Virginia Tech Alumni Association News - Fall 2000
Awards
Each year, the Alumni Association recognizes excellence in achievement and service by students, faculty, and alumni. These awards, added to others presented by the University, are among the most valued programs of the Alumni Association, helping advance the academic reputation of Virginia Tech.
William E. Wine Awards for Excellence in Teaching
Andrew S. Becker - Foreign Languages and Literatures
Becker specializes in Latin, Greek, and Classical Studies, and his scholarship includes a book and articles on Greek and Latin literature. In addition to regular classes, he has taught 34 independent studies and has been active in Honors, Residential Leadership, and Tech's Center for European Studies and Architecture. His students praise his demanding humanity, love of languages and literature, infectious passion, ability to draw on his extensive knowledge of other cultures and his insistence on both accurate understanding and imaginative engagement.
Julie L. Ozanne - Marketing
Ozanne has been a pioneer in the development of critical and feminist research perspectives in marketing. With her students, she has developed a strong program of research in this area, resulting in several publications. She has developed a number of innovative exercises designed to enhance her students' experiences in her classes to bring the material to life. She has served as an advisor and mentor to students, not only academically and professionally, but in their development as young adults.
Andrew J. Stremmel - Human Development
Since becoming director of the Virginia Tech Child Development Lab School in 1996, Stremmel has provided leadership in transforming the program to enhance the professional development of students in a setting where they experience the connections between theory, research, and practice. He works with his students as they develop and see themselves as change agents, researchers, activists, and reflective thinkers.
Alumni Awards for Excellence in Teaching
Jimmy T. Arnold - Mathematics
Arnold is widely regarded by students and faculty members alike as one of the most effective and helpful teachers on campus. He has been instrumental in bringing technology and group work into traditional lecture courses, transforming elementary linear algebra into a CyberSchool course, and has taught exclusively at the Math Emporium. He has been at the forefront of shaping the future direction of the curriculum.
Beth M. Waggenspack - Communication Studies
Waggenspack is a pedagogical innovator, transforming the Rhetorical Traditional course into a very popular offering in the University Core Curriculum. Well-known across campus and in the community as a passionate advocate for teaching and learning at all levels, she is recognized by honors students, majors, graduating teaching assistants, and peers as a well-loved master teacher.
Alumni Awards for Excellence in Extension
Joyce A. Martin - Montgomery County
Martin's outstanding record of leadership, dedication, involvement of volunteers, and insight have brought state and national recognition to the Montgomery County Extension 4-H program.
Robert M. Shaffer - Forestry
Shaffer has an outstanding record of leadership and accomplishment in providing quality educational programming to Virginia's logging industry. As a result of his contributions, injuries have been reduced, the environment is better protected, and the industry is witnessing an increase in profits.
Alumni Award for Excellence in Academic Advising
Daniel B. Thorp - History
Thorp recognizes all students who make a 3.0 and above with letters of congratulations, but doesn't give up on those who need additional encouragement. One former advisee recalled "he showed me that the greatest benefit of a liberal education was not to earn a large pay check, but to learn how to think and express myself through words." His extraordinary commitment to undergraduate advising extends beyond his own advisees and as a result of his efforts, the department made significant changes that improved advising and class scheduling.
Alumni Awards for Excellence in Research
R. Michael Akers - Dairy Science
Akers has been exceptionally effective in his research to advance the understanding of milk synthesis and lactational physiology to increase productivity in the dairy industry and provide an understanding of the role of growth factors in development of human breast cancer. He was among the first to develop receptor assays for prolactin, and studied changes in concentrations of hormones in response to milking-related stimuli. He is the current editor for the Journal of Dairy Science.
Layne Terry Watson - Computer Science and Mathematics
Watson is distinguished by the range of disciplines in which his research has produced significant and notable influence. His research in linear complementarity theory, polynomial root location, and convergence behavior has provided solid results in fundamental mathematics, while his research in numerical analysis has led to the solution of challenging problems in biology, computer vision, statistics, and several engineering disciplines.
Alumni Award for Excellence in International Programs
Gene Egger - Architecture
"When I think of international programs at Virginia Tech, I think of Gene Egger," remarked a member of the selection committee. One of Egger's signal accomplishments to the theory and practice of internationalization at Virginia Tech is the establishment of the university's Center for European Studies and Architecture in Riva San Vitale, Switzerland. He was a seminal figure in bringing to fruition the goal of founding a place where Virginia Tech students can absorb the values that result from an extended experience in another culture. Because of his example, over one-half of the faculty members in architecture have participated in study-abroad programs, and Egger has personally guided the international studies of some 1,500 architecture students.
Sporn Awards*
Teaching of Introductory Subjects
Terry Papillon - Foreign Languages and Literatures
Papillon's positive influence on hundreds of students, his energy for teaching, his consideration for students and his professionalism and motivational skills are an example for all Tech faculty members. He does interdisciplinary research on the history of rhetoric, published a book on Demosthenes and is currently completing a volume of translations of the speeches of Isocrates.
