At MIT's annual Awards Convocation on May 13, numerous individuals and groups around the Institute were recognized for achievements during the academic year. The awards and the recipients are as follows. (Sports awards presented at the convocation are included in the story on page 15, while arts awards are on page 18.)
NEW AWARDS
The Kristen E. Finnegan Prize, recognizing the contribution of a graduate student in any discipline in helping undergraduates improve their writing skills, was awarded to Loren A. King (Ph.D. 2001). The prize was established in memory of Kristen E. Finnegan, a graduate student in architecture and an outstanding teacher of writing. The instruction in writing can occur in any of a variety of contexts, including classroom presentations as a teaching assistant, individual meetings as a teaching assistant or tutor, or as a graduate student in a laboratory working with UROP students.
The John S. W. Kellett '47 Award recognizes any MIT individual or group for an exceptional and/or sustained commitment to creating a more welcoming environment at MIT, including but not limited to, improving the experience of lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgendered (LBGT) and questioning individuals. The award honors Kellett, whose spirited support has enabled significant improvements in the lives of members of MIT's LBGT community and the Institute as a whole. The award went to Nils O. Fonstad of Arlington, a graduate student at the Sloan School.
The Patrick J. McGovern, Jr. '60 Entrepreneurship Award was presented to the MIT $50K Entrepreneurship Competition for significant impact on the quality, visibility and overall spirit of entrepreneurship education and support across the Institute. Any MIT student or student team is eligible for this new award, established by McGovern working through the MIT Entrepreneurship Center. McGovern is an accomplished entrepreneur, life member of the MIT Corporation and major contributor to the Institute community.
SERVICE
William L. Stewart Jr. Awards--for contributions by an individual student or student organization to extracurricular activities and events during the preceding year.
Jovonne J. Bickerstaff '02, urban studies and planning, Akron, Ohio
Mendel Chuang '02, management, Los Angeles
Jaime E. Devereaux '02, aeronautics and astronautics, Barrington Hills, Ill.
Michael R. Folkert G, nuclear engineering, St. Paul, Minn.
Alvar Saenz Otero G, aeronautics and astronautics, San Jeronimo, Mexico
Annie K. Wang '02, management, Silver Springs, Md.
Laya Wiesner Community Award--for a member or friend of the MIT community for conspicuously effective service that reflects Mrs. Wiesner's concerns for enhancing life at the Institute and the world at large
Effrat Shavit '02, linguistics and philosophy, Concord
Priscilla King Gray Award for Public Service--for an undergraduate exceptionally committed to public service at MIT and its surrounding communities.
Selam Daniel '02, chemical engineering, Arlington, Texas
James N. Murphy Award--for an employee whose spirit and loyalty exemplify inspired and dedicated service, especially with regard to students
Teresa O'Connor, house manager of Eastgate
Gordon Y Billard Award--for a faculty member, nonfaculty employee or one not necessarily affiliated with the Institute for special service of outstanding merit performed for the Institute
Charlene M. Placido, assistant dean for research
Albert J. Guarino, dormitory housekeeper for Next House
Steven M. Dimond, manager of the Copy Technology Centers
Karl Taylor Compton Prizes--for achievements in citizenship and devotion to the welfare of MIT
Sudeb C. Dalai '02, brain and cognitive sciences, St. Louis
Shunmugavelu D. Sokka G, health sciences and technology, Centerville, Ohio
EDUCATION
Edward L. Horton Award--for fostering fellowship in the graduate student body
MIT Muslim Students' Association
Irwin Sizer Award--for the Most Significant Improvement in MIT Education
Professor David Litster of physics, former vice president and dean for research
Frank E. Perkins Award--for excellent advising for graduate students
Professor Rudiger Dornbusch, Sloan School of Management
Graduate Student Council Graduate Teaching Award--for excellence in teaching a graduate-level course, given each year to one professor or teaching assistant from each school
Professor Keith Hampton, School of Architecture and Planning
Professors Kent F. Hansen and Manish Bhardwau, School of Engineering
Daniel B. Landau G, School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Professor Georgia Perakis, Sloan School
Goodwin Medal--for a graduate student whose performance of teaching duties is "conspicuously effective over and above ordinary excellence"
Elizabeth A. Kensinger G, brain and cognitive sciences, Kansas City, Mo.
Everett Moore Baker Memorial Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
Professor John G. Brisson II and Professor Ernest G. Cravalho, mechanical engineering
Professor Barton Zwiebach, physics
Bose Award for Excellence in Teaching--for outstanding contributions to undergraduate education by members of the School of Engineering faculty
Professor Jesus A. del Alamo, EECS
Arthur C. Smith Award--for a faculty member for meaningful contributions and devotion to undergraduate student life at MIT
Professor Linn W. Hobbs of materials science and engineering
WOMEN AND MINORITIES
Albert G. Hill Prize--for juniors or seniors who have maintained high academic standards and made continued contributions to the improvement of the quality of life for minorities at MIT
Leonard J. Grant '02, materials science and engineering, Philadelphia
Kateri A. Garcia '03, mechanical engineering, Albuquerque, N.M.
Laya W. Wiesner Award--for the undergraduate woman who has most enhanced MIT community life
Radha K. Iyengar '02, economics, Mohegan Lake, N.Y.
Ronald E. McNair Scholarship Award--for black undergraduates who have demonstrated strong academic performance and who have made considerable contributions to the minority community--seniors
Melissa A. Edoh '02, political science, North Bethesda, Md.
Nathan A. Fitzgerald '02, aeronautics and astronautics, Hyannis
Ebraheem I. Fontaine '02, mechanical engineering, Forestville, Md.
Irfan S. Pirmohamed '02, aeronautics and astronautics, Rego Park, N.Y.
Jeannette D. Stephenson '02, electrical engineering and computer science, Little Rock, Ark.
Huanne T. Thomas '02, chemical engineering, Miami, Fla.
Association of MIT Alumnae (AMITA) Senior Academic Award--for senior women who have demonstrated the highest level of academic excellence through coursework and related professional activities at MIT
Alexandra G. Ianculescu '02, chemistry, Simi Valley, Calif.
Tiffany S. Santos '02, materials science and engineering, Valdosta, Ga. (honorable mention)
Emily M. Craparo '02, aeronautics and astronautics, Destin, Fla. (honorable mention)
FSILGs
D. Reid Weedon Jr. '41 Alumni/ae Relations Award--for the independent living group that has promoted the greatest interactions between its members and alumni/ae
Sigma Chi
Frederick Gardiner Fassett Jr. Awards--for the male and female members of the InterFraternity Council who have unselfishly demonstrated the qualities of spirit, dedication and service in furthering the ideals of MIT fraternity brotherhood and sisterhood
Rory P. Pheiffer '02, Zeta Psi, mechanical engineering, Novi, Mich.
Yolanda Fan '02, Alpha Chi Omega, biology, Honolulu
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on June 5, 2002.
