News
AE Honors Outstanding Students
AE has recognized several of the Department’s undergraduate and graduate students this spring with awards for their scholastic achievement and other contributions.
AIAA Scholastic Achievement Award, to the senior graduating in May 2011 with the highest class GPA — Austin K. Nicholas of Naperville, Illinois, and Ryan Merriman of Park Forest, Illinois
AE Prof. Gregory Elliott with Austin K. Nicholas
H.S. Stillwell Memorial Award, to students showing outstanding scholastic achievement and contributions in extracurricular activities — Jared S. Daum of Decatur, Illinois, and Austin K. Nicholas of Naperville, Illinois.
The H.S. Stillwell Memorial Award was established in honor of Professor H.S. (Shel) Stillwell. At the age of 27 Professor Stillwell founded the Department of Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Illinois in 1944. He served as department head at Illinois for 32 years. A graduate of the University of Minnesota, he served as Head of the Aeronautical Engineering Department at the University of Kansas prior to coming to Illinois. Professor Stillwell was influential in the design of the first ramjet-powered missile and was highly respected for his contributions to aerospace engineering education.
AE Prof. Gregory Elliott with Jared S. Daum
AE Prof. Gregory Elliott with Austin K. Nicholas
Robert W. McCloy Memorial Award, to a junior or first-semester senior student in recognition of outstanding academic performance — Erik P. Babcock of Palatine, Illinois, and David W. Slaby of Edwardsville, Illinois.
Professor McCloy was the first faculty member hired in the new Dept of Aeronautical Engineering. He was known for his research and teaching in propulsion and for his pioneering work in jet propulsion.
Erik P. Babcock with AE Prof. Gregory Elliott
David W. Slaby with AE Prof. Gregory Elliott
Dale Margerum Memorial Award, to the AE undergraduate who exemplifies outstanding leadership qualities by participation in departmental extracurricular activities — Coralie D. Jackman of Palatine, Illinois.
Dale Margerum was a 1979 graduate who died in an accident the summer after graduation. He was very involved in extracurricular activities.
Dale Margerum was a 1979 graduate who died in an accident the summer after graduation. He was very involved in extracurricular activities.
Coralie D. Jackman with AE Prof. Gregory Elliott
Jo Ann Haynes Platt & Daniel Wall Platt Memorial Award, to the AE sophomore, junior or senior female undergraduate James Scholar and/or Chancellor’s Scholar studying AE — Coralie D. Jackman of Palatine, Illinois.
Coralie D. Jackman with donor Rob Chappell
H.S. Stillwell Problem-Solving Scholarship, to a junior-level student majoring in aerospace engineering who exhibits exemplary problem-solving skills — Erik P. Babcock of Palatine, Illinois.
This scholarship was set up by a generous alum as a tribute to H.S. Stillwell and the role he played as a mentor to students.
Eric P. Babcock with AE Assistant Director of Advancement Brett Clifton
Lee H. Sentman Memorial Scholarship, awarded to AE undergraduate students in recognition of outstanding academic performance — Jason B. Allen of Arlington Heights, Illinois, and Gabrielle E. Wroblewski of La Salle, Illinois.
These are the initial scholarships awarded from this fund, created by Professor Sentman’s family and supported by AE alumni in honor of Professor Sentman, who died in a midair collision in March 2010.
These are the initial scholarships awarded from this fund, created by Professor Sentman’s family and supported by AE alumni in honor of Professor Sentman, who died in a midair collision in March 2010.
Jason B. Allen with AE Assistant Director of Advancement Brett Clifton
Gabrielle E. Wroblewski with AE Assistant Director of Advancement Brett Clifton
Roger A. Strehlow Memorial Award, to a graduate student in recognition of outstanding research accomplishment — Craig G. Merrett of Ottawa, Canada, and Enric Xargay of Barcelona, Spain.
The award is presented annually to honor Professor Strehlow, who joined the aero faculty in 1961. His background was in chemistry, and he was an acknowledged expert in the field of detonations and explosions. He also made significant contributions toward the understanding of the structure, stability, and extinction of laminar premixed flames. He was an early advocate of microgravity combustion research and successfully characterized the extinction and flammability states of flames under microgravity conditions. Professor Strehlow was the first AIAA Fellow in the Department of Aerospace Engineering.
The award is presented annually to honor Professor Strehlow, who joined the aero faculty in 1961. His background was in chemistry, and he was an acknowledged expert in the field of detonations and explosions. He also made significant contributions toward the understanding of the structure, stability, and extinction of laminar premixed flames. He was an early advocate of microgravity combustion research and successfully characterized the extinction and flammability states of flames under microgravity conditions. Professor Strehlow was the first AIAA Fellow in the Department of Aerospace Engineering.
Craig G. Merrett with his advisor, AE Emeritus Prof. Harry H. Hilton
Enric Xargay with his advisor, MechSE Prof. Naira Hovakimyan
Faculty Outstanding Graduate Award, in recognition of outstanding contributions to the Department’s teaching and/or research missions — Brian S. Woodard of Harristown, Illinois.
AE Emeritus Prof. Wayne Solomon with Brian S. Woodard
Kenneth Lee Herrick Memorial Fellowship, presented annually to a graduate student in recognition of outstanding research and academic performance — Aditya A. Paranjape of Mumbai, India.
Aditya A. Paranjape with AE Assistant Prof. Soon-Jo Chung
AE students also recently have garnered awards from several other organizations.
