Twenty alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the UMR were honored during the MSM-UMR Alumni Association’s Awards Banquet Saturday, Oct. 11, at UMR.

UMR faculty and staff honored during annual MSM-UMR Alumni Association Banquet Oct. 11. From left-to-right: Dr. Paul Hogan, associate professor of geology and geophysics; Dr. D.J. Belarbi, professor of civil, architectural and environmental engineering and assistant chair of distance education; (front) Patricia Robertson, administrative assistant in basic engineering; Dr. Don Myers, professor of engineering management; Dr. William Fahrenholtz, assistant professor of ceramic engineering; A.J. Morris, senior secretary in chemical engineering and Dr. Evalee Lasater, adjunct associate professor of philosophy and liberal arts and coordinator of UMR’s teacher education program.

The awards banquet was held in conjunction with UMR’s Homecoming Weekend celebration.

Award recipients are:

Distinguished Young Alumni Award — Mark A. Crawford Jr., of Belleville, Mich., product design engineer for Ford Motor Co.’s Global Vehicle Dynamics Group in Dearborn, Mich. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from UMR in 1996 and 1998, respectively. In 2002, Crawford received a National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science (GEM) Ph.D. fellowship in mechanical engineering to attend the University of Michigan. In 1998 Crawford joined Ford Motor Co., where he worked on the body engineering team for the 2002 Ford Explorer and led chassis engineering teams at the Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant for the 2000 Ford Escape. Crawford received the National 2003 Black Engineer of the Year GEM Student Leadership Award. He also works with the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program, is a volunteer member of the Pi Society at the Detroit Science Center, and is a college recruiter at UMR for Ford. While attending UMR, Crawford was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Association for Black Students, National Society of Black Engineers, and Society of Automotive Engineers, and wrote for UMR’s student newspaper, The Miner. Both he and his wife, La’Tonya, are members of UMR’s Order of the Golden Shillelagh.

Distinguished Young Alumni Award — Lisa D. Krueger of Kingwood, Texas, vice president of environmental health and safety at Dynegy Inc. in Houston. She received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from UMR in 1986 and a master’s degree in business administration from Rice University in 2003. At Dynegy, Krueger leads the wholesale and commercial and industrial electric sales force. Prior to Dynegy, she worked at the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Amoco Oil Co. and Illinois Power. At Illinois Power she held positions in power generation, electric supply and transmissions planning, and operations. In the community Krueger is a mentor and tutor for a variety of programs, has led United Way activities, and is a member of the Houston United Way Young Leaders Program and the United Way Women’s Initiative.

Distinguished Young Alumni Award — Sandra H. Magnus of League City, Texas, an astronaut for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. She received her bachelor’s degree in physics in 1986 and her master’s degree in electrical engineering in 1990, both from UMR. She then received a Ph.D. from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1996. Magnus began her professional career at McDonnell Douglas, conducting research and development on stealth radar signature-reduction techniques and on the propulsion system for the Navy A-12 Attack Aircraft program. Since being selected for NASA’s astronaut program, she has worked in various capacities, including on assignment as a "Russian Crusader" to support technical exchanges with the Russian space program and activities related to the International Space Station. Magnus’ first space flight was STS-112, an 11-day mission on the shuttle Atlantis in 2002. She is a member of the Materials Information Society (ASM), the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, and the Material Research Society. Magnus received the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award in 1994 and 1996, the Saturn Team Award in 1994, the Performance Bonus Award in 1989 and a NASA Space Flight Medal.

Distinguished Young Alumni Award — Catherine McCain of Naperville, Ill., a partner of the McDermott, Will and Emery law firm. McCain received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from UMR in 1985 and a law degree from the University of Chicago in 1991. At McDermott, Will and Emery, McCain practices in the area of complex commercial litigation. Prior to joining the law firm in 1991, she participated in GE’s two-year Manufacturing Management Program, a fast-track management program with assignments in various geographical locations and studies in operations strategies and management. She and her husband, John Remmers, are members of UMR’s Order of the Golden Shillelagh.

