College of Engineering student and alumni among honorees at ESD annual dinner

The Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD) bestowed numerous awards at its annual dinner, held June 20 at Ford Field. Among the Wayne State alumni recognized was Jim Anderson, BSCE '67, MSCE '70, who received the Horace H. Rackham Humanitarian Award, ESD's highest honor.

Anderson, founder and CEO of Urban Science, was acknowledged for his contributions to both industry and community through product development, entrepreneurial support, fundraising and donations. His impact on aspiring business leaders as well as Detroit's economic rebirth is evident through many initiatives, ranging from the Urban Entrepreneur Showcase at Crain's Detroit Homecoming to the James and Patricia Anderson Engineering Ventures Institute, for which he contributed $25 million to Wayne State in 2014.

Raymond Tessier, MSCE '75, an independent environmental and energy consultant and retired global director of environmental services for General Motors, received the Distinguished Service Award for exemplary contributions to the ESD.

Outstanding Leadership Awards, which recognize ESD members and volunteers for their commitment and support of the organization's programs, committees and events, were presented to Mark Murray, BSIE '86, MBA '92, and Nassif Rayess, BSME '93, Ph.D. '01. Murray is a sales director at Durr Systems Inc., and Rayess is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Detroit Mercy.

Linda Gerhardt, B.S. '84, Ph.D. '96, the global lead for paint quality at General Motors, was welcomed into the ESD College of Fellows. Industrial and systems engineering student Riana Manabat, one of three individuals to receive the Outstanding College Student of the Year Award, received a $1,000 scholarship and a complimentary one-year ESD membership.

The Wayne State University College of Engineering would like to thank Frenae Smith, BSChE '05, MSChE '10, for sponsoring a table of WSU students at the ESD awards dinner.