Alumni Awards
College of Engineering Outstanding Alumni Award Recipients
(2010-present)
Distinguished Alumni Award
Visionary leaders in their field, recipients of this honor have reached exceptional levels of professional and personal achievement. This award recognizes distinguished leadership, service, teaching, innovation, and other exemplary accomplishments that positively impact society and the engineering profession.
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Emerging leaders in the early stages of their careers, recipients of this honor are generally no more than ten years out from receiving their UMass Engineering PhD or generally no more than fifteen years out from receiving their UMass Engineering undergraduate degree. This award recognizes outstanding professional and personal achievements and highlights the recipient’s ambitions and potential to positively impact UMass, the Commonwealth, the nation, and the world.
2024
Distinguished Alumni Award
- Ron Kraus ’94, mechanical engineering, awarded by biomedical engineering, Syner-G BioPharma Group
- Carrie Lavallee ’03, civil Engineering, MassDOT Highway
- Imona Omole ’04, chemical engineering, Verdant Energy, LLC
- Raquel Rivera ’92, mechanical engineering, Pratt & Whitney
- Rouzbeh R. Taghizadeh ’00, chemical engineering, awarded by biomedical engineering, Kendall Innovations
- Jennifer Anne Watson ’95, ’97MS, electrical engineering, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
- Casey Fontana ’19PhD, civil engineering, Invenergy
- Ashley Kaiser ’17, chemical engineering, 6K Inc.
- Brycen Luis Spencer ’09, mechanical engineering, Siemens Digital Industries Software
- Fadi Zoghzoghy ’10, electrical engineering, BridgeAthletic
2023
Distinguished Alumni Award
- Paul Banks ’81, Mechanical Engineering
- Charlie Jacco ’02, Computer Engineering
- Kristin M. Neff ’88, Electrical Engineering
- Peter J. Quigley ’84, ’88MS, Civil Engineering
- Nilesh Shah ’85PhD, Chemical Engineering
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
- Rim Benoud-Schmitz ’12, Industrial Engineering
- Sara Green ’14PhD, Chemical Engineering
- Yesher Larsen ’09, ’11MS, Environmental Engineering
- Arnaz Malhi ’06MS, Mechanical Engineering
- Andrew C. Sousa ’15, ’17MS, Electrical Engineering
2022
Distinguished Alumni Award
- Carl Christenson ’82, ’84 MS, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
- Gillian Gregory ’82 MS, ’86 PhD, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Thomas Martin ’94, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Antonis Papadourakis ’85 PhD, Chemical Engineering
- Karen St. Germain ’93 PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
- Monique Farrell ’14, Chemical Engineering
- David Hurwitz ’04, ’06 MS, ’09 PhD, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Julie E. Matthew ’04, Chemical Engineering
- Dragana Perkovic-Martin ’08 PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Thomas Sebastian ’12 PhD, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
2021
Distinguished Alumni Award
- Victor Bahl ’97 PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Jeffrey Elkins ’86, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
- Robert W. Ivester ’91, ’93 MS, ’96 PhD, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
- Edward H. Kalajian ’69 MS, ’71 PhD, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Christine Seymour ’95 PhD, Chemical Engineering
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
- Kokui Francisca Adesokan ’09, Chemical Engineering
- Jacob Lauzier ’07, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Christine Roy ’04, ’05 MS, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Banafsheh Seyed-Aghazadeh ’15 PhD, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
- Akshaya Shanmugam ’12 MS, ’15 PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering
2020
Distinguished Alumni Award
- Amir Amini ’83, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Rena Bizios ’68, Chemical Engineering
