Congratulations to the 2019 ChBE alumni award winners!

10/18/2019 Christine des Garennes

The new alumni awards program recognizes graduates who have distinguished themselves through their outstanding professional achievements, their dedication and advocacy for the department, or their service or contributions to society. Honors include the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award and the Young Alumni Achievement Award.

Written by Christine des Garennes

From left, front row: David Boger, Joan Brennecke, Ajay Virkar, Steve Miller, and Paul Kenis at the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Fall Awards Ceremony. Photos by Della Perrone for the University of Illinois.
From left, front row: David Boger, Joan Brennecke, Ajay Virkar, Steve Miller, and Paul Kenis at the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Fall Awards Ceremony. Photos by Della Perrone for the University of Illinois.

On Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering held its inaugural fall awards program. The department celebrated alumni awards winners and graduate students who received fellowships for 2019-2020.

The new alumni awards program recognizes graduates who have distinguished themselves through their outstanding professional achievements, their dedication and advocacy for the department, or their service or contributions to society. Honors include the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award and the Young Alumni Achievement Award.

2019 Award Winners

  • Distinguished Alumni Award: John Anderson, MS ’69, PhD ’79 (Quinn)
  • Distinguished Alumni Award: Joan Brennecke, MS ’87, PHD ’89 (Eckert)
  • Distinguished Alumni Award: Jack McWhirter, BS ’59, Illinois; MS ’61, PhD ’62, Penn State
  • Distinguished Alumni Award: Robert Sankman, BS ’80
  • Young Alumni Achievement Award: Fei Wen, MS ’06, PhD ’10 (Zhao)
  • Young Alumni Achievement Award: Ajay Virkar, BS ’05, Illinois; PhD ’10, Stanford

The following individuals were also recognized with Distinguished Alumni Awards. They have received honors in previous years from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Illinois Alumni Association, Grainger College of Engineering, or University of Illinois Foundation:

  • Hariklia ‘Lili’ Deligianni (College of LAS Alumni Achievement Award, 2019)
  • Jerrod Henderson (College of LAS Outstanding Young Alumni Award, 2019)
  • William Banholzer
  • R. Byron Bird
  • David Boger
  • John Georges
  • Dennis Houston
  • Steven Miller
  • Charles Prizer
  • Walter Robb
  • Darsh Wasan

Congratulations to all!


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This story was published October 18, 2019.