2008-2009 MSE Undergraduate Awards

Left to Right: Christine Lau, Professor and Chair Robert M. Briber, and Hilary Lane.

Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) undergraduates were among the award recipients at the 2008-2009 A. James Clark School of Engineering's Honors and Awards Ceremony, held April 29. The event honors students from all departments who have demonstrated outstanding academic performance, research, and contributions to their departments or fields. MSE Professor and Chair Robert M. Briber presented the awards.

This year, the awards and their recipients were:

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering Chairman’s Outstanding Senior Award
The Chairman's Outstanding Senior Award is presented to a graduating senior for scholarship, leadership, and service to the department.

Awarded to Ryan Mulholland

Ryan Mulholland has achieved a 4.0 GPA and plans to attend graduate school. He was elected to Alpha Sigma Mu, the professional materials science and engineering honor society, in 2009. He has been involved in research activities in the Laboratory for Radiation and Polymer Science and the Structural Materials Laboratory. Mulholland is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, Phi Eta Sigma, Alpha Lambda Delta, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the National Scholars Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key.

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering’s Outstanding Materials Student Service Award
The Outstanding Materials Student Service Award is presented to a graduating senior in the department for outstanding service to the department's recruiting efforts plus service to society.

Awarded to Hilary Lane

Hilary Lane is a senior Materials Science and Engineering student who will graduate in December. She has served as the Treasurer of MatES, the undergraduate Materials Science and Engineering Society, since 2007. Lane has been very active in recruiting efforts for the Department, always willing to volunteer for any outreach activity. She was elected to Alpha Sigma Mu, the professional materials science and engineering honor society, in 2009. She has also served as a counselor for the Women In Engineering summer programs and as a Resident Life Assistant, for which she was awarded the 2008 RA of the Year award for LaPlata Hall.

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering Student Research Award

Awarded to Christine Lau

Christine Lau is a junior Materials Science and Engineering student who has actively been involved in research activities in the Department since her freshman year. Lau has worked in the areas of thin films and ferromagnetic and ferroelectric materials. She was also a Summer Undergraduate Fellow at NIST in 2008, working on a project titled "The Effect of Processing on Magnetic and Structural Properties of Magenite Nanoparticles." She was elected to Alpha Sigma Mu, the professional materials science and engineering honor society, in 2009. She is active in MatES, currently serving as its Secretary. She also serves as an A. James Clark School of Engineering Ambassador and is active in Departmental recruiting activities.

In addition to our award winners, the following students were also elected to Alpha Sigma Mu, the professional materials science and engineering honor society:

• Abbigale Boyle
• Steven Crist
• Michael Grapes
• Karam Hijji
• Alexander Kao
• Stephen Kitt
• Pavel Kotlyarskiy
• Hilary Lane
• Christine Lau
• Ashley Lidie
• Ryan Mulholland
• Marshall Schroeder

Back row: Marshall Schroeder, Ryan Mulholland, Alex Kao, Stephen Kitt, Steven Crist, and Professor Robert M. Briber. Front row: Pavel Kotlyarskiy, Hilary Lane, Ashley Lidie, Abbie Boyle, Christine Lau, and Karam Hijji.

Published May 15, 2009