The Frank Erwin Center buzzed with activity on the evening of May 21, 2010 as Cockrell School graduates and faculty lined up for the procession.
Awards were presented, accolades shared and Milton Lee, P.E., B.S.M.E., 1971, and CEO of CPS Energy in San Antonio, inspired the crowd with his commencement address.At the ceremony Dean Greg Fenves presented various faculty awards:
Dr. Theodore S. Rappaport, electrical engineering professor, was the recipient of the Joe J. King Professional Engineering Achievement Award. He was recognized for his leadership to propel the Cockrell School forward with the founding of the Wireless Networking and Communications Group and is a leader in the Cockrell School’s programs on entrepreneurship as well as a successful entrepreneur himself. Rappaport holds the William and Bettye Nowlin Chair in Engineering.
The Billy & Claude Hocott Distinguished Engineering Research Award recipient this year was Dr. Mukul Sharma, professor of petroleum engineering and holder of the W. A. "Tex" Moncrief, Jr. Centennial Chair in Petroleum Engineering. Dr. Sharma’s extensive research is of great importance to the future of our precious energy resources.
Dr. Hao Ling, Professor of electrical engineering and holder of the L. B. (Preach) Meaders Professorship in Engineering, received the Lockheed Martin Award for Excellence in Engineering Teaching. Dr. Ling’s dedication to his students leads them to a greater mastery of engineering.
Dr. Carolyn Conner Seepersad of the mechanical engineering department is the 2010 recipient of the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Teaching by an Assistant Professor. The research she has conducted with her graduate students in conjunction with her work with K-12 students have shown her to be an exceptional young professor.
Associate Dean of Research John Ekerdt presented the Outstanding Scholar-Leader Award to Charles Upshaw, UT student chapter president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
The ceremony closed with the singing of the "Eyes of Texas" led by Taylor Castello, a graduate in chemical engineering, who also participated in the Longhorn Singers, UT’s show choir in the Butler School of Music.
