Spectrum - Volume 20 Issue 25 March 26, 1998 - University to honor Founders Day award recipients

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University to honor Founders Day award recipients

By David Nutter

Spectrum Volume 20 Issue 25 - March 26, 1998

Founders Day, Virginia Tech's annual celebration of the academic and professional achievements of its faculty, students and staff, will be held in Burruss auditorium on Friday, April 3, beginning at 3:15 p.m.
As part of this year's Founders Day ceremony, William E. "Bill" Skelton will receive the William H. Ruffner Medal, the university's highest Award: Skelton, Class of 1940, is the dean emeritus of the Extension Division and president of the Alumni Association.
Winners of this year's awards are: Special Citation, Richard M. Bagley; Alumni Distinguished Service Award: G. E. "Buddy" Russell and Daniel W. Bird Jr .
Graduate Teaching Assistant Excellence Award: David W. Mullins , micro-biology/immunology; Graduate Student Service Award: Gregory W. Shawver , human nutrition, foods and exercise; University Public Service Excellence Award: Michael Chandler , agriculture and applied economics; Alumni Teaching Award: Rosemary Blieszner , family and child development, and Timothy W. Luke , political science; Alumni Excellence in Academic Advising, R. Dean Riess , mathematics; Wine Award: Ezra `Bud' Brown , mathematics; Victoria R. Fu , family and child development; and Ronald G. Kander , materials science and engineering; Sporn Award for Teaching Introductory Subjects: Michael J. Ellerbrock , agriculture and applied economics; Sporn Award for Teaching Engineering Subjects: Curtis H. Stern , mechanical engineering; President's Award for Excellence: Sandra S. Blevins , math department; Walter E. Hartman Jr. , food science and technology; Joyce A. Longrie , military affairs; Joyce O. Morgan , veterinary medicine; and Christine Saunders , culinary services.
Alumni Award for Excellence in International Programs: Philip Y. Huang, management science and information technology; Alumni Award for Excellence in Research: Seshu B. Desu , materials science and engineering; and Joseph A. Schetz , aerospace and ocean engineering
Alumni Award for Excellence in Extension: Harry L. Haney Jr. , Forestry; Richard A. Nunnally , Virginia Cooperative Extension;
Man of the Year, Castigliano Murthy Bhamidipati , College of Human Resources and Education; and Woman of the Year, Rachel K. Hash , College of Arts and Sciences.
The other Outstanding Student Awards are: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: John Michael Schmidt ; College of Architecture and Urban Affairs: Holly A. MacDonald ; College of Arts and Sciences: Jody Geoghegan Davidson ; Pamplin College of Business: Gregory D. `Bo' Elam ; College of Engineering: Krista L. Johnston ; College of Forestry and Wildlife Resources: Aaron Blacka ; College of Human Resources and Education: Kathleen Marie Ollendick ; and the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine: Andrew Walter Holloway .