2012 Award Winners
OUTSTANDING FACULTY
Jim Alves-Foss
Alves-Foss is a faculty member in Computer Science and the director of the Center for Secure and Dependable Systems (CSDS). Alves-Foss has been instrumental in building the CSDS since its inception in 1998 and supervised its transition into the College of Engineering last year. Alves-Foss gives students important and challenging research problems and provides research opportunities for other faculty inside and outside of CSDS and the college. Alves-Foss is an outstanding teacher who is willing to teach any class, not just those in his specialty. One student said of him, “He was always excited about what he was teaching, which made the class interesting.”
OUTSTANDING YOUNG FACULTY AWARD
Daniele Tonina
Daniele Tonina joined the Center of Ecohydraulics Research and the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at our Boise Campus. Tonina is engaged in extensive collaborative research with the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and most recently has received a large award with the National Science Foundation. His commitment to students is reflected in his leadership, and he is the faculty liaison for the IAHR Student Chapter. Tonina is helpful and communicative and is an excellent mentor to his students and a strong researcher.
OUTSTANDING STAFF AWARDS
Jim Martin
Jim is the Web Application Developer Lead for Engineering Outreach. In the time that Jim has worked for the College he has become an untiring and vital resource who is pivotal to the success of the college’s distance education program and the students and faculty served worldwide. Jim is not only an extremely hardworking and dedicated employee; he is a quick study that picks up new skills quickly while maintaining a positive and enthusiastic attitude. Jim combines both a strong technical background with skills in graphic design to make his work both technically proficient and graphically creative.
OUTSTANDING GRADUATE STUDENT
Dave Gardner, Mechanical Engineering
Dave Gardner is from Priest River, Idaho, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Idaho in 2010. Afterwards he received a fellowship with the NASA Idaho Space Grant Consortium, where he interned at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California during the summers. In graduate school, he mentored two senior design teams as part of his fellowship requirements, and also worked to develop a robot used to curl finger as a means of rehabilitation for people who have suffered a stroke. After graduating with his master's in mechanical engineering he will be working for the University of Washington as a research engineer in the bioengineering department where he will be conducting research directed towards the improvement of quality of life of persons with artificial limbs.
Triratna Shrestha, Materials Science and Engineering
Triratna Shrestha completed his bachelor's in Materials Science and Engineering from U of I, and is now pursuing his doctorate in Materials Science and Engineering. His research focus is "creep studies of Grade 91 steel for next generation nuclear power plants." Shrestha is an energetic individual who is fully committed to excellence in all spheres of his activities. After graduation he will begin research related to high temperature deformation properties of metals.
OUTSTANDING GRADUATE STUDENT PUBLICATION
Ondrej Linda
Ondrej Linda was our recipient for the outstanding student publication award this year. Ondrej is a doctorate student in Computer Science at our Idaho Falls campus. He is the primary author of two peer-reviewed papers accepted for publication in proceedings of the IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems, to appear in 2012. Fuzzy logic, or probabilistic logic, is a formalism for automated reasoning about systems whose parameters are approximate rather than exact. Fuzzy logic systems are used to model and control complex real-world systems such as those encountered in nuclear engineering and many other areas of great importance. Linda is originally from Prague, Czech Republic. He obtained bachelor's and master's in computer science with the focus on computer graphics in 2007 and 2010 from the Czech Technical University in Prague. Since 2008 he has been working as a graduate research assistant at University of Idaho, where he obtained master's in computer science with focus on machine learning in 2009.
OUTSTANDING SENIORS
Valerie Barry, Electrical Engineering
Valerie Barry graduated with a bachelor's in electrical engineering. During school she had internships at the Oregon Health and Science University and Intel Corporation. After graduation, she will be working with Intel Corporation in Fort Collins, Col. as an analog design graduate school Intern. In the fall, she will be attending Stanford University on full fellowship to earn her doctorate in electrical engineering.
DeAnn Brown, Civil & Environmental Engineering
DeAnn Brown is a senior in Civil & Environmental Engineering with only one semester left. Her dad works for Spokane as a civil engineer and is probably the main reason she chose to be an engineer. Brown says that her and her dad often designed and built many small projects at home. Her favorite was their red green project of building a solar heating panel out of a 10 ft satellite dish and sprinkler piping. She says it does an exceptional job of heating their pool in the summer. Brown will be working in Portland for Stacy and Witbeck this summer and will be graduating from the University of Idaho in December 2012. After graduation, she hopes to attend a water resources graduate program. Brown says she loves working with the professors and students at this university and she will always be a Vandal.
Fernando De La Garza Arreguin, Electrical Engineering
Fernando De La Garza Arreguin is a double major in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, De La Garza Arreguin’s family moved to Boise in 2004. His interest in how things work led him to be involved with FIRST robotics, which increased his interest in engineering. After graduation De La Garza Arreguin plans to go work for Hewlett Packard in Vancouver, Wash.
