Engineering students, faculty and staff receive extension, engagement awards

Students, faculty and staff from the College of Engineering at North Carolina State University were honored for their extension and engagement work at NC State’s Celebrating the Engaged University banquet on April 23.

Michael D. McKnight, a senior in biomedical engineering-bioinstrumentation, won the General Henry Hugh Shelton Undergraduate Leadership Award of Excellence for his work in the Center for Student Leadership, Ethics and Public Service’s Alternative Service Break program. The award recognizes civic and scholarly engagement and leadership in building an engaged university community.

Open Hardware Makerspace, a student group, was honored with a Deborah S. Moore Service Award as the emerging non-service student organization of the year. The Moore awards recognize exemplary service and outstanding volunteerism.

Dr. Stephen Terry, extension assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, was honored with a Green Brick Award for outstanding contributions to sustainability. The awards honor those who help NC State meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Dr. Francis de los Reyes, associate professor, and Roberto Nunez, lecturer and senior extension specialist, both from the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, won Outstanding Global Engagement Awards. The awards recognize individuals who work with colleagues throughout the world on innovative research and teaching projects and team up on extension and economic development initiatives that are integral to increasing the internationalization of campus.

Nunez also won a University Extension Seed Grant. The grants assist NC State personnel in developing strategies that address critical issues facing North Carolinians.

Sonja M. Hughes, a manufacturing specialist with the Industrial Extension Service (IES), and William B. Iacovelli, an improvement specialist with IES, won Outstanding Extension Service Awards and gained membership into the Academy of Outstanding Faculty Engaged in Extension. The honors encourage and recognize exemplary extension and engagement service.