Outstanding Student Advisor Award — Dr. Abdeldjelil "D.J." Belarbi of Rolla, Mo., professor of civil, architectural and environmental engineering and assistant chair of distance education at UMR. Belarbi received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Science and Technology of Oran, Algeria, in 1983. He received a master’s degree and Ph.D. in structural engineering from the University of Houston in 1986 and 1991, respectively. Belarbi joined UMR in 1991, has served as principal and co-investigator on several research projects, and has published more than 60 technical papers. Belarbi was recently elected fellow of the American Concrete Institute and has received eight Faculty Excellence Awards. In 1999, Belarbi received the Distinguished Young Alumnus Award from the University of Houston and the UMR Academy of Civil Engineers awarded him the Joseph H. Senne Jr. Faculty Achievement Award. He is also active on several technical, educational and professional society committees, and chairs two international technical and educational committees.

Outstanding Student Advisor Award — Dr. John P. Hogan of Rolla, Mo., associate professor of geology and geophysics at UMR. Hogan received a bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of New Hampshire in 1981. He also received a master’s degree and Ph.D. in geology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1984 and 1990, respectively. He came to UMR as an assistant professor of geology in 1998 and was promoted to associate professor in September 2003. Hogan is the president of the UMR chapter of Sigma Xi and faculty advisor for Sigma Gamma Epsilon. He is a fellow in the Geological Society of America and a member of the American Geophysical Union and the Mineralogical Society of America.

Outstanding Student Advisor Award — Dr. Evalee Lasater of Rolla, Mo., adjunct associate professor of philosophy and liberal arts and coordinator of UMR’s teacher education program. Lasater received a bachelor’s in elementary education from Southwest Missouri State University in 1969 and an Ed.D. in counseling from California Coastal University in 1983. In 1984, she began working for UMR and the University of Missouri-Columbia, supervising student teachers and teaching classes. In 1993, she assumed the leadership of the UMC-UMR teacher education program, receiving approval for writing and implementing UMR’s own teacher education program in 1998. Lasater is a member of the Missouri Association of College Teacher Educators, Missouri Unit Association of Teachers Education, Missouri State Teachers Association, Phi Delta Kappa-Big Springs of the Ozarks, Missouri Mathematics Association for Advancement Teachers Training, and Rotary International. She is an advisor for the Student Missouri State Teachers Association and Phi Delta Kappa.

Outstanding Student Advisor Award — Dr. Donald D. M
yers of Rolla, Mo., professor of engineering management at UMR. Myers received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering from UMR in 1961 and 1964, respectively. He also received a master’s degree in business administration and a law degree from St. Louis University in 1967 and 1974, respectively. Before joining the UMR faculty in 1979, Myers worked for Westinghouse Electric, Emerson Electric, Monsanto and McDonnell Douglas. He is a registered professional engineer in Missouri, a member of the Missouri Bar Association and a member of the U.S. Patent Bar. From 1984-1985, he served as the science advisor to Missouri governors Kit Bond and John Ashcroft, and has served as president of the UMR Academic Council, director of the board of the American Society for Engineering Education, and president of the International Council for Small Business.

Alumni Achievement Award — Barry D. Koenemann of St. Louis, chair and chief executive officer of United Construction Enterprise Co. He received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from UMR in 1970. In 1991 he founded United Construction Enterprise Co., which has regional offices in St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Louisville, Ky. Prior to this, Koenemann worked with Horner and Shifrin designing roads and sewers for Earth City, Mo., and filled several positions at the R.W. Murray Co., including project manager and vice president of marketing, project leadership, and responsibility for four regional offices. He is a member of the Engineers Club of St. Louis, and serves on the board for Reliance Bancshares Inc. and Wings of Hope. At UMR he is a member of the Order of the Golden Shillelagh and the Academy of Civil Engineers.

