DEAN's CORNER
Annually, I have the privilege of presenting awards to our College's brightest stars, namely our students, faculty and staff. This year's 13th annual College Excellence Awards recognized the significant achievements of those shining stars at the Norfolk Yacht & Country Club.
Among those honored that evening, students from all six of our engineering departments and our naval science division, a student with three patents already under his belt, another three finalists for the coveted University Kaufman Award, two future ensigns in the United States Navy, the female student with the highest graduating GPA ever in electrical engineering, three international students and one avid runner who does not like the otherwise highly touted Five Toes running shoe.
Several special recognition awards were announced, including two awards presented by Todd Whitesell and the Engineers Club of Hampton Roads, presented to Heather Nance and Kimberly Scheider, who received the Lee M. Klinefelter Award for Overall Excellence in Engineering Technology and the J. Harold Lampe Award for Overall Excellence in Engineering, respectively.
In toasting the achievements of our students, we are also able to honor all those who have helped make those individuals, and in turn our College, successful. The parents who have sympathized and motivated along the way. The friends and classmates who have worked diligently alongside (and had fun with) these scholars. The faculty and staff who not only shared their knowledge but also their passion. The supporters of the Batten College of Engineering and Technology who, in giving time and monetary gifts to the College, have aided the students to realize their scholastic dreams.
Not to be forgotten, also highlighting the banquet were our Excellence Awards given to faculty and staff. In categories which demand their nominees surpass routine work performance, these awards illuminate our most exemplary insiders. In fact, in its inaugural year, the Excellence Award in Engagement was actually given, not to an individual, but to the Civil and Environmental Engineering Visiting Council, a group which exemplifies everything the award was created to celebrate.
I am honored to be surrounded by such amazing talent and ambition and relish my role in applauding these persons each April. I encourage you to go to our photo gallery and view some of the images from the evening's festivities.