Kristian Henrickson, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Kristian Henrickson graduated with a bachelor's in civil engineering. He has been interning with NIATT for several semesters, and has had the opportunity to work on a couple different research projects. He will continue working for NIATT this summer. His plan after graduation is to earn his master's in civil engineering at the University of Washington, starting in the fall of 2013. In the long term, he plans to continue his education to complete a doctorate and possibly work in academia.
Kevin Hungate, Industrial Technology
Kevin Hungate graduated with a bachelor's in industrial technology. Previously Hungate graduated from Eastern Idaho Technical College, from the Health Physics Technician program in 1983. Hungate began his career in radiological control/health physics in 1983 at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL). Hungate worked as a health physics technician until 1990 when he accepted an instructor position in Health Physics/Radiological Control Technician (HPT/RCT) Training. In 2000, Hungate assumed duties as the Technical Lead for the INEEL Radiological Safety and Industrial Safety Training Programs. Hungate served as a member of the INEEL Emergency Response Site Monitoring Team from 1995 to 2004, with duties in identifying, confirming and tracking radioactive material in the event of a release. In 2002, Hungate became a member of the Department Of Energy (DOE) Region 6 Radiological Assistance Program (RAP) Team. In 2004, Hungate accepted a full time position as the Region 6 RAP Training and Outreach Coordinator and in 2006, his current position of Equipment Coordinator. Hungate plans to enjoy some time with his family who have been very supportive of his schooling and may someday come back for his master’s.
Anthony Kanago, Computer Engineering
Anthony Kanago graduated with a bachelor's in computer engineering. He has spent the last two summers as an intern at Micron Technology in Boise and will be returning this summer in DRAM R&D Product Engineering. Next year he is returning to complete his master's under Suat Ay focusing on integrated circuit design. On campus, he has been a member of IMAPS and IEEE and a founding father of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.
Doug Kippes, Agricultural Engineering
Doug Kippes graduated with a bachelor's in agricultural engineering. In 2007 he began coursework in agricultural engineering at the College of Southern Idaho and in 2009 transferred to the U of I. At U of I, he participated in the Honors Program, served as a CALS ambassadors and peer mentor and served as vice-president of the ASABE student club. Following graduation, Kippes and wife will be relocating to Twin Falls and in November he will become a father! He is also slated to begin work later this month as a Management Trainee with Glanbia Foods Inc., the largest producer of American cheese in the U.S.
Kara Kleppen, Biosystems Engineering
Kara Kleppen graduated with a bachelor's in biosystems engineering. She grew up on a farm and ranch in Outlook, Montana and followed her four brothers to the University of Idaho. She’s looking forward to spending summer with her niece and nephew, helping her dad build a new shop, and job shadowing her mother. She will be attending the University of Washington School of Medicine beginning in the fall in hopes of becoming a rural family practice physician.
Patrick McHail, Materials Science and Engineering
Patrick McHail graduated with a bachelor's in materials science and engineering. He plans to enter the aerospace industry after graduation and eventually pursue an MBA, and one day start a successful small business of his own (with days off during hunting season of course!) McHail would like to thank my friends and family for their support, and the wonderful instructors and staff at the University of Idaho for their outstanding contribution to his educational development and success.
Caitlin Owsley, Mechanical Engineering
Caitlin Owsley graduated with a bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering. She has been actively involved with U of I's ASME chapter for the past three years. She hopes to apply her degree to the aerospace world and design airplanes someday. After graduation she will be working for Janicki Industries in western Washington as a project manager. Owsley has a positive attitude and has not only been busy with school but has been volunteering, doing service projects and flying planes.
Benjamin Sprague, Computer Engineering
Ben Sprague graduated with a bachelor's in computer engineering. Sprague has been active during his time at the U of I being a member of Theta Chi Fraternity and an undergraduate research intern for Richard Wall’s Smart Signals research team. After graduation, Sprague and his wife will be moving to Spokane, Wash. where he will begin employment at Frencken America as an electrical/software engineer.
Lee VanGundy, Computer Science
Lee VanGundy graduated with a bachelor's in computer science and mathematics. This summer he will have an internship at the Federal Reserve System Board of Governors. Next year he will continue on to graduate school at the University of Idaho to pursue a master's in computer science with a focus in information assurance. Post-master's degree, he will be working in the field of cyber-security for a government agency, per his agreement for Scholarship for Service. VanGundy has had internships at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratories and Ames Research Center.
Zachary Wuthrich, Mechanical Engineering
Zach Wuthrich graduated with a bachelor's in mechanical engineering. Growing up in Idaho Falls, Wuthrich says he never wanted to be anything but an engineer. With his strong passion for engineering and applied technology, he plans to use his knowledge to solve daunting problems and create a better society. Before that though, he plans to spend the summer decompressing with long days of fishing and motorcycling throughout Idaho and Montana. Eventually, he would like to become an engineering professor in the northwest.
Nathan Yergenson, Chemical Engineering
Nathan is a double major in chemical engineering and chemistry. He has accepted a job offer as a Systems Engineer at Apex Manufacturing Solutions, which is a consulting company for process automation and controls in Boise.