Batten College Honors Graduates and Supporters
Graduates and supporters of Old Dominion University's Batten College of Engineering and Technology were honored Thursday, May 12, at the BCET's Distinguished Honors Celebration.
During the event, held at the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club, a handful of key team members of the joint ODU/Hampton University team competing in the 2011 Solar Decathlon were also recognized and gave a short presentation to BCET supporters, outlining their progress with the project.
The Batten College Leadership Award was presented to Tommy Augustsson, a doctoral graduate in mechanical engineering. Augustsson has worked at General Dynamics since 1984, and is currently the company's chief information officer and vice president of information technology. A former member of the Army's Special Forces - Airborne Rangers, he has authored or co-authored more than 50 presentations and publications in science, engineering and management.
The BCET Humanitarian Award was bestowed on George Sadler, who has bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering management. Along with working nearly 40 years as a structural engineer, designing various industrial and military facilities, Sadler has been active in a number of charities, including the Union Mission, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity and the EDMARC Hospice for Children.
Stephen Wilkinson was presented the BCET Pioneer Award. A mechanical engineer who graduated in 1973, Wilkinson began studying drag reduction methods for aerodynamic applications as a civil servant working for NASA almost 30 years ago. His work helped lead to the development of the Speedo Lzr Racer swimwear line, a high-technology swimwear fabric used by Olympic athletes.
The Batten College Service Award went to William LaBelle. A former Navy cryptologic technician, LaBelle enrolled in the newly created computer engineering program at ODU in 1984, leading to a 20-plus-year career as a computer engineer with the U.S. Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center. LaBelle volunteers with many service organizations, including the Future City Hampton Roads steering committee, U.S. First Robotics, MathCounts Peninsula and the Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair.