Award Winner: Paul Giuliano

This Award is given annually to the Astronautical Engineering undergraduate whom the faculty feel has best demonstrated excellence in leadership and initiative.

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

Fred S. Grodins Award - For Academic Excellence in Biomedical Engineering
2008 Award Winner: Yan Lin Lye

Dr. Fred S. Grodins may be considered one of the founding fathers of the field of Biomedical Engineering. Trained as an MD, he established himself as a pioneering researcher in the application of control theory to physiological systems, in particular the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. In 1967, Dr. Grodins was recruited to USC from Northwestern University to establish a formal program in Biomedical Engineering. Under Dr. Grodins' leadership, an independent graduate program was established in 1969, and in 1974 the BME undergraduate program was initiated.

The Fred S. Grodins Undergraduate Award recognizes a graduating senior for outstanding academic achievement in the BME program. The eligibility criteria for this award include a high, or highest, cumulative major and overall GPA in the senior BME class, as well as an established record of participation in bioengineering research and service to the department and/or university.

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & MATERIALS SCIENCE

L.L. Handy Award - For Outstanding Academic Achievement in Petroleum Engineering or Chemical Engineering
2008 Award Winner: Alena Mulina

After working 15 years for Chevron Research, Lyman Handy joined USC in 1966 bringing his experimental research expertise leading to significant studies in miscible processes, capillary action, surface and interfacial phenomena, foam and thermal processes. He was instrumental in establishing a successful Ph.D. program by attracting industrial and government sponsored studies. Handy also gave substantial stability to the Petroleum Engineering Department by successfully recruiting three endowed chairs. He served as the Chairman of Petroleum Engineering Department for 20 years. Additionally, Handy served the Professional Society of Petroleum Engineers as an editor and as the Director of its Los Angeles Based Section. Handy received much professional recognition including the AIME award and SPE's distinguished member award.

Handy was a source of inspiration to his students in emphasizing experimental work. His former students are now serving petroleum companies, research laboratories and academic institutions throughout the world. To honor his contributions to the field, the annual Lyman L. Handy award recognizes an outstanding chemical engineering senior, with an emphasis in petroleum engineering, who has an excellent academic record and demonstrated service and leadership capabilities.

Charles J. Rebert Chemical Engineering Outstanding Student Award
2008 Award Winner: Kelly Nakamura
Professor Rebert joined USC in 1955 after receiving his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University. Until his passing in1982, he was the faculty advisor to USC's student chapter of AIChE. He also devoted much of his time advising students about academic and career goals. In honor of Professor Rebert's dedication to students and service to the Department and University, an endowment fund in his memory was established after his untimely death.

In 2005, to honor the thoughtfulness and generosity of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends who established the endowment, the Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science added Rebert’s name to the Chemical Engineering Outstanding Student and Outstanding Service awards. The outstanding student award is given to a graduating senior with the highest academic achievement. The outstanding service award is given to a graduating senior who has performed the most service to the department, university, and community.

Charles J. Rebert Chemical Engineering Outstanding Service Award

2008 Award Winner: Chelsea Miller
Professor Rebert joined USC in 1955 after receiving his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University. Until his passing in1982, he was the faculty advisor to USC's student chapter of AIChE. He also devoted much of his time advising students about academic and career goals. In honor of Professor Rebert's dedication to students and service to the Department and University, an endowment fund in his memory was established after his untimely death.

Ronald G. Minet Award for Best Design Project
2008 Award Winner: TBD

The Minet Award was established to honor the late Dr. Minet who taught the Chemical Engineering Senior Design Project class for over 15 years. The recipient of this award is chosen based on the best senior design project submitted in Chemical Engineering 480. Students should have demonstrated ability and creativity in incorporating various essential elements in Chemical Engineering process design, including technical economics, safety, environmental, as well as social considerations.

CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

David M. Wilson Associates Awards

For Outstanding Achievement in Civil Engineering
2008 Award Winner: Peter Humphrey

For Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Engineering
2008 Award Winner: Cameron Dixon

David M. Wilson Associates (DMWA) was founded in 1959 by a group of alumni who felt a loyalty to Professor Wilson for his untiring devotion to USC and his Civil Engineering students. As the longtime Chairman of the Civil Engineering Department, Professor Wilson assisted numerous students to the point of drawing from his own funds. He gave so generously that, upon his retirement, he had little left to live on. Former students came to his aid and assisted the man who had been so important to their careers. When Professor Wilson passed away, the DMWA turned their energy and financial support to the Civil Engineering Department and became one of the first philanthropic support groups at USC.

To this day, DMWA continues to offer scholarships and fellowships to civil and environmental engineering students. Thousands of engineers have benefited from the tremendous engineering education they received thanks to the generosity of alumni who came before them. This award honors the student with the highest GPA.

COMPUTER SCIENCE

Computer Science Award for Outstanding Service
2008 Award Winners: Trevor Johns and Kristin Parker

This award is given to students who have distinguished themselves in service by volunteering time and effort in support of their department.

Computer Science Outstanding Student Award

2008 Award Winners: David Blyth and Gershom Payzer
This award is given to a graduating student in CSCI who has achieved the highest
GPA both in their major and university wide.

Computer Engineering/Computer Science Outstanding Student Award
2008 Award Winners: Nathaniel Houk and Mikel King

This award is given to a graduating student in CECS who has achieved the highest
GPA both in their major and university wide.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

Philip S. Biegler Memorial Award - For Outstanding Achievement in Electrical Engineering
2008 Award Winner: Nathan Dahlin

Professor Philip S. Biegler, chair of the electrical engineering department, was the first USC dean of engineering. Under Biegler’s leadership, the new College of Engineering moved from the “Red Barn”, a temporary structure put up during World War I, to headquarters in Bridge Hall. Biegler began laying a foundation for further growth by recruiting a number of excellent teachers and expanding into the new Petroleum and Chemical Engineering Building. In his honor, this award honors the EE student with the highest GPA.

INDUSTRIAL & SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering Outstanding Student Award
2008 Award Winner: Stephanie Herzog and Stacey Schwartz

The founder and CEO of ConAm Management Corporation, Dan Epstein used his USC ISE education to become a leading real estate developer and manager. In 2003, Mr. Epstein donated $11 million to the department to recruit new faculty members in multiple areas of Industrial and Systems Engineering, including two endowed chairs, the first of which was filled by Prof. Sheldon Ross in Fall of 2004. The Department became The Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering - the first named department at the University of Southern California, and only second named Industrial Engineering Department in the United States. Outstanding students are recognized based on any one of several criteria, including scholarship, leadership, and service to the Epstein Department, the Viterbi School, the University, or the Community.

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