Alumni Achievement Award — Thomas J.Owens of Stockertown, Pa., vice president of operations at Binney and Smith Inc., a Hallmark subsidiary, in Easton, Pa. He received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from UMR in 1968 and a master’s degree in engineering management in 1971. He also received a master’s in business administration from Rockhurst College in Kansas City in 1981. Prior to joining Binney and Smith Inc. in 1999, Owens worked at Hallmark Cards as a production center manager, director of fixture operations and vice president of purchasing. He is on the board of directors for the Greater Lehigh Valley United Way and the State Theatre of Easton. At UMR Owens is a member of the Order of the Golden Shillelagh and the Athletic Hall of Fame.

Alumni Achievement Award — Dianna K. Tickner of Collinsville, Ill., vice president of generation development at Peabody Energy Inc. She received a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering from UMR in 1979 and a master’s in business administration from the University of Montana, Missoula in 1992. She also graduated from the executive program at Darden Graduate School of Business Administration in 1995. At Peabody Energy Inc. Tickner is responsible for development of the Thoroughbred and Prairie State Energy campuses and two 1,500 megawatt generating stations. Prior to this, she served with COALSALES Co. as vice president of contract management and planning, vice president of contract management and marketing sales, and senior vice president of the Midwest and Southwest sales. She was also president of COALTRADE Inc. Tickner is a member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Inc. and the National Coal Council. She is also a certified surface mine foreman in Montana. At UMR she is a member of the Corporate Development Council and the Order of the Golden Shillelagh.

Alumni Achievement Award — Thomas R. Voss of Eureka, Mo., senior vice president of customer services at AmerenUE. He received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from UMR in 1969. Voss is also a graduate of the University of Michigan Public Utility Executive Program and the Westinghouse Advanced Power Systems School in Pittsburgh, Pa. Since 1999, Voss has been responsible for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of gas and electric delivery systems and also for the customer care activities of Ameren’s operating utility companies. He began his career at Union Electric (now AmerenUE) in 1969 as a student engineer, and after four years in the U.S. Air Force, he returned to Union Electric as an assistant engineer. Since then he has served as superintendent, district manager, operating manager and vice president of regional operations for AmerenCIPS. Voss is a registered professional engineer in Missouri and Illinois, and a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and Tau Beta Pi. At UMR, he and his wife, Carol, are members of the Order of the Golden Shillelagh.

Alumni Achievement Award — William D. Webb of Charlotte, N.C., chief operating officer of North America for Environmental Resources Management. He received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from UMR in 1967. In 1968 he joined Dames and Moore, beginning his professional practice in geotechnical engineering. He became a partner in 1980. Webb was executive vice president, responsible for operations in North and South America, when in 1999, Dames and Moore was acquired by URS Corp. Webb then served with URS Corp. from 1999-2003 as executive vice president, responsible for the eastern United States and Latin America. Webb joined Environmental Resources Management in 2003. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and UMR’s Academy of Civil Engineers.

Alumni Merit Award — William C. Kruckemeyer of Beavercreek, Ohio, staff engineer for Delphi Energy and Chassis Systems. He received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from UMR in 1970. For the next eight years, he served in the Army as an aviation officer. After leaving the military, Kruckemeyer remained active in aviation as a helicoptor pilot and flight instructor. In 1978 he joined the Delco Products Division of General Motors (now Delphi Automotive) in Dayton, Ohio, as a test engineer. In 1986 he transferred to the product engineering area, where he is a key engineer in the development of advanced controlled damping suspension products. Kruckemeyer has received many company awards, including the Elite Platinum Award Innovator, an award shared with only 10 other employees at Delphi Automotive. He holds more than 50 U.S. Patents and is a recipient of the Affiliate Societies Council’s Outstanding Engineer and Scientist Award in Dayton.

