Virginia Tech Alumni Association News - Fall 2001
Awards
Alumni Distinguished Service Award
Clifton C. Garvin '43
Clifton C. Garvin has taken to heart the university's motto, "Ut Prosim," by providing the university with scholarships, assisting in fundraising, and serving on the Board of Visitors. The former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Exxon Corporation has continually served his alma mater, and has become one of the university's most prestigious alumni, consistently giving back to Virginia Tech. He served on the Board of Visitors, including five years as rector, served as Co-Chair of the Campaign for Virginia Tech and as Vice Chairman of the Campaign for Excellence, and currently is a board member of the Virginia Tech Foundation and the Committee of 100 in the College of Engineering. In addition, his generous endowments to the university have helped to establish two professorships, one in Arts and Sciences and the other in Engineering. Tom Tillar, Vice President for Alumni Relations, has worked closely with Garvin and stated "The university has been fortunate to have an alumnus of Cliff Garvin's stature to serve in leadership roles with the university's governing board, foundation, College of Engineering, and fund raising initiatives through the years. He always says 'Yes, I will help,' whenever he is asked." Garvin not only serves the university in many ways, but is also a member and director of numerous national and international corporations. He has received honorary doctorate degrees from New York University, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Georgetown University. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from Texas Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association and the C. Walter Nichols Award from New York University Graduate School of Business. Garvin's dedication and leadership led to his being chosen as the first recipient of the Distinguished Achievement Award from Virginia Tech in 1983. He was also awarded the William H. Ruffner Medal, the university's highest honor, in 1997.
William H. Ruffner Medal and Alumni Distinguished Service Award
Cecil R. Maxson, Jr. '52
Cecil R. Maxson, Jr. exemplifies what it means to be a dedicated alumnus. With a devotion to his alma mater that spans 50 years, Maxson has played a pivotal role in the development of the university. Honored with both the William H. Ruffner Medal and the Alumni Distinguished Service Award, it is the first time both awards have been given to the same person in the same year. During his 25-year tenure with NationsBank Corp. and its predecessor corporations, Maxson held various executive positions touching upon management, construction management and real estate development. For Virginia Tech, Maxson was appointed to the Board of Visitors three times by three different governors of both major political parties. He has been a member of the College of Architecture and Urban Studies (CAUS) Advisory Council, served on the university's leadership committee for the recent Campaign for Virginia Tech, and has served on the campaign advisory councils for the CAUS and the College of Veterinary Medicine. Maxson and his wife Shirlee have also made major contributions to endow permanent funds that will help students in Architecture and Building Construction study abroad, as well as endowed funds to help students in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Maxson is also involved by being a member of the William Preston Society, the Legacy Society and the Class of 1952 50th reunion committee. In 1999, he was presented the CAUS's highest honor, the Lifetime Contributions Award and was awarded the College of Veterinary Medicine's highest honor, induction in the John N. Dalton Society, that same year. His dedication to the university's motto "Ut Prosim: That I May Serve," reaches beyond the university, and he has served the commonwealth and the nation with his leadership and commitment.
William E. Wine Awards for Excellence in Teaching
Holly S. Bender - Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology
Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
A passion for teaching and a fascination with technology have combined to make Bender one of the brightest stars in an emerging group of faculty members dedicated to transforming the way students learn. The clinical pathologist on faculty in the College of Veterinary Medicine, Bender's course was rated the number one veterinary educational experience among alumni surveyed as part of the college's recent accreditation review. Bender is also the visionary behind the university's Biomedical Informatics Research Group.
William W. Brown - Architecture
Brown's impressive dossier is evidence of a sustained commitment to teaching and learning, as well as research and outreach. As chair of the Masters program for 14 years, Brown established long reaching educational standards and practices, admissions processes, and creative financial support to attract top students from around the world. In 1994 a former student was so inspired by Brown's mentoring that he established an endowed scholarship in his honor.
Susan G. Magliaro - Teaching and Learning
Dr. Magliaro has served in the teaching profession for 27 years - her areas of expertise are problem solving, instructional design, and professional development. These areas of research provide the strong foundation for her stance as a "student of teaching." A consistent component of Magliaro's teaching is the study of her own practice, often in collaboration with her students. As one student noted, "She is the kind of teacher that few students are lucky enough to experience throughout an educational career."
Alumni Awards for Excellence in Teaching
A. Ozzie Abaye - Crop & Soil Environmental Sciences
For Abaye, teaching is a passion that energizes her and her students and which transforms the art of teaching into learning for her students. In addition to her teaching, she advises undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students. Field trips, group activities, and active learning experiences are among her favorite teaching methods. With them she combines an understanding nature to create a learning environment that many students rate as the best they have at Virginia Tech.
Michael C. Vorster - Civil and Environmental Engineering
In his 15 years at Virginia Tech, Vorster has received consistently high student evaluations for his teaching. He is noted for his concern and respect for his students. He makes learning enjoyable, presents logical, understandable and relevant material, and understands the difference between teaching and learning. He has twice been recognized in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department with the Certificate of Teaching Excellence. Vorster is considered to be one of the premier educators in the distance learning endeavor for the department.
