WSU Ventures honors innovation university contributors
The event, with more than 120 attendees, was held to recognize the outstanding performance and achievement of individuals and projects that have advanced the university's vision, mission and goals.
The event was emceed by Mark Torline, director of WSU Ventures and the Center for Entrepreneurship.
"It is apparent that Wichita State University is well on its way to fulfilling our vision of becoming an Innovation University," said Torline. "We see evidence every day around the campus -- evidence that extends well beyond all of the construction activity underway -- that WSU faculty, staff and students are truly embracing the culture of innovation."
The list of awardees follows. For photos and more information about each awardee, go to http://www.wsuventures.org.
- Innovation Partner: Airbus -- John O'Leary, vice president, Airbus Americas Engineering
- Trailblazer: Madeline McCullough, senior lecturer of integrated marketing communication, Elliott School of Communication
- First Dollar: Shocker Composites
- Visionary: John Lovitt, Sam Bloomberg Visiting Engineer; Tony Vizzini, provost/senior vice president; Jeremy Patterson, director, Institute of Interdisciplinary Creativity/Human Performance Laboratory
- SBIR: Gary Stecklein, Gary Stecklein Engineering and Business Consulting
- Shocker Innovation Corps Breakout: Johnna Crawford, graduate student
- Shocker Innovation Corps Mentor: Douglas English, associate professor, chemistry, WSU; Nils Hakansson, assistant professor, biomedical engineering
- Patents: Bill Groutas, WSU Foundation Distinguished Professor of Chemistry; Gerardo Olivares, senior research scientist/director, Crash Dynamics Lab, National Institute for Aviation Research
- Creative Works: Karen Countryman-Roswurm, assistant professor, School of Social Work; director, Center for Combating Human Trafficking
- Ambassador: Ed Baker, associate professor/technical director, School of Performing Arts, WSU; Stacia Boden, associate general counsel, WSU; Alan Badgley, associate director, WSU Small Business Development Center
- Catalyst: Engineering 101: WSU engineering educators Samantha Corcoran, Christopher Wyant, Tom McGuire
- Pioneer: Gary Brooking, engineering educator
- Newsmaker: Lawn Buddy LLC
- Bright Future - Education: Adam Davies, graduate student
- Bright Future - Business: Jocelyn Galicia, junior
- Bright Future - Health Professions: WSU Graduate students Stephanie Bowman, Courtney Clark, Lauren Berry, Maggie Porter, Nealey Hoffman
- Bright Future - Liberal Arts and Sciences: Rick Rangel, senior
- Bright Future - Graduate: Arfath Mohammad, graduate student
- Bright Future - Fine Arts: Hannah Hund, senior, engineering
- Bright Future - Engineering: Ali Behfarnia, graduate student
- Bright Future - Honors: Bridget Carroll, senior, fine arts
- President's Innovation Award: Michael Birzer, director, WSU School of Community Affairs
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Contact: Tracee Friess, director of communication, research and technology transfer, tracee.friess@wichita.edu or 978-5597.