- Nick Bowen ’92 PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Lizetta Fennessy ’92, ’94 MS, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Emanuel Melachrinoudis ’80 PhD, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
- David Babson ’04, Chemical Engineering
- Ivan Bercovich ’09, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Christina Jones ’07, ’09 MS, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Paul Witherell ’04, ’06 MS, ’09 PhD, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
2018
Senior
- Mark Bradley ’79, Chemical Engineering
- Sadiye F. Guler ’96 PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Jennifer Jordan ’93, ’96 MS, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Frank Riordan ’91, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Junior
- Daniel S. Amichetti ’12, Chemical Engineering
- Seth J. Berkowitz ’12, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Kenneth B. Canty ’98, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Brian Mullen ’04, ’07 MS, ’09 PhD, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
2017
Senior
- Jon W. Dietrich ’69, ’74 MS, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Ellen J. Ferraro ’89, ’94 PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Spyros Michail ’88 MS, ’91 MS, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
- Karin Rotem ’99 PhD, Chemical Engineering
Junior
- Marnie A. Bonner ’09, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
- Dawn T. Eriksen-Stapleton ’07, Chemical Engineering
- Yong Liu ’02 PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Heather A. Rothenberg ’03 MS, ’09 PhD, Civil and Environmental Engineering
2016
Senior
- Roberto Padovani ’83MS, ’85PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
- Edward S. Price ’90, Chemical Engineering Department
- Martin C. Ross ’86, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department
- John P. Sullivan Jr. ’72, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department
Junior
- Vered Bisker-Leib ’02MBA, ’03PhD, Chemical Engineering Department
- Aaron M. Dollar ’00, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department
- Tiffany (Tauscher) Labrie ’03, ’05MS, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department
- Justin Peavey ’93, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
2015
Senior
- David Eley '91MS, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department
- Gordon (Don) Hutchins Jr. '70, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
- Ronald LaBarre '73, Chemical Engineering Department
- G. Don Taylor Jr. '90PhD, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department
Junior
- Jordan H. Crafts ’05, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
- Kevin Machado Ferreira '07, Chemical Engineering Department
- Lisandra Garay-Vega '04MS, '08PhD, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department
- Juan (Jay) F. Latorre III '07, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
- Miriam Pabón-González '01PhD, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department
2014
Senior
- Daniel Adams, B.S. ’86, M.S. ’88, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department
- Robert (Bob) Hagerty, B.S. ’74, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department
- Dave Barry, B.S. ’73, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department
- David White, B.S. ’77; M.S. ‘78, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department
Junior
- Rakesh Keswani, B.S. ’95, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department
- Bing Mei, Ph.D. ’08, Chemical Engineering Department
- Vishal Misra, M.S. ’96, Ph.D. ’00, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
- Huiya Wu, B.S. ’96, Chemical Engineering Department
2013
Senior
- Massoud Amin, B.S. '82, M.S. '85, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- John M. Cryan, B.S. '58, Mechanical Engineering
- Paul D. Engel, B.S. '74, Computer Systems Engineering
- Kenneth A. Lloyd, B.S. '73, Mechanical Engineering
- Michael S. Sarli, B.S. '75, Chemical Engineering
Junior