Alumni Awards for Excellence in Extension
Herb Pettway - Chesapeake, Virginia
Pettway, coordinator for the Chesapeake office of the Virginia Cooperative Extension and 4-H youth development agent, has enrolled more than 120,000 4-H youth, 30,000 adult and teen volunteers, trained and supervised more than 750 teen counselors, and directed 27 annual summer camps. He has been honored for volunteer development, as well as providing programs for youth and families who are considered at risk
Susan S. Sumner - Food Science and Technology
Head of the Department of Food Science and Technology, Sumner not only conducts her own extension program, but she is also the department's extension project leader. Her educational materials are used in extension programs throughout the U.S. and internationally. She has been at the forefront of many of the significant issues in the food processing industry.
Alumni Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising
Sheryl B. Ball - Economics
Director of undergraduate studies for the Department of Economics, Ball "sees trying to keep students from feeling lost at a large university as a huge, but important challenge." Ball has used technology to disseminate information to students and advisors; and has developed improved monitoring systems to track student progress. Her warm, but highly professional attitude towards the students is perhaps more important than any of her specific accomplishments.
Alumni Award for Excellence in Graduate Academic Advising
Thomas H. Ollendick - Psychology
During his 20 years at Virginia Tech Ollendick has positively impacted the lives of many graduate students and the department of psychology. He is a University Distinguished Professor and director of the Child Study Center. Jack Finney, chair of the department, describes Ollendick as "the consummate graduate advisor and mentor... an activity he genuinely enjoys and values highly. His continued participation will surely make our advance to the top 30 research universities more probable and realizable."
Alumni Awards for Excellence in Research
E. Scott Geller - Psychology
Geller has an international reputation for using applied behavior analysis on large populations to change people's habits regarding polluting and personal safety. Geller's research has targeted prison management, education, immunization of children in third-world countries, alcohol abuse and impaired driving, community theft, road rage, and transportation and occupational safety. His work has been supported by many agencies and businesses, amounting to more than 75 research grants valued at more than $4 million.
Daniel J. Inman - Mechanical Engineering
Inman is an anti- mover and shaker in the world of mechanical engineering. The director of the Center for Intelligence Material Systems and Structures researches all aspects of vibration and control. His research interests include vibration of machines and structures, vibration testing, modal testing, and parameter estimation, vibration suppression of structures, and smart structures. He holds a patent in smart structures of self-sensing actuation.
Alumni Award for Excellence in International Programs
George W. Norton - Agricultural and Applied Economics
A former Peace Corps volunteer, Norton specializes in evaluating and predicting the effects of technological and institutional change, and finding environmentally friendly means for managing farm pests. Those who know him cite his dedication to his work and his students, his extraordinary productivity, and respect for others. His leadership and hard work helped Virginia Tech win and renew a multimillion dollar USAID grant. Many of his students have won high honors for their research and have returned to serve their home countries or work in international development organizations.
Alumni Award for Excellence in Outreach
C. Wayne Patty - Mathematics
Patty has spent eight years training the commonwealth's teachers to teach math so it is more readily understood and applied. His record of outreach to elementary, middle, and high schools in the commonwealth is commendable. Each phase of his career has been progressively more service-oriented. Patty has won two multiyear NSF grants totaling slightly more than $3.6 million.
Sporn Awards
Teaching of Introductory Subjects
Matthew P. McAllister - Communication Studies
Students taking McAllister's introductory communication classes proclaim him to be the best. He's enthusiastic and creative in his presentations, he knows well both his subject and how to make it understandable, and he encourages class participation. He created a peer tutoring system for the intro class in which some of the department's most accomplished juniors and seniors can earn credit for attending his class and tutoring outside class.
Teaching of Engineering Subjects
David H. Vaughan - Biological Systems Engineering
Vaughan has developed a reputation among students as a professor who cares about them and is willing to put in as much effort as it takes to help them succeed. His interest in students goes beyond individual courses, to their goals in life. He is the career adviser for the department and has made it his mission to ensure all students secure high-quality employment. Vaughan also serves as director of the university's site for the national program, Biological Systems Engineering Research Experiences for Undergraduates.
Outstanding Student Awards
Class of 2001 Graduates who were recognized by the Alumni Association for scholarship and leadership.
Susan Miller, Edinburg, VA
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Anne-Marie Battikha, Rockville, MD
College of Architecture and Urban Studies
Krista Jacobsen, Council Bluffs, IA
College of Arts and Sciences
Marvin Boyd, Midlothian, VA
Pamplin College of Business
Sarah Airey, Roanoke, VA
College of Engineering
Francine Joffe, Virginia Beach, VA
College of Human Resources and Education
Shawn Baker, Richmond, VA
College of Natural Resources
Timothy Withers, Richmond, VA
College of Veterinary Medicine
Outstanding Young Alumni
Graduates from each college, graduating in the 90's who have distinguished themselves professionally.
Thomas R. Dobbins '99; Townville, SC
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Christopher M. Guillard '96; San Francisco, CA
College of Architecture and Urban Studies
Joseph M. DeSimone '90; Chapel Hill, NC
College of Arts and Sciences
Mark V. Gaber '92; Baltimore, MD
Pamplin College of Business
Kirk H. Schulz '91; Hancock, MI
College of Engineering
Joshua A. Greenberg '93; Christiansburg, VA
College of Human Resources and Education
R. Easton Loving '91; Roanoke, VA
College of Natural Resources
Steven R. Escobar '90; Glen Allen, VA
College of Veterinary Medicine
Compiled by Cathy Lally