COLLEGE STATION, Texas, May 9, 2008 – Four graduating seniors from the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University have been recognized as distinguished members of their Spring 2008 graduating class.
At a reception honoring the department’s spring graduates, Christopher Ciesielski, a senior from Allen, Texas, and James Kress, a senior from Willis, Texas, each were named recipients of the department’s “Outstanding Graduating Senior Spring 2008 Award.”
In addition, Laura Barrera, a senior from Brownsville, Texas received the “Chemical Engineering Excellence Spring 2008 Senior Award.” And Joseph Zerr, a senior from D’Hanis, Texas, received the “2008 Senior Award” from the RHO Chapter of Omega Chi Epsilon, the national honor society for chemical engineering. Earlier this semester, Zerr received the prestigious Thomas S. Gathright Scholar Academic Excellence Award.
Addressing the students and their families in attendance, Assistant Professor and Associate Head for Undergraduate Programs Victor Ugaz recounted his journey from graduate to academician, reminding the graduates to embrace the many twists and turns they encounter as they enter a new period in their lives.
“Be open for changes and on the lookout for new opportunities along the way,” Ugaz said. “You have the skills and the talent to solve the bigger problems out there, so take time to think about the bigger things.”
As part of the event, winners of the department’s Spring 2008 Plant Design Competition, held last week, received their prizes. The competition, which was part of a senior-level course aimed at preparing students for the types of assignments they’re likely to see in a professional environment, tasked student groups with designing a fully functional refinery water process plant. In recognition of their achievements, each of the top three teams received honorariums from the Fluor Corporation, the competition’s sponsor for this semester.
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