The Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering (MABE) held its annual awards banquet on Thursday, April 24, to honor the department’s outstanding alumni, students, staff, and faculty. It was a momentous event as it marked the last banquet with the mechanical, aerospace, and biomedical programs celebrating together. Biomedical becomes its own independent department in the fall.
McCorkle Receives UT Accomplished Alumni Award
The banquet kicked off with a motivational talk from MABE alumnus Stewart McCorkle (BS/ME ’76), who used his degree from UT to launch a successful career in the energy industry. At the end of his talk, he was presented with the UT Accomplished Alumni Award from TCE’s Senior Director of Development Adlai Hurt. The Accomplished Alumni Award program honors alumni who have significantly contributed to their field and profession or who have distinguished themselves through civic engagement or volunteer roles in their communities.
Weber Inducted into the MABE Hall of Fame
James Weber (BS/AE ’87) was inducted into MABE’s Hall of Fame by Department Head Kivanc Ekici. Weber’s distinguished career advanced hypersonic flight and systems for national defense. His pivotal roles with the Office of the Secretary of Defense and United States Air Force drove the nation’s first successful demonstrations of hypersonic weapons, including the Air Force Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, Navy Conventional Prompt Strike, and Army Long Range Hypersonic Weapon.
Weber earned an MS and PhD in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland. He was named an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and is a three-time recipient of the Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award.
Student Awards
- Outstanding Junior in Biomedical Engineering: John Dawson, Madison Smith, Carleton O’Neil, Audrey Stratton, and Schafer Summers
- Outstanding Junior in Aerospace Engineering: Holly Green, Aaron Matheny, Logan Searfoss, Kevin Chang, and Jackson Dendy
- Outstanding Junior in Mechanical Engineering: Jacob Arbogast, Hayden Eslinger, William Houser, Jackson Banks, Hannah Cox, and Jack Davis
- Outstanding Senior in Aerospace Engineering: Micah Vranes
- Outstanding Senior in Biomedical Engineering: Mary Tasket
- Outstanding Senior in Mechanical Engineering: Zachary Ross and Harper Thompson
- The Maltry Outstanding Senior Award: Shane Miller and Samantha Sedillo
- University Scholar in Aerospace Engineering: Andrew Barrett
- University Scholar in Biomedical Engineering: Amelya Fox
- University Scholar in Mechanical Engineering: Karaley Carmichael, Jacob Howard, Seth Jenkins, Spencer Moody, and William Stallions
- Godbold Scholarship for Academic Excellence: William Werner
- Outstanding Graduate Student in Aerospace Engineering: Tiffany Quigley
- Outstanding Graduate Student in Biomedical Engineering: Farzin Mashali
- Outstanding Graduate Student in Mechanical Engineering: John Thress
Faculty and Staff Awards
- McCorkle Family Endowed Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching: Chad Duty
- Louis and Ann Hoffman Excellence in Research Award: Andrew Dickerson
- Ray Thompson Excellence in Research Award: Uday Vaidya
- Faculty Initiative & Leadership Award: Sara Hanrahan
- J.A.M. Boulet Outstanding Service Award: Ashly Shine
- Translational Research & Innovation Award: Tony Schmitz
- Volunteer Spirit Award: Doug Aaron
- The Momentum Award: Prashant Singh
- Pi Tau Sigma Excellence in Teaching Award: Rob Bond
- 20-Year Award: Rhnea Reagan
