Convocation at Stevens Institute of Technology opens the new school year by welcoming an incoming undergraduate class and honoring the successes of students and faculty over the course of the previous academic year. On September 7, 2011, Stevens celebrated a particularly special Convocation event, welcoming Dr. Nariman Farvardin in his first semester as the Seventh President of the Institute. Dr. Farvardin and Provost and University Vice President George Korfiatis oversaw the presentation of the following faculty and student awards.

This year's honored faculty:

Master of Engineering (Honoris Causa)
George Meade Bond Professor & Director of the Center for Maritime Systems, Dr. Alan Blumberg, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to research, education, service, and commitment to invention and pursuit of discovery. Dr. Blumberg is one of the world's foremost experts in ocean dynamics and oversees important ocean observation and research programs that provide critical, life-saving information to public safety officials, transportation professionals, and members of the public regarding water conditions in the busy New York Harbor. Dr. Blumberg has appeared on many television programs to discuss monitoring and preventing damage from storms, and has consulted with UNESCO and US government agencies on maritime domain awareness and climate change.

2011 Jess Davis Memorial Award for Research Excellence
Professor Svetlana Sukhishvili and Professor Henry Du were recognized for their paper "Towards Full-Length Accumulative Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering-Active Photonic Crystal Fibers," that was published in collaboration with their students in Advanced Materials. Their collaboration resulted in a major advancement in photonic crystal fiber sensor development and has led to the award of interdisciplinary research activities with primary funding from the National Science Foundation and supplemental support from US Army ARDEC.

2011 Henry Morton Distinguished Teaching Professor

Given this year to Professor Ronald Besser of Chemical Engineering & Material Science, in recognition of exceptional teaching ability and demonstrated influence on students both in and out of the classroom

2011 Harvey N. Davis Distinguished Teaching Assistant Professor

Given this year to Dr. Peerasit Patanakul of the Howe School of Technology Management, in recognition of exceptional teaching ability and demonstrated influence on students both in and out of the classroom

2011 The Provost's Award for Excellence in On-Line Teaching

Steven Gabarro, from the Department of Computer Science, received this award for demonstrating a great influence on online students through Stevens award-winning WebCampus distance learning program.

2011 Meritorious Teaching in Laboratory Section

Awarded annually in recognition of meritorious teaching in laboratory, given this year to Norapath Pesirikan from the Department of Chemistry, Chemical Biology & Biomedical Engineering.

2011 Provost's Award for Academic Entrepreneurship & Enterprise Development

Dr. Kishore Pochiraju of Mechanical Engineering was recognized for the highly successful innovation, design, and development of CADeyes, an advanced mobile mapping system for creating dimensioned site and contour maps, and "as-built drawings" of both exterior and interior of building structures.

This year's honored students:

The Martha L. Kattwinkel Award

Established in 1952 by O. Frank Kattwinkel '48, in memory of his mother, this award is given to the member of the junior class who gives most unstintingly and unselfishly to Stevens. Juliette Turalski received the award this year.

The Colonel Basil M. Stevens Award

Established by Mrs. Basil M. Stevens in 1963 in memory of her husband, it is awarded to the member of the junior class who has been selected as being distinguished for courtesy and character. The award went to Armand Reyes.

The Ada and Edwin "Doc" Farrell Memorial Award

This memorial fund was established in 1987 in memory of "Doc" Farrell, athletic trainer from 1974 to 1987 and his wife Ada, by his three children. It is given annually to that Stevens undergraduate who is entering the junior or senior year, and who most typifies those standards "Doc" adhered to and constantly strove to instill in others:

Be involved in your community.
Be respectful and responsible.
Be honest and forthright.
Give of yourself to those in need.
Turn adversity into opportunity.

Richard Sanchez was the recipient of the award.

Ondrick Scholarship

Established in 1992 by Alumni and Friends of Professor William Ondrick, it is awarded to a student who is entering the senior year and who has outstanding academic achievement and contributed unselfishly to the advancement of music at Stevens. This year, Donna Barden and William Stackpole received the award.

The Gustav G. Freygang Award

Established in 1965 by the family, colleagues and friends of Gust G. Freygang, Class of 1909, and former professor of mechanical engineering, the award is presented to a member of the junior class for outstanding performance in the sequence of courses in mechanics. The award went to Mason Compton.

