Mechanical Engineering Academy of Distinguished Alumni Awards

The 2008 Distinguished Alumni Honorees
Top Row (from left to right): Douglas Suttles, Suman Das, Karen Nyberg, Walt Benson
Bottom Row (from left to right): Eric Jones, Sam Zamrik, Rick Reylea, Katherine Pearsall

AUSTIN, TEXAS—October 28, 2008

In May, Dr. Joseph Beaman, ME Department Chair, asked the ME community to send in nominations for this year's Mechanical Engineering Academy of Distinguished Alumni Awards. The nominations were received, and this year's honorees have been selected. They received their awards in a ceremony on the October 24.

The academy has four primary purposes:

• Recognize outstanding University of Texas at Austin mechanical engineers publicly among the University of Texas at Austin community and Engineering community
• Champion our own professions
• Create a sense of community/camaraderie within the Department
• Facilitate interaction/continuity with the student body and our alumni and corporate friends

This year's honorees are as follows:

Outstanding Young Mechanical Engineer

Suman Das, M.S. ME 1993, Ph.D. 1998
Karen L. Nyberg, M.S. ME 1996, Ph.D. 1998

Distinguished Mechanical Engineer

Douglas J. Suttles, B.S. ME 1983
Richard D. Relyea, B.S. ME 1970, MBA 1983

Mechanical Engineering Hall of Fame

Sam Zamrik (left) was accompanied by his wife, Myrna, daughter, Tina Lee Lester, and grandchildren, Colin, Miranda and Ryan, at the Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony.

Eric L. Jones, B.S. ME 1957, M.S. ME 1958, Ph.D. 1963
Sam Y. Zamrik, B.A. 1956, B.S. ME 1957

Charter Member of the Academy

Katherine M. Pearsall, M.S. ME 1979, Ph.D. 1983

Mechanical Engineering Honorary Engineer

Walt Benson, B.S. Agricultural Engineering 1981, South Dakota State University

For more information, see the Distinguished Alumni page.