Night of the Stars 2010
Eight College of Engineering alumni were honored for their outstanding professional achievements and service at the college's 2010 Night of the Stars, held at the Detroit Institute of Arts Saturday, October 2, 2010.
Three alumni were inducted into the college's Hall of Fame during a special ceremony, while one alum was inducted in absentia, joining a prestigious group of 123 alums inducted since 1983.
Two alumni were presented with the Outstanding Industrial Achievement Award, which celebrates professional accomplishments. One alumni was given the Award of Excellence, a special tribute to an extraordinary alumnus. The college also awarded its annual Socius Collegi award to a special friend of the college. In addition, the Engineering Alumni Association Board presented the Spirit of the Helios Award to the family of Robert Byrum, a recently deceased alum and long-time supporter of the college. Funds raised at the event were generous.
"This year's event exemplifies the reason why we are all here," says Katora Cole, director of development at the College of Engineering. "In a spectacular setting, the College of Engineering is able to express its gratitude for the hard work of its alumni, the generosity of its many donors, and the faculty, staff and friends for continuing to enhance the mission of excellence in engineering education."
The 2010 Night of the Stars successfully raised more than $26,500 to benefit in part the Honors Convocation and the Order of the Engineer events for students.
Hall of Fame Inductees 2010: Distinguished Engineering Alumni Achievement
Laxmi Bhuyan, PhDECE'82,is a distinguished professor and chairman of the Computer Science and Engineering Department at the University of California at Riverside (UCR). Prior to joining UCR, he was a professor of computer science at Texas A&M University. Laxmi is a fellow of numerous professional organizations, including IEEE, the Association of Computing Machinery, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Laxmi has received numerous distinguished designations and awards, including the Halliburton Professorship of Texas A&M University and senior Fellow of the Texas Engineering experiment Station.
Tobenette Holtz, BSAeroE'59,is a retired manager with TRW Incorporated in San Bernardino, Calif., where she worked with clients on site in both the Los Angeles area and in New Mexico. Previously in her career, she was a project engineer and staff engineer at various other California-based aerospace companies, including the Aerospace Corporation, the Acurex Corporation, McDonnell Douglas Corporation, Northrop Corporation, and at North Maerican Aviation where she started her career in 1954.
Paul Sgriccia, MSCE'97,is the U.S. Waste Sector Leader for Golder Associates, an international ground engineering and environmental services consulting firm. Paul began his career in 1977 with Ford Motor Company's Environmental and Safety Engineering staff. He then joined City Management Corporation and was vice president of Engineering responsible for engineering and construction projects. During his career, Paul has been involved in environmental management and compliance activities at manufacturing facilities as well as siting, design, construction and operation of solid and hazardous waste management facilities.
Doug Szopo, MSIE'78,is executive director of Global Product Planning & Strategy for the Ford Motor Company, a position he was appointed to in February 2007. During his 30-plus-year career with Ford, Doug has held a variety of positions in manufacturing, product engineering, and business planning. Most notable of these prior positions was plant manager of the Dearborn Engine and Fuel Tank Plant, design manager for Duratec Engine, and pre-program manager for Advanced Powertrain Systems Engineering.
Industrial Achievement Awards
Mazen Hammoud, BSME'91, powertrain manager at Ford Motor Company
Russel Pogats, BSECE'92, director of DTE Energy's North Area Power Plants
Socius Collegi Award
Donald G. Wine, manufacturing manager of Android Industries
Spirit of the Helios Award
Presented to the family of Robert Byrum, BSME'58
Award of Excellence
James A. Anderson, BSCE'66, MSCE'70
Thanks to the Sponsors
DTE Energy
Ford Motor Company
Lakeshore Group
Sensor Manufacturing
Urban Science