Materials Science and Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award

The Materials Science and Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest alumni honor in our department. This award recognizes alumni who excel in the areas of entrepreneurship, industry impact, student engagement, and innovative research excellence. Eligible candidates are nominated and selected by department faculty and receive their award during our annual gala. Award recipients are invited to attend student poster sessions during the day and to deliver a speech to students, faculty, and staff during the evening gala.

Previous Award Winners

  • 2024

    Christine Ortiz, M.S. ’95, Ph.D. ’97

  • 2023

    William “Bill” LaFontaine, Ph.D. ’90

  • 2022

    Peter Green, Ph.D. ’85

  • 2019

    Yonn Rasmussen, Ph.D. ’89

  • 2018

    James Hwang, Ph.D. ’78

  • 2017

    Linda Schadler, Ph.D. ’90

  • 2016

    Eugene Fitzgerald, Ph.D. ’89

  • 2015

    Don Thomas, Ph.D. ’82

  • 2014

    Karel Czanderna, Ph.D. ’84

  • 2013

    Richard Vaia, Ph.D. ’95

  • 2011

    Sunggi Baik, Ph.D. ’81
    Ronald Black, Ph.D. ’90
    Frederick Schoen, Ph.D. ’70
    Frank Shieu, Ph.D. ’90

     

  • 2010

    Donald Morel Jr., Ph.D. ’84
    Gregory Galvin, Ph.D. ’84
    Harriet Kung, Ph.D. MS ’87, Ph.D. ’91
    Jung-Hyun Oh, B.S. ’95, M.S. ’96

     

  • 2008

    Fred Keller, B.S. BS ‘66
    Roger Poeppel, Ph.D. ’68
    Edwin L. (Ned) Thomas, Ph.D. Ph.D. ‘74
    Rick Lih-Shyng Tsai, Ph.D. Ph.D. ‘81

     

More About Our Distinguished Alumni

  • Christine Ortiz receives 2024 MSE Distinguished Alumni Award

    Christine Ortiz, M.S. ’95, Ph.D. ’97, received the 2024 Materials Science and Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award at the department’s annual awards gala on May 10th in Willard Straight Hall. Ortiz delivered a keynote speech discussing her work with Station 1 Laboratory…

  • MSE to honor Bill LaFontaine with Distinguished Alumni Award

    The Cornell Department of Materials Science and Engineering is proud to honor William “Bill” LaFontaine, Ph.D. ’90 with the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award, in recognition of his outstanding career as a leader in industry. As General Manager for IP and…

  • NREL’s Peter Green, Ph.D. ’85, receives 2022 MSE Alumni Award

    Peter F. Green, Ph.D. ’85, deputy laboratory director for science and technology and the chief research officer for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), has been selected as the 2022 MSE Alumni Award winner. Green, who is also senior vice…