Vancouver, Canada—March 7, 2011—The Faculty of Applied Science proudly announces the Alumni Achievement Award 2011 winners. The awards will be bestowed at the annual Engineering Excellence Celebration 2011 to be held Friday, March 18, from 6-9pm at the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Hotel. To RSVP, visit: www.apsc.ubc.ca/ubcengineeringexcellence or call 604-822-8335 for more information.

Dr. Eric Newell [BASc ’67 CHML, LLD ’03], OC, will receive the UBC Engineering Lifetime Achievement Award 2011, which recognizes an individual for their lifetime of outstanding service and contribution to the community; academia and/or their profession.  Newell, a retired business executive in the energy sector, is well-known for his successful and ongoing efforts to strengthen partnerships between education and business, and for championing corporate social responsibility.

Paul Geyer [BASc ’88 ECE], CEO of LightIntegra Technology Inc., will receive the  UBC Engineering Community Service Award 2011 that recognizes and celebrates the extraordinary commitment to the betterment of society from individuals and organizations within the Applied Science community. Geyer is a successful entrepreneur in medical device development, as well as an active angel investor in technology and life science companies, and also a generous philanthropist and volunteer.

Robin Farnworth [BASc’05 ENPH], a long-time leader in Engineers Without Borders, will receive the UBC Engineering Young Alumnus Award 2011 awarded to a UBC Engineering alumnus, who since graduation, has made significant positive contributions to society. She maintains her commitment to impact in rural Africa by shaping the approach of EWB students and volunteers.

Lin Watt [BASc ’11 CHBE] and Ska-Hiish Manuel [BASc ’11 ELEC] will both receive the UBC Engineering Future Alumnus Award 2011, which recognizes a UBC Engineering student who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership on behalf of UBC and UBC Engineering students and has excelled in one or more of the following areas: academic success, community service, university service, athletic, artistic or other achievements.

Watt served as EUS president 2009-2010 and is a highly effective student leader who has brought major, positive changes to the engineering student community, in addition to co-founding a start-up venture, Dragonfly Instruments.

Manuel, a member of the Neskonlith Indian Band within the Secwepemc Nation, studies at UBC Okanagan; he intends to use his engineering degree to encourage productivity in Aboriginal communities and to encourage Aboriginal young people to pursue engineering as a career.

Dr. Norman Epstein, will receive the UBC Engineering Outstanding Emeriti Award 2011, which recognizes a UBC Engineering faculty member, either retired or emeriti, who has rendered an outstanding contribution and service to their students and subsequent alumni. Epstein is a preeminent chemical engineer who has earned an international reputation for his research, teaching, publications and leadership while serving at UBC for more than 60 years.

The winner of the McEwen Family Teacher Award will be unveiled at the event. This is a first time award created to highlight the contributions high-school teachers make to students and communities through their mentorship; the award celebrates those who go above and beyond teaching the curriculum to ensure their students succeed not just academically but personally. Current UBC Engineering students nominated teachers that influenced their life. The winning teacher receives funding for school enrichment activities and will be asked to nominate a current high-school student to receive a scholarship to attend UBC; the UBC Engineering student who nominated the winning teacher will also receive a prize in recognition of his or her efforts.

All awards will be presented at the annual Engineering Excellence Celebration 2011 to be held Friday, March 18, from 6-9pm at the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Hotel. To RSVP, visit: www.apsc.ubc.ca/ubcengineeringexcellence or call 604-822-8335 for more information.

Contact

ErinRose Handy
Manager, Marketing & External Communications
UBC Faculty of Applied Science
Tel: 604-822-1524
E-mail: erinrose.handy@ubc.ca