Commencement 2001

SOCORRO, N.M., May 12, 2001 - New Mexico Tech, the state's science and engineering research university, presented 287 degrees, including bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D.s, at graduation ceremonies on May 12, 2001, on their campus in Socorro. Awards to faculty and top students were also presented.

Top awards went to Roseanna Neupauer, a Ph.D. graduate now living in Virginia; Rebecca Brown, a graduate in electrical engineering from Grants; and Timothy Wangler, a chemical engineering graduate from Clovis.

Roseanna Neupauer, Founders Award 2001, who received a Ph.D. in hydrology, was presented with the Founder's Award, Tech's top award to a graduate student. It was the second time Neupauer had received the award, the first time being in 1999, when she graduated with a master's degree in mathematics. She was also presented with the Graduate Student Association's Appreciation Award. Neupauer, a native of Northampton, Penn., had served for several years as president of the campus's Graduate Student Association. In this role, she advanced several causes of interest to students, including a health care center. She completed her degree last fall and is currently an assistant professor at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.


Brown was selected for the campus's top award to an undergraduate student, the C. T. Brown Award, presented for scholarship, leadership, and conduct. Brown, who earned two bachelor's degrees in electrical engineering and mathematics, both with highest honors, also received the Cramer Award for the top female engineering graduate. Brown is a graduate of Grants High School and is the daughter of Kenneth and Judy Brown of Grants. Brown has spent the past academic year and the past two summers as a research intern with Sandia National Laboratories' Mobile Robotics Group.
(See related story: Rebecca Brown, Brown and Cramer Awards 2001)


Wangler received New Mexico Tech's top award for a male engineering student. Recently, the campus named him "Engineering Student of the Year." During the past two summers, Wangler has worked as a process engineering intern at Intel Corporation's microchip fabrication plant in Rio Rancho. The results of his work have led to process improvements, which in turn led Intel to present him with a service recognition award and a job offer. Wangler says he plans on working at Intel after graduation. Wangler, a graduate of Clovis High School, is the son of John and Nora Wangler of Clovis.
(See related story: Timothy Wangler, Cramer Award 2001)


New Mexico Tech's annual Distinguished Research Award was presented to Dr. John McCoy, professor of materials engineering. In his 10 years at Tech, McCoy has established a national reputation in polymer research, attracting research projects and outstanding graduate students. Before coming to Tech, McCoy had done post-docs at Sandia National Labs and the University of California at Berkeley. He had also received New Mexico Tech's Distinguished Teaching Award in 1993.
(See related story: Dr. John McCoy, Distinguished Research Award)


The Distinguished Teaching Award for 2001 went to Dr. Donald Weinkauf, chair of the Chemical Engineering Department. Weinkauf was key in getting this new department started during the past five years. Students commented on his enthusiasm as an instructor and his willingness to give assistance outside of classes, as well as the time he spent advising the student chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
(See related story: Dr. Donald Weinkauf, Distinguished Teaching Award)


New Mexico Tech presented its Langmuir Award for an outstanding research paper by a graduate student to Geoffrey Rawling, a graduate student in Earth sciences. Rawling was the lead author on a paper entitled, "Internal architecture, permeability structure, and hydrologic significance of contrasting fault-zone types," published in the professional journal Geology earlier this year. Rawling is a resident of Socorro.
(See related story: Geoffrey Rawling, Langmuir Award)


The New Mexico Tech Alumni Association presented two awards to distinguished alumni. Eugene O'Connor, a resident of Socorro, received the Distinguished Service Award for his active support of New Mexico Tech, both as a scholarship donor and a participant in open meetings concerning Tech. O'Connor was a 1953 graduate in metallurgical engineering.


Dr. Roger Richman of Mountain View, Calif., received the Alumni Association's Distinguished Achievement Award. Richman has had a long and distinguished career as a metallurgist, after graduation from Tech with a degree in metallurgical engineering in 1950. During his many years of association with the Electric Power Research Institute, a research consortium of utility companies in Palo Alto, Calif., he has aided or been responsible for many of the research contracts New Mexico Tech has gotten from that organization.

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