- Anatoly M. Darov, B.S. '94, M.S. '96, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Thomas J. Laramee, B.S. '94, Mechanical Engineering,
M.S. '97, Electrical &Computer Engineering - David M. Lucia, B.S. '92, Electrical Engineering
2012
Senior
- Najmi Jarwala, M.S. '86, Ph.D. '88, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Roberto Leon, B.S. '79, Civil Engineering
- F. Michael Mahoney, B.S. '83, Civil Engineering,
M.S. '85, Mechanical Engineering - Barry Siadat, M.S. '77, Polymer Science and Engineering,
Ph.D. '79, Chemical Engineering - Eric Swanson, B.S. '82, Electrical Engineering
Junior
- Shawn P. Kelley, B.S. '94, MS '97, Ph.D. '03, Civil Engineering
- Borislava Kostova, Ph.D. '06, Chemical Engineering
- Jessica Townsend, B.S. '94, Mechanical Engineering
- Joel Voldman, B.S. '95, Electrical Engineering
2011
Senior
- Ruth M. Bonsignore, B.S. '83, Civil Engineering
- Apostle G. Cardiasmenos, M.S. '76, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ph.D. '78,
Astronomy (posthumous) - Thomas J. Lyden, B.S. '72, M.S. '73, Mechanical Engineering
- Vincent G. Murphy, M.S. '67, Ph.D. '71, Chemical Engineering
Junior
- Amy B. Cerato, M.S. '01, Civil and Environmental Engineering, M.S. '04, Geoscience, Ph.D. '05, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Scot P. Chisholm, B.S. '04, Industrial Engineering
- Brian Q. Huppi, B.S. '93, Civil Engineering, B.S. '98, Electrical Engineering
- David A. Sturgis, B.S. '00, Chemical Engineering
- Thomas A. Sturgis, B.S. '00, Chemical Engineering
- Patrick D. Walsh, B.S. '03, Mechanical Engineering
2010
Senior
- Michael G. Hluchyj '76, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- David C. Jeanes '73, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Paul C. Washburn, III '81, Industrial Engineering, '84 MBA
- William E. Woodburn, Jr. '56, Chemical Engineering
Junior
- Alaina B. Hanlon MS '05, PhD '08, Mechanical Engineering
- Willard S. MacDonald '94, Electrical and Computer Engineering, MS '96 Computer Science
- Stephanie Raimondeau PhD '02, Chemical Engineering
& Joseph Watson '00, Chemical Engineering - Prabhjeet Raj Singh MS '01, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Historical Alumni Awards from the College of Engineering
Alumnus/Alumna of the Year Award (2000-2003)
This award recognizes outstanding career achievement, civic involvement, and service to the College of Engineering and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
2000 | Charles F. Perrell, IE '71, MBA '72 |
2001 | Marshall G. Jones, ME MS '72, PhD '74 |
2002 | Dev V. Gupta, EE PhD '77 |
2003 | Diane P. Mellor, IE/OR '78 |
College of Engineering Duane E. Cromack Young Alumni Award
This award was established in 1996 by the Engineering Alumni Association in honor of Dean Cromack on his retirement. It recognizes alumni, age 35 or younger, for their success in the application of their engineering education in work after graduation from the university. Such achievement may be in a number of fields such as engineering practice, administration, research, consulting, and teaching.
1996 | Robert A. Smith, IE/OR '88 |
1997 | Jill Boski, ME '95 |
1998 | Stephen R. Dunne, ME '89 |
2000 | Leslie K. Jelalian, EE '88, ECE MS '91 |
2002 | Robert R. Derosier III, ChE '97 |
2003 | Matthew T. Valade, CEE '93, EVE MS '95 |
2003 | Wendy L. Parmenter, CEE '99, EVE MS '01 |
College of Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
(1974 –1998)
1974 | John F. Welch, Jr., ChE '57 | 1987 | William A. Gardner, EE PhD '72 |
1974 | Andrew C. Knowles III, EE '57 | 1987 | Stanley F. Gizienski, '43 |
1974 | George A. Marston, Dean | 1987 | James E. A. John, Dean |
1975 | Ardashus A. Aykanian, ME '50 | 1988 | Duane E. Cromack, ME PhD '59 |
1975 | John R. Picard, EE '58 | 1988 | Stephen R. Kellogg, Sr., CE '72 |
1975 | Joseph S. Marcus, CEE '54 | 1988 | John G. Whitehead, IE/OR '59 |
1976 | David R. Horsefield, CE '52 | 1988 | Harpal S. Dhillon, IE/OR PhD '74 |
1976 | Eugene A. Taylor, CE '50 | 1989 | William F. O'Neill, EE '64 |
1976 | Kenneth G. Picha, Dean | 1989 | Doris G. Preston, ChE '58 |
