Faculty Honored With Annual Awards at Commencement

Several Rensselaer faculty members received Institute awards during Saturday’s Commencement ceremonies.

George List, professor and chair of civil and environmental engineering, received the David M. Darrin Counseling Award. The award was established by David Darrin ’40 to recognize a faculty member who has made an unusual contribution in the counseling of students and who demonstrates special concern for the welfare of students in and out of the classroom. The selection of the award recipient is made by Phalanx, the student leadership honorary society, based upon nominations received from campus.

"I can vividly remember when I first met Dr. List in the Introduction to Transportation course,” said one nominator. “He was full of energy and eager to meet with all of us upcoming civil engineers. Within the first two weeks his passion for transportation had rubbed off on me."

"His dedication and great intelligence, and caring soul should not go unrecognized and I feel this award would be the perfect way to show him our appreciation," said another nominator.

Boleslaw Szymanski, professor of computer science, received the 2002 William H. Wiley Distinguished Faculty Award. Established by Edward P. Hamilton '07 in memory of William H. Wiley (Class of 1886), the award honors those who have won the respect of the faculty through excellence in teaching, productive research, and interest in the totality of the educational process.

Linnda Caporael, professor of science and technology studies, received the 2002 Jerome Fischbach Faculty Travel Grant, which is funded by Jerome Fischbach '38 for contributions faculty members have made to the education and motivation of students.

Heidi Jo Newberg, associate professor of physics, received the 2002 Rensselaer Early Career Award, which honors productivity in both teaching and research.