Robert V. Wolf Alumni Service Award — Bill Engelhardt of Broken Arrow, Okla., president and owner of Total Valve Systems. He received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from UMR in 1960. After serving in the Army, Engelhardt became a glass engineer with Gustin Bacon Manufacturing Co. in Kansas City, Mo. He then worked as district manager in the valve industry for Black Sivals and Bryson in Houston. He joined Groth Equity Corp. in 1968 and later opened a subsidiary in Baton Rouge, La. In 1980 he established OSECO Inc. in Tulsa, Okla. Engelhardt has served as chair of the Chamber of Commerce and United Way Campaign and vice chairperson of the Community Foundation. He received the Citizen of the Year Award in 1999, and as a past Rotary Club president, he received several Rotarian of the Year awards. He also is a spokesman for the Rotarian’s organ donor awareness program. In 1994, Engelhardt was recognized at UMR as an honored founder. He is a member of the UMR Academy of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineers and the Order of the Golden Shillelagh. While attending UMR, he lived in Jackling Gym and was a member of the 1957 all-conference football team. Engelhardt helped establish a scholarship fund as a member of the Jackling Jocks.

Robert V. Wolf Alumni Service Award — Paul Rothband of Harper, Texas, retired from Alcoa in 1983. He received an associate degree in 1941 from Kemper Military School, and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from UMR (then known as the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy) in 1943. He became a junior production engineer at Aluminum Ore Co., then during World War II served in the Navy as
the intercept officer for the destroyer USS Harwood until 1946. Rothband rejoined Alcoa and remained there until his retirement in 1983. Rothband has served several offices for the Episcopal Church and is the lay reader for St. Michael and All Angels Anglican Church in Kerrville, Texas. He was vice president of the Collinsville Rotary Club in Pittsburgh, Pa., served as secretary of the Lion’s Club in Harper, Texas, served on the Board of Directors of Harper’s Pioneer Museum, and is a member of Harper’s Chamber of Commerce. At UMR, Rothband helped establish the Class of ’43 Scholarship Fund, established two memorial scholarships honoring family members, and is a member of the Academy of Chemical Engineers. Rothband and his wife, Mary, are both members of the UMR Order of the Golden Shillelagh.

Frank H. Mackaman Volunteer Service Award — Nicole L. M. Talbot of Pearland, Texas, scholarship chair for the MSM-UMR Alumni Association’s Houston and Music sections. She received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from UMR in 1977. She spent the next 11 years with IBM in Lexington, Ky., in ribbon development and ribbon manufacturing. Then Talbot became a staff programmer working on the International Space Station in Houston, Texas. In 1994 she joined Spherion Technology Architects as a senior quality assurance consultant, but left to become an independent consultant in 2001. Talbot also served in the U.S. Naval Reserve for 13 years and is a certified software test engineer. She is a member of Tau Beta Pi, Alpha Chi Sigma, Omega Chi Epsilon, Tau Beta Sigma, the UMR Order of the Golden Shillelagh, and the Houston Software Quality Association.

Outstanding Staff Member Award — Audrey "A.J." Morris of Rolla, Mo., senior secretary in chemical engineering at UMR. Morris has worked at UMR for four years. She volunteers for the Army Community Services and Army Family Support. Morris is also a member of the Rolla Athletic Booster Club and has served as a den leader for the Boy Scouts of America for five years.

Outstanding Staff Member Award — Patricia C. Robertson of Rolla, Mo., administrative assistant in basic engineering at UMR. Robertson received a bachelor’s degree in economics from UMR in 1979. She began working at UMR in 1975 as a student assistant and has held several full-time positions since then, including data entry operator, senior clerk, senior secretary and administrative assistant. Robertson has received the Outstanding Staff Member Award twice and UMR’s Staff Choice Award for "most optimistic survivor." She has served on UMR Staff Council and currently is a campus equity aide and volunteers at the Macedonia Baptist Church.

Class of 1942 Excellence in Teaching — Dr. William G. Fahrenholtz of Rolla, Mo., assistant professor of ceramic engineering at UMR. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in ceramic engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1987 and 1989, respectively. He also received a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of New Mexico in 1992. He joined UMR’s faculty in 1999 and has published more than 40 technical papers and received several awards for his teaching and research at UMR. Fahrenholtz is a member of the American Ceramic Society, and the American Society for Engineering Education, and is president-elect of the Ceramic Educational Council.