Michael Blaszkiewicz, NucE MS, 1989, Materials PhD, 1994

Michael, a senior scientist at Bayer Material Science LLC in Pittsburgh, PA was a recipient of Bayer's first Annual Science and Technology Award for his team's work on developing an improved method of measuring hydrogen cyanide in fire smoke. At the Polyurethanes Technical Conference in Houston this past October, he received a Best Presentation Award in the Flame Retardents/ Combustibility Session.

Robert Kumpf, Polymer Science 1988

Dr. Robert Kumpf (Ph.D. '88, M.S, B.S., Polymer Science), Vice President, Future Business Americas, Bayer Material Science, has been selected to receive the 2005 GEMS Alumni Achievement Award. This is the highest recognition given by GEMS, the Alumni Society of Penn State’s College of Earth and Minerals Sciences.

Richard F. Spurck, Ceramics 1943

Richard is the recipient of the Who's Who in America, an inclusion which is limited to those individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in their fields of endeavor and who have, thereby, contributed significantly to the betterment of contemporary society. Congratulations Richard.

Robert D. Yeager, '58 Metals, '66 JD DSL

Robert is the founder of Pittsburgh Youth Golf Foundation, received Distinguished Service Award, Tri-State Section, PGA. Congratulations Robert.

David W. Richerson, '69 Ceramics

David was presented with the Authur L. Friedberg Memorial Lecture at the 109th Annual ACerS meeting in Detroit, Michigan. David is Adjunct Associate Professor in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at the University of Utah, and President of Richerson & Associates consulting Company. Congratulations!

David A. Payne, PhD '73 SSS

David was presented the Sosman Memorial Lecture at the 109th Annual ACerS Meeting at Detroit, Michigan. David is a Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. Congratulations!

Thomas O. Mason, '74 Ceramics

Thomas was presented with Edward C. Henry Award at the 109th Annual ACerS Meeting at Detroit, Michigan for writing a winning paper "Synthesis and Electrical Characterization of the Polymorphic Indium Tin Oxide Nanocrystalline Powers", Journal of the American Ceramic Society 89[11] 3431-36(2006). Tom is a Professor of Materials Science at Northwestern University. Congratulations to Tom and his co-writers!

Thomas M. Yonushonis Receives Julius P. Perr Innovation Award

For the second time in 24 years with Cummins Inc., Thomas M. Yonushonis ’74 BS, ’76 MS, Ceramics Science & Engineering, the firm’s director of research and technology, has captured his employer’s annual Julius P. Perr Innovation Award. First received by Yonushonis in 2003, the award honors employees whose inventions and work in structural ceramics have significantly benefited the company, the industry and/or the environment.

Dr. Jeffrey J. Swab, '83 Ceramics Science & Engineering

Dr. Jeffrey J. Swab, Ceramic Research Engineer with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL), has been selected as the ARL Visiting Scientist Chair at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, NY for the 2006-2007 academic year. During this one-year assignment, Dr. Swab will teach and conduct research as a member of the Civil & Mechanical Engineering Department at the Academy.

Dr. Theresa (Guiton) Kotanchek, Ph.D. 91, Materials Science M.S., B.S., Ceramic Science

Dr. Theresa (Guiton) Kotanchek has been selected to receive the 2006 GEMS Alumni Achievement Award. This is the highest recognition given by GEMS, the Alumni Society of Penn States College of Earth and Minerals Sciences.