Teaching of Engineering Subjects
William L. Conger - Chemical Engineering
Conger is a well-respected and admired engineering professor and dedicates himself to students in and out of the classroom. He makes students feel both comfortable and confident in the classroom and has a true skill for communicating ideas to his students in a clear and concise manner. As department head, he is able to play an active role in students' lives throughout their time at Tech.
Graduate Teaching Assistant Excellence
Wairimu Njambi - Interdisciplinary Studies - Blacksburg, VA
Graduate Student Service Award
Roderic Brame - Geological Sciences - Radford, VA
William H. Ruffner Medal*
John D. Wilson
When the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors selected John D. Wilson for the William H. Ruffner Medal, it noted that he was the "epitome of a scholar and a leader whose love of learning has permeated every facet of his life." Wilson served Virginia Tech as executive vice president for academic affairs and provost from 1975-1982 before becoming the 21st president of Washington and Lee. He retired from the Lexington university in 1995. An honors graduate of Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in history, he was named to the first Academic All-American football team and played on the 1952 national championship team. A Rhodes Scholar, Wilson received his master's degree in English literature from Oxford University. He served two years in the United States Air Force, then returned to serve his alma mater as assistant to the vice president of academic affairs. He then served as assistant to the president of the State University of New York. Returning to Michigan State, he helped lead the Honors College, serving as assistant director and program director and later was appointed director of undergraduate education and provost. Immediately prior to coming to Virginia Tech, he served as president of Wells College in Aurora, N.Y. Wilson has been credited with transforming Virginia Tech into a comprehensive university that values the arts and humanities along with the sciences and engineering, and with establishing the university's intellectual agenda as paramount.
Alumni Distinguished Service Awards
Robert B. Delano '45
Robert B. Delano was one of the nation's most influential agricultural leaders for more than three decades. After many years of active leadership in agricultural and civic organizations, Delano was elected president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, the world's largest agricultural organization, representing more than three million farm families. After his successful leadership of the federation, Delano was reelected as president of the Virginia Farm Bureau. Despite his busy schedule in running a large farm operation and providing leadership in the agricultural arena, he has always found time to give back to his state and community, as well as remain an active alumnus of Virginia Tech. He has devoted considerable time and talent to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumni Organization, has served on the College of Veterinary Medicine Citizen Committee and the National Campaign Committee. He was Virginia Tech's Distinguished Achievement Award recipient in 1991.
John G. Rocovich Jr. '66
"We have been fortunate to have an alumnus like John Rocovich who gives so unselfishly of his time to so many aspects of the university the Alumni Association, several colleges, the Virginia Tech Foundation, the athletic program, and others," said Tom Tillar, vice president for alumni relations. Rocovich, a successful tax lawyer, philanthropist and jet pilot has never forgotten his Roanoke and New River Valley roots and works hard to improve the life of his community and the university. He has made building a better community a top priority and shares his expertise and commitment with numerous civic and cultural organizations in the Roanoke Valley. He has given important leadership to the Virginia system of higher education and Virginia Tech in particular. The Colleges of Engineering, Business, Natural Resources and Arts and Sciences have all benefited from Rocovich's allegiance, as well as the Corps of Cadets, the Athletic Association, the Alumni Association and 4-H Centers. He has been described as a true son of Virginia Tech. Currently, he is a member of Virginia Tech's Board of Visitors and the advisory boards of the Colleges of Business and Engineering. He is a past-president of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association. He chaired the Major Gifts Committee for the Campaign for Virginia Tech. He has served as president of the Virginia Tech Foundation and on the board of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Alumni Foundation.
Outstanding Student Awards, Class of 2000 Graduates
John Koontz, Falls Church, VA
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Melissa Morrow, Hedgeville, WV
College of Architecture and Urban Studies
James Fogarty, Virginia Beach, VA
College of Arts and Sciences
Brian Slingerland, North Syracuse, NY
Pamplin College of Business
Heather Danforth, Watertown, NY
College of Engineering
Melissa Garner, Alpharetta, GA
College of Human Resources and Education
Autumn-Lynn Harrison, Cambridge, MD
College of Natural Resources
Elizabeth Santini, Upper Marlboro, MD
College of Veterinary Medicine
Outstanding Young Alumni
Graduates from each college, graduating in the late 80's or 90's, who have distinguished themselves professionally.
David R. Winston '87; Blacksburg, VA
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
William T. Price '91; Blacksburg, VA
College of Architecture and Urban Studies
Michelle J. Robertson '89; Orlando, FL
College of Arts and Sciences
Elizabeth L. Walsh '89; Maplewood, NJ
Pamplin College of Business
David A. Marsell '88; Newport News, VA
College of Engineering
Jewel L. Douglas '89; Yorktown, VA
College of Human Resources and Education
David G. Hewitt '94; Kingsville, TX
College of Natural Resources
Anthony T. Blikslager '86; Apex, NC
College of Veterinary Medicine
Awards summaries taken from items in the Founders Day Awards Program and the Founders Day Issue of the Spectrum, Vol. 22, No. 30, April 28, 2000. Compiled by Cathy Lally.
*Awards presented by the University.