WEPAN Awards 2019

WEPAN Awards

WEPAN Awards honor key individuals, programs, and organizations for accomplishments that underscore WEPAN’s mission. Honorees demonstrate extraordinary service, significant achievement, model programs, and exemplary work environments that promote a culture of inclusion and the success of women in engineering. The 2019 WEPAN Awards were presented April 15th at the 2019 WEPAN Annual Conference at the second annual Collaborative Network for Engineering and Computing Diversity (CoNECD) Conference in Crystal City, VA.

WEPAN and DiscoverE Girl Day Award

WEPAN and the DiscoverE Foundation have selected the University of Illinois at Chicago’s (UIC) Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day to receive this year’s award for outstanding programs which empower girls with information about opportunities in engineering. Elsa M. Soto is the Associate Director, Women in Engineering Programs at UIC’s College of Engineering.

2019 Award Recipient: University of Illinois at Chicago’s (UIC) Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day

Inclusive Culture and Equity Award

The Inclusive Culture and Equity Award honors an individual or group who has developed and implemented successful inclusive practices, policies or initiatives that promotes positive change with regard to the climate or culture for women in engineering fields at his/her institution.

2019 Award Recipient: Dr. Susan E. Walden from the University of Oklahoma for exemplary leadership in implementing programs that promote positive change to the climate and culture for women in engineering fields for serving as a model for others.

Women in Engineering Initiative Award

The Women in Engineering Initiative Award recognizes an outstanding project or initiative that serves as a model for other institutions.

2019 Award Recipients:  

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) Women in Engineering Program. Dr. Kristina Rigden, Director of Outreach Programs and Women in Engineering and Nicole Gutzke, Outreach Programs liaison and Women in Engineering Program Coordinator accepted the award on behalf of the program.

Pennsylvania State University “Engineering Mentoring for Internship Excellence” (EMIX).  Cheryl Knobloch, Director of the Women in Engineering Program at Pennsylvania State University accepted the award on behalf of the program.

WEPAN Industry Trailblazer Award

The Industry Trailblazer Award recognizes and honors an employer or an individual or group of employees in industry who enhance the career success of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) professionals, especially women identifying with underrepresented groups (African American, Latina, or Native American). The award may recognize the employer or employee in industry for their exceptional volunteer contributions to the STEM education at the primary, secondary or collegiate levels, especially in reaching girls from groups underrepresented in STEM fields. The name of the award

signifies the ability of an employer or employee to “blaze a pathway” through the artificial barriers that prevent women in STEM professions of diverse backgrounds from attaining their full potential.

2019 Award Recipient: Awarded to two individuals this year for their contribution to enhancing and inspiring the career success of women in STEM. The recipients are:
Cynthia Murphy-Ortega, Chevron & Aicha Evans, Zoox

WEPAN Advocates and Allies Award

The Advocates and Allies Award honors a man or group of men for mentoring, supporting and advocating for the success of women in engineering, or for climate and culture change that supports such success.

2019 Award Recipient:
Awarded to Dr. Eddy M. Rojas from the University of Dayton for his leadership in implementing programs that advocate, mentor, and support the success of women in engineering.

WEPAN Bevlee A. Watford Inclusive Excellence Award

The Bevlee A. Watford Inclusive Excellence Award honors individuals or groups who actively and creatively support the success of women of color in engineering at the undergraduate, graduate, faculty, and/or administrative levels. The award is named in honor of Past WEPAN President Dr. Bevlee A. Watford of Virginia Tech, who has served as a strong advocate for women of color in engineering, held a variety of engineering leadership roles in academia, as well as professional and governmental organizations, and been an effective a mentor to numerous women in engineering.

2019 Award Recipient:
Awarded to Dr. Gregory N. Washington at the University of California, Irvine for actively and creatively supporting the success of women of color in engineering. It is presented in recognition of his extraordinary ongoing commitment to advancing the success of women and students of color in engineering.

President's Award

The President's Award is given at the discretion of the WEPAN President.

2019 Award Recipient:  

Awarded to Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young from Tennessee State University in recognition of her exemplary accomplishments that serve as a model for others.

Betty Vetter Award for Research

The Betty Vetter Award for Research recognizes notable achievement in research related to women in engineering. The award is named in memory of Betty M. Vetter, long time director of the Commission on Professionals in Science and Technology, who served as the first treasurer of WEPAN, Inc. and was a founding member of the Board of Directors.

2019 Award Recipient: Awarded to Dr. Joyce B. Main at Purdue University, in honor of her significant contribution to understanding issues related to women in engineering.

WEPAN Founders Award

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The Founders Award honors a WEPAN member who exemplifies the spirit of the WEPAN founders through her/his individual service that has made a significant impact for the organization. The award is named for the three founders of WEPAN, Inc. - Suzanne G. Brainard, Jane Zimmer Daniels and Susan Staffin Metz.

2019 Award Recipient: Awarded to Dr. Julie P. Martin from Clemson University, a WEPAN member who exemplifies the spirit of the WEPAN founders through her extraordinary long-term service to the organization.

View past WEPAN Award winners here.

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