The President's Award for Community Involvement

This award is given in recognition for the undergraduate student who gives unendingly to improve student life. Kendra Appleheimer was the recipient.

Gear and Triangle Award
The Gear and Triangle Award is presented to a sophomore who showed great interest and dedication to student activities at Stevens during his or her freshman year. The award, established in 1991 by alumni of Gear and Triangle, confers recognition of the importance of giving to the Stevens community through student activities. Emily Hromada and Angela LoPiccolo received the award.

The Stute-Humanities Underclassman Award

This award is named in memory of Corey Graney '88 and is given to an underclassman entering their second or third year of enrollment at Stevens. The criteria is an involvement with the Stute, an interest in the College of Arts and Letters, engagement with current political and social events on and off campus, and a minimum 3.0 GPA overall. The award went to Emily Rautenberg.

Hans J. Lang Award for Excellence in Cost Engineering and Engineering Economics
The award is given annually to the member of the Junior Class in Engineering Management who has distinguished him or herself in the areas of cost engineering and engineering economics. This award is given in memory of Hans Joachim Lang '34 by his family and faculty of the Bachelor of Engineering in Engineering Management program. The recipient was Richard De Los Reyes.

The CRC Press Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award
This award is given to encourage students' interest in science. This award is given by the Chemical Rubber Company Press for scholastic achievement in chemistry during the freshman year. Daniel S. McLaughlin received the award.

Virgina & Kevin Ruesterholz Award
Virginia and Kevin Ruesterholz, Class of 1983, have established an award to recognize and reward a senior for outstanding achievement in Engineering Management. Award criteria include a minimum 3.3 GPA, active participation in professional development activities, and a written statement on the benefits of an Engineering Management program. The award was given to Joseph Manfredonia.

The Robert H. Seavy Award
Established in honor of Robert H. Seavy, Dean of Admissions, Emeritus. This award is given to the tour guide who best represents the values of Stevens Institute of Technology to prospective students and their families. It is presented annually to the tour guides entering their senior year and who have given two or more years of exceptional service to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The award went to Nicole Portner and John Ziegler.

The Charles L. Petchek Scholarship
Established in 1984 by Charles I. Petchek '44, this scholarship is awarded annually to the Stevens undergraduate who is completing the junior year and who has a strong interest in mathematics. Alaina Spicer received the award.

Tau Beta Pi's Freshman Engineer Award
This award is to recognize a freshman student who has shown excellence in the engineering field, as well as exemplary character. Dylan D. Hutchison was this year's awardee.

Panhellenic Council Academic Excellence Award

This award is presented to the Panhellenic Council sorority who has achieved the highest GPA for the Spring 2011 semester. The award goes to Delta Phi Epsilon who achieved a 3.2GPA. President Erin Boosmann accepted the award on behalf of her sorority.

Interfraternity Academic Excellence Award

This award is presented to the Interfraternity Council fraternity who has achieved the highest GPA for the Spring 2011 semester. The award goes to Sigma Phi Epsilon who achieved a 3.4 GPA. President Robert Truppner accepted the award for his fraternity.

The Stevens' Scholarship for Service Program

This year we are proud to recognize one student who will receive two-year scholarships through the Stevens Scholarship for Service Program funded by the National Science Foundation. This scholarship is awarded in recognition of the student's academic success in cybersecurity and their commitment to enter the federal work-force upon completion of their degrees. Dr. Susanne Wetzel presented the award to Ken Bodzak.

President's Cup
This year's winners of the President's Cup were the Women's Swim Team, which finished the year sixth in the nation, hosted the Empire 8 Swimmer and Rookie of the Year, and boasted the first, first-team Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-American in the program's history. The athletes participated in numerous community service programs including the Ted Mullin Hour for Power Relay and the nationally-recognized Duckling Program, among others. Furthermore, the team earned CSCAA All-Academic team honors and ended the year with a combined GPA better than a 3.3.

For their distinction with a blend of athletic success, academic achievement, and community service, captains Deanna Carrazza and Kim McCaffrey accepted the award from President Nariman Farvardin on behalf of the Women's Swim Team.

Thanks to Yaser Issa for all photos.