Illinois Space Grant Scholarships, awarded to undergraduate students by the NASA Illinois Space Grant Consortium based on the student’s academic performance —
Erik P. Babcock of Palatine, Illinois.
Erik P. Babcock of Palatine, Illinois.
Brandon P. Boyce of Crystal Lake, Illinois
Brandon E. Copp of Lawrenceville, Illinois
Michelle M. Diaz of Chicago, Illinois
Nicolas F. Parilo of Alton, Illinois
Rogelio D. Rincon of Chicago, Illinois
Ryan A. Smoot of Bloomington, Illinois
Gary R. Weber, Jr., of Crystal Lake, Illinois
AE Coordinator of External Relations Diane Jeffers with, from left, Gary R. Weber, Jr.; Ryan A. Smoot; Erik P. Babcock; Brandon E. Copp; and Brandon P. Boyce
Illinois Space Grant Fellowships, awarded to entering and continuing graduate students by the NASA Illinois Space Grant Consortium based on academic and research performance —
Bradley G. DeBlauw of Rockford, Illinois
Bradley G. DeBlauw of Rockford, Illinois
Angelo A. Herrera of Champaign, Illinois
Miles J. Johnson of Urbana, Illinois
Daniel J. Morgan of Urbana, Illinois
Christopher M. Ostoich of Urbana, Illinois
AE Coordinator of External Relations Diane Jeffers with, from left, Daniel J. Morgan and Bradley G. DeBlauw
Bronze Tablet, awarded to the top 3 percent of undergraduate students across campus — Austin K. Nicholas of Naperville, Illinois.
The names of this select group of undergraduate students are inscribed on bronze tablets that are displayed on the first floor of the University of Illinois Main Library.
The names of this select group of undergraduate students are inscribed on bronze tablets that are displayed on the first floor of the University of Illinois Main Library.
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Foundation National Scholarship, awarded based on grade point average, essay and letters of recommendation — Jonathan Z. Yong of Singapore.
Anne Elizabeth Suratt Memorial Scholarship, honoring Suratt who was a student at the University of Illinois from 1994 to 1997. Suratt died in a tragic airplane crash in May 1997 at Willard airport, where she was training to acquire flight instrument ratings. She was scheduled to leave the following week to work at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Research facility in Maryland. Suratt was involved in campus programs to promote space studies, especially remote sensing of the environment. She gave numerous talks to elementary and secondary schools, as well as on campus, to promote awareness of remote sensing and how useful the technologies were to studying environmental problems. The scholarship fund was created by Suratt’s parents, relatives and friends to fund annual scholarships designated for a junior, senior or fifth year undergraduate interested in space studies and/or earth sciences, and whose major field of study includes at least one of these areas — Kaitlin R. Vahling of Newton, Illinois.
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Advancing Hispanic Excellence in Technology, Engineering, Math and Science General Scholarship — Joseph F. Gonzalez of Chicago, Illinois.
American Helicopter Society Vertical Flight Foundation Scholarship for promising undergraduate and graduate students who plan to pursue careers in vertical flight — Jonathan Z. Yong of Singapore.
Lockheed Martin Student Paper Award, from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference — Craig G. Merrett of Ottawa, Canada.
NASA ARMD Associate Administrator Award, presented to individuals and groups who contribute to Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate activities and who demonstrate exemplary performance in one of five award categories — Thomas G. Herges of Urbana, Illinois, and Michael Rybalko of Urbana, Illinois.
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship for graduate study leading to master's or doctoral degrees, related to NSF research and development, in the fields of science, mathematics and engineering —
Marta Baginska of Champaign, Illinois
Joseph F. Gonzalez of Chicago, Illinois
Austin K. Nicholas of Naperville, Illinois
Brent W. Pomeroy of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
College of Engineering at Illinois Support for Under-Represented Groups in Engineering (SURGE) Fellowship, aimed at increasing the number of persons qualified for engineering faculty and research positions from groups currently underrepresented in engineering — Joseph F. Gonzalez of Chicago, Illinois.
College of Engineering at Illinois Mavis Future Faculty Fellowship, to facilitate the training of the next generation of great engineering professors — Phillip J. Ansell of York, Pennsylvania.
H.S. Stillwell Fellowship —
Nicholas Fasanella of Urbana, Illinois
Mohith Manjunath of Bangalore
Brent Pomeroy of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Viktoria Shikova of Palatine, Illinois
Ankit Verma of Urbana, Illinois
AE Boeing Scholarships —
Jason B. Allen of Arlington Heights, Illinois
Brandon P. Boyce of Crystal Lake, Illinois
Bradley J. Buniak of Schaumburg, Illinois
Tucker J. Gritton of Moline, Illinois
Ashley N. Guebert of St. Charles, Missouri
Michael C. Looby of Niles, Illinois
Ryan J. Merriman of Park Forest, Illinois
Nicolas F. Parilo of Alton, Illinois
Rogelio D. Rincon of Chicago, Illinois
Jonathan M. Sass of Cincinnati, Ohio
Scott P. Tuttle of Naperville, Illinois
Kaitlin R. Vahling of Newton, Illinois
Robert F. Waymel of Bensenville, Illinois
Jospeh Wilkerson of Crete, Illinois
Gabrielle E. Wroblewski of LaSalle, Illinois
Emily R. Zavala of Cicero, Illinois
