College of Engineering names 2012 Awards for Excellence winners

The College of Engineering at North Carolina State University has recognized Brian Koehler in the College of Engineering Academic Affairs office; Toni Pascucci in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering; and P. Andrew Sleeth in the Department of Computer Science as winners of the 2012 Awards for Excellence.

The awards were announced at a ceremony held April 5 in Engineering Building III on Centennial Campus. Dr. Louis A. Martin-Vega, dean of the College of Engineering, presented the winners with plaques and $250 gift checks. The winners also received eight hours of paid time off and are now nominees for the NC State University Award for Excellence.

Also nominated for the College awards were Debra Allgood-Staton, Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering; Carlos Benavente, Department of Computer Science; Lora Bremer, Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering; Diane Harper, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; Paula Hubbell, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; Ashley Hudson, NC State Technology Incubator; Catherine Lull, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Lance Mangum, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; Kim Orlowski, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Hailey Queen, College of Engineering Academic Affairs Office; and Kathleen Roth, North Carolina Solar Center.

About the Winners

Brian Koehler is director of international engagement in the Academic Affairs office in the College of Engineering. He also leads the College’s Engineering Ambassadors program, which nurtures a community of scholars as they prepare to address 21st century challenges.

As an advisor, mentor and motivator, Brian has reinforced to students the importance of leadership, community service and innovation. Ambassadors have also seen his unwavering commitment to the NC State Engineering Career Fair. The fair is now in its 15th year and set an attendance record this past fall. It is one of the largest career fairs in the nation for engineering students.

Toni Pascucci, student services assistant in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, has made it a priority to lend outstanding support to the department’s undergraduate students.

That’s nearly 1,000 students, and she’s constantly praised for distributing timely information on job openings, scholarships and other opportunities highly valued by students working toward graduation.

Toni always greets students with a bright smile and a positive attitude. When students need help the most, during the first week of classes, she works late to help finalize class schedules. Her hard work is reflected in the success of the students and the department as a whole.

Andrew Sleeth, admissions specialist in the Department of Computer Science, is responsible for communicating with prospective students, assisting students and faculty with the application process, recruiting for the program, and much more.

Andrew is resourceful and hard working, qualities that are much appreciated in a department that handled more than 1,600 applications last semester. The department has one of the largest graduate programs at NC State.

Andrew’s knowledge of software tools that are frequently used for admissions processing has made him a go-to resource. He is always professional and takes pride in being well trained for his job.