The event honored over 400 students during the ceremony, as well as approximately 15 faculty members.

The program began with the presentation of 2007 Vannevar Bush Award from the National Science Board that was awarded to President Shirley Ann Jackson in May. The award recognized Jackson for a “lifetime of achievements in scientific research, education, and senior statesman-like contributions to public policy.”

In the School of Engineering, Dean Alan Cramb was awarded the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers/The Association for Iron and Steel Technology Howe Memorial Lecturer and will present a lecture on a technical subject of particular interest to the association two years from now. The lecture topic that Cramb has chosen is “From Liquid to Solid: Key Issues in the Future of Steel Casting.”

Also honored within engineering was Assistant Professor of Decision Sciences and Engineering Systems Wai Kin “Victor” Chan, who was designated by the National Academy of Engineering as one of the “nation’s brightest young engineers” and will participate in the academy’s annual U.S. Frontiers of Engineering Symposium.

Jonathan S. Dordick was also recognized within the School of Engineering with the Marvin J. Johnson Award in Microbial and Biochemical Technology granted by the American Chemical Society. The award recognizes many of his “achievements leading to functional bioengineered materials, enzyme-based nanocomposites, and bioactive agents that impact human health and bioprocesses.”

Mariana Figueiro, assistant professor in the School of Architecture, also received two awards at the ceremony. Figueiro was the recipient of the James D. Watson Investigator Program Award for her work in investigating the retinal mechanisms of human circadian phototransduction, as well as the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award.

Also recognized at Honors Convocation was Associate Professor of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy Heidi Jo Newberg. Newberg received the Gruber Cosmology Prize, which honors a leading cosmologist, astronomer, astrophysicist, or scientific philosopher for discoveries leading to a fundamental advancement in the field.

Several honors were also given to Professor of Science and Technology Studies Linda Layne for her book Motherhood Lost. The Council on Anthropology and Reproduction awarded Layne one award in 2006 and one in 2007 for the book. In addition, Layne won three Tellys, two silver Daveys, and a Gracie for “outstanding talk show” for her Motherhood Lost: Conversations show.

In addition to the faculty awards given out, Michael Shur was promoted to fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology in recognition of his “individual responsibility, sustained achievements, and exceptional professionalism.”

Several constellation professors were also announced during the ceremony. James A. Hendler and Deborah L. McGuinness, both professors in computer science, were named as constellation professors in the Tetherless World Constellation. Biology professor George Makhatadze was also named as a chaired professor in the Biocomputational and Bioinformatics Research Constellation in the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies. Also announced was that Steven Cramer has been named the William Weightman Walker Professor of Polymer Engineering, and Boleslaw Szymanski was named the Claire and Roland Schmitt Distinguished Professor. Lastly, Ricardo Dobry, professor of civil and environmental engineering, was named Institute Professor of Engineering.

Following the faculty portion of the program, Jackson, Vice President for Student Life Eddie Ade Knowles, and Vice President for Enrollment Jim Nondorf announced the Rensselaer Medalist winners. The Class of 2011 boasts 273 winners who were recognized at the ceremony on Saturday. The Medal program was established in 1916, and those freshmen who were named recipients of the Medal were selected class as the strongest science and math students from their high school classes.

In addition to the Medal winners, 17 transfer students were recognized with scholarships at the Honors Convocation as well. Ten students were awarded the Joseph J. Smith Jr. ’45 Award for the most outstanding engineering science students in their two-year colleges, in addition to two students who were named as recipients of the Garnet D. Baltimore Rensselaer Award and Scholarship for Minority Students and five students who received the Award for Excellence for non-engineering transfer students.

Thirty-nine students across various schools and disciplines were recognized for maintaining a grade-point average of 4.0 and having completed a minimum of 90 letter-graded credit hours. Twenty-five graduate students were also recognized with fellowship awards.