1977 | Nicholas N. Boraski, IE/OR '50 | 1989 | John P. Sullivan, Jr., CE '72 |
1977 | Chester H. Clarridge, EE '56 | 1989 | Robert D. Vanasse, CE '68 |
1977 | Theodore P. Theodores, ME '58 | 1990 | William D. O'Neill, CE '60 |
1978 | Royal P. Allaire '38 | 1990 | H. Brian Thompson, ChE '60 |
1978 | David J. Beaubien, EE '57 | 1990 | Robert F. Trocchi, EE '55 |
1978 | Richard V. deGrasse, EE '61 | 1991 | Robert P. Mozgala, IE '61 |
1978 | E. Ernest Lindsey, Professor | 1991 | Dwight A. Sangrey, MS CE '64 |
1979 | Alden H. Howard, EE '51 | 1991 | Robert A. Trotta, ME '74 |
1979 | Rexford Wilson, EE '57 | 1991 | John H. Underwood, ME '62 |
1979 | Ellsworth L. Sharpe, ME '59 | 1992 | Nancy B. Hellman, Asst. Dean |
1979 | Karl N. Hendrickson, Professor | 1992 | Ghazi Darkazalli, ME MS '72, PhD '77 |
1980 | Clinton F. Goodwin, '16 | 1992 | Lawrence D. Shayer, MS ChE '61 |
1980 | Ara Aykanian, EE '56 | 1992 | William L. Schweber, MS EE '74 |
1980 | James Constantino, IE '58 | 1993 | Lynn M. Campana, IE/OR '81 |
1980 | John Corsi, Jr. IE '61 | 1993 | Donald C. Tucker, ME '59 |
1981 | Samuel J. Ameen, EE '50 | 1993 | Richard D. Reardon, CE '58 |
1981 | Robert J. Byrne, IE '70 | 1994 | Robert B. Brack, CE '60 |
1981 | John A. Paraskos, ChE '69 | 1994 | Benedict Galas, ChE '51 |
1982 | Charles J. Gibowicz, Jr. CE '57 | 1994 | Lance A. Glasser, ECE '74 |
1983 | Frank R. L. Daley, Jr. '40 | 1995 | Hugh R. Mackenzie, ME '55 |
1983 | Charles F. Reeves, CE '54 | 1995 | Janice R. Rossbach, Math '49 |
1983 | Russel C. Jones, Dean | 1995 | Richard H. Sioui, ChE '68 |
1984 | Frederick E. Crory, CE '55 | 1995 | Paul C. Washburn, III, IE '81 |
1984 | Donald R. Muzyka, ME '60 | 1996 | P. Michael Masterson, ChE '75 |
1984 | William Boyer, Prof., Posthumous | 1996 | Trent Poole, ME '73 |
1985 | James D. Walker, '41 | 1996 | Cheryl L. Watkins, ME '81 |
1985 | Joseph A. Dombrowski, EE '51 | 1997 | Irving J. Winters, Jr. IE MS '84, PhD '88 |
1986 | Edwin L. Thomas, ME '69 | 1997 | Barbara Gatslick Jessel, EE '77 |
1986 | Frederick B. Seel, ME '51 | 1998 | David F. Bonneau, ECE '77 |
1986 | Marshall G. Jones, ME MS '72, PhD '74 | 1998 | Edward S. Jamro, MS EVE '75 |
1998 | Marie P. Laplante, ChE '87 |
University Level Alumni Awards
Chancellor's Medal - Alumni
The Chancellor’s Medal is the highest honor bestowed on individuals for exemplary and extraordinary service to the campus.
1987 | Marshall G. Jones '72G, '74PhD |
1995 | Duane E. Cromack '59 |
1996 | Daeje Chin '79 MS |
1997 | Robert C. Wiesel '72 |
1998 | Robert C. Gunness '32 |
2012 | David McLaughlin '84, '89 PhD |
Honorary Degrees
Recipients of an honorary degree are individuals of exceptional distinction who have achieved outstanding intellectual, social, or creative achievements in a specific field of endeavor and/or have made extraordinary contributions to the University of Massachusetts Amherst or to the Commonwealth.
1963 | Doctor of Science | Robert Charles Gunness '32 |
1979 | Doctor of Science | Bernard B. Berger |
1982 | Doctor of Engineering | Andrew C. Knowles, III '57 |
1982 | Doctor of Science | John F. Welch, Jr. '57 |
1991 | Doctor of Engineering | Nicholas N. Boraski '50 |
1999 | Doctor of Engineering | Vladimir Haensel |
2007 | Doctor of Engineering | James M. Smith '67 |
2012 | Doctor of Engineering | Mark E. Russell '85 MS |
2022 | Doctor of Engineering | Jerome M. Paros '60 |
Honorary Alumnus
1996 | Raymond A. Nash |
1998 | Vladimir Haensal '99 HD |
2003 | John and Elizabeth Armstrong |
Distinguished Alumni Award
2001 | John G. Drosdick '68 MS |
2004 | Chang-Gyu Hwang '86 PhD |
2006 | Mark E. Russell '85 MS |
2007 | Arlindo Jorge '50 BS |
Distinguished Service to the University
1975 | Joseph S. Marcus '54 MS |
1977 | Andrew C. Knowles, III '57, '82 HD |
1978 | Robert P. Lawrence |
1980 | Robert Charles Gunness '32, '63 HD |
1984 | Janice Rittenburg Rossbach '49 |
1987 | David J. Beaubien '57 |
1996 | Marshall G. Jones '72 MS, '74 PhD Distinguished Professional and Community Service Award |
1996 | Kristen Breder '88PhD Distinguished Young Alumnus Award for Professional Service |