UNL Biological Systems Engineering Department Honored with Awards

August 11, 2015

Lincoln, Neb. — Faculty, staff and students within UNL’s Biological Systems Engineering Department were honored with several awards at last month’s American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers awards luncheon held in New Orleans.                                                    

Professor Roger Hoy, director of the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory, and David Jones, associate dean for undergraduate programs, College of Engineering, and professor in the Biological Systems Engineering Department,  were two of 12 individuals named ASABE Fellows. To be considered for the grade of ASABE Fellow, an individual must demonstrate unusual professional distinction, with outstanding qualifications and experience in the field of agricultural engineering. Twenty years of membership in ASABE is required. Only about two percent of the active members of ASABE have achieved the grade of Fellow.

Other UNL honorees include:

• Joe Luck, assistant professor; Gale A. Holloway Professional Development Award. The award annually seeks to encourage and recognize outstanding leadership and active involvement in ASABE for early career members.
• David Murray, UNL-BSE External Advisory Committee member; Evelyn E. Rosentreter Standards Award. The award is given annually to encourage and recognize individuals who have contributed exemplary leadership and service toward the generation, maintenance and administration of ASABE standards activities.
• Aaron Yoder, courtesy faculty, from UNMC; SMV Technologies, Ergonomics, Safety and Health Award. Endowed in 2011 by SMV Technologies, Inc., the award annually recognizes outstanding contributions which advance agricultural and biological safety and health.
• William Kranz, professor and interim co-director of the Northeast Research and Extension Center; Heermann Sprinkler Irrigation Award. The award recognizes those professionals in research, development, extension, education or industry that have made significant contributions to the improvement of efficient and effective sprinkler irrigation.
• Mark Riley, professor and department head; Presidential Citation. ASABE Presidential Citations recognizes ASABE members for extraordinary service and invaluable contributions to the Society. Riley chairs, coordinates, and leads the Biological Engineering presidential task force which reviewed and modified the definition of agricultural and biological engineering within ASABE.
• Vivek Sharma, recent graduate; Boyd-Scott Graduate Research Award. The award recognizes excellence in the conduct and presentation of research to build the knowledge base needed by engineers who design equipment, facilities and processes for the sustainable operation of a biological system.
• Vasudha Sharma, graduate student; Association of Agricultural, Biological & Food Engineers of Indian Origin Second Place Research Paper Award. The award has been instituted to recognize excellence among members in the conduct and presentation of research related to agricultural, food and biological engineering.
• UNL Fountain Wars Student Team; Second Place. Fountain wars is a hands-on, real-time design competition where students design and model their entry before the Annual International Meeting, and build and test their actual entry under time pressure during the competition at the Meeting.

In addition, several faculty members received ASABE Education Aids Blue Ribbon Awards. These awards annually recognize outstanding effort and achievement in developing noteworthy educational materials. Receiving Blue Ribbon Awards were Crystal Powers, Jill Heemstra, Rick Stowell, Kelly Feehan, David Shelton, Tom Franti, Katie Pekarek and Steve Rodie.

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers is an international scientific and educational organization dedicated to the advancement of engineering applicable to agricultural, food, and biological systems.