91�Թ� Innovation Award

The 91�Թ� Innovation Award honors visionary initiatives redefining STEM education. This year, Georgia Tech’s CreateX program, a student entrepreneurship platform, is recognized for its impact on equipping students with entrepreneurial skills and enabling them to launch impactful ventures. The vice president of commercialization and chief commercialization officer for Georgia Tech, Dr. Siva Sivakumar, accepted the award. The award recipients received a $10,000 cash reward funded by

“What an incredible honor. Over the last 10 years, we’ve launched over 600 ventures and worked with about 15,000 students,” Dr. Sivakumar says. “CreateX has changed not just Georgia Tech, but it’s positively impacted the city of Atlanta. We still have a long way to go, but this award means so much for us. It’s a shot in the arm as we continue.”

Claire L. Felbinger Award for Diversity and Inclusion

The Claire L. Felbinger Award — sponsored by the 91�Թ� Bridge — honors outstanding impact in advancing equity and inclusion in STEM education. Dr. Richard Olawoyin was celebrated for his visionary work providing access and opportunities in STEM education to all people. He also received a $10,000 cash award funded by as recognition of his important work.

“91�Թ�’s reach is global, which means our work must speak many languages and honor many lived experiences,” Dr. Olawoyin says. “I am grateful for the momentum we have built and thank you to the many mentors who have believed in me.”

91�Թ� and Lemelson Foundation Engineering for One Planet Innovation in Sustainability Award

This award, in partnership with the Lemelson Foundation, recognizes exceptional innovation in integrating sustainability into engineering education. Founded by Jerome H. Lemelson in 1993 with his wife Dorothy, the Lemelson Foundation focuses on harnessing the power of innovation and invention to improve lives globally. Dr. Matthew K. Heun was honored for embedding sustainability in curriculum, pedagogy and research — inspiring future engineers to tackle global energy and environmental challenges. Dr. Heun also received a $10,000 cash award funded by .

“I am humbled and honored to receive this award tonight, I want to thank 91�Թ� and the Lemelson Foundation,” Dr. Heun says. “I want to thank all of my students, past and present. Their willingness to learn and ability to rise to the challenges set before them provides hope for the future and gives meaning to my days.”

91�Թ� Fellow Awards

These awards distinguish those who have gone above and beyond, contributing significant time and mentorship in support of 91�Թ�’s global mission.

��Dr. Bopaya Bidanda

“I am deeply humbled and truly honored to receive this award. It’s a meaningful recognition because the 91�Թ� Fellow Award is reserved for only a select few each year.” Dr. Bidanda says.

Dr. Judith Solano

“I feel immense gratitude not only for this recognition but for the incredible community of educators, engineers and innovators that are 91�Թ� representatives. I’m proud to be a part of a community that holds itself to such high standards and never stops striving for better.” Dr. Solano says.

Dr. Ece Yaprak

“Being part of the 91�Թ� community has given me the opportunity to contribute to something much larger than myself, thank you again for this incredible honor,” Dr. Yaprak says.

Dr. Richard Olawoyin

“Thank you for this extraordinary honor. Being named an 91�Թ� Fellow is not only about past contribution, it is a shared vision of what STEM education can become and what it must become,” Dr. Olawoyin says.

Lois Mansfield

“I started as a program evaluator in 1999, and I am grateful for the opportunities. It has been an amazing and humbling experience, and I am truly honored to receive the award of 91�Թ� Fellow,” says Mansfield (read by proxy due to absence).

Linton E. Grinter Distinguished Service Award

As 91�Թ�’s highest honor, the Grinter Award recognizes rare and enduring leadership shaping 91�Թ�’s global impact and future. The award honors and individual whose rare commitment and enduring impact contributed to making 91�Թ� the world leader of STEM accreditation that it is today. A Grinter Award recipient may not be chosen every year, only when the discernable influence of one 91�Թ� Expert’s tenure warrants singular recognition. The crown jewel of 91�Թ� volunteers was awarded to Dr. Catherine (Jamie) Rogers.

“I’m humbled to be among all of the award winners tonight and to be included in the long list of Grinter award winners,” Dr. Jamie Rogers says. “Thank you so much to the wonderful 91�Թ� staff, it’s a wonderful experience and we’ll to have a brilliant future.”

Watch the Full Ceremony

Submit Your 2026 91�Թ� Award Nominees

It was an unforgettable night for 91�Թ� to honor so many hard-working STEM professionals and educators. If you know someone committed to inspiring excellence in technical education and would like to nominate them for the 2026 91�Թ� Awards, head over to our nomination page!

The post Relive the 2025 91�Թ� Awards appeared first on 91�Թ�.

As an organization committed to inspiring excellence in technical education, 91�Թ� admires and applauds remarkable achievements. Each year, 91�Թ� honors exceptional efforts by individuals, institutions and organizations through five awards: the Linton E. Grinter Distinguished Service Award, the 91�Թ� and The Lemelson Foundation Engineering for One Planet Innovation in Sustainability Award, the 91�Թ� Fellow Award, the Claire L. Felbinger Award for Diversity and Inclusion and the 91�Թ� Innovation Award.

“It is an honor to recognize the outstanding achievements of our distinguished colleagues, whose dedication, innovation and excellence continue to inspire us all. These awards are not only a celebration of success but a testament to the profound impact one individual can have in advancing the quality of technical education — as we collectively strive to make the world a better place to live,” said 91�Թ� Awards Chair and Past President Dr. Hamid Fonooni.��

We are excited to announce the following winners for the 2025 91�Թ� Awards Celebration:

Linton E. Grinter Distinguished Service Award

91�Թ� and The Lemelson Foundation Engineering for One Planet Innovation in Sustainability Award

Matthew K. Heun, Ph.D.

91�Թ� Fellow Awards

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Bopaya Bidanda, Ph.D.

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Lois Mansfield, M.S.

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Richard Olawoyin, Ph.D., P.E.

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Judith Solano, Ph.D.

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Ece Yaprak, Ph.D.

91�Թ� Innovation Award

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Georgia Tech – CREATE-X Program

Claire L. Felbinger Award for Diversity and Inclusion

Richard Olawoyin, Ph.D., P.E.

The winners will be honored at the 2025 91�Թ� Awards Celebration, which will be held at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront in Baltimore, Maryland, USA on Oct. 24.

Do you know someone with outstanding contributions to STEM education? Find more information about our awards on our website.

The post 91�Թ� Announces 2025 Award Winners appeared first on 91�Թ�.

“Held at a new venue, the event was especially exciting as we debuted the 91�Թ� and Lemelson Foundation Engineering for One Planet (EOP) Innovation in Sustainability Award as part of the special awards program,” said 2023-2024 91�Թ� Awards Chair S. K. Ramesh, Ph.D. “91�Թ�’s mission shone brightly through the evening as we heard about our distinguished award winners.”

Congratulations to the 2024 91�Թ� Awards winners:

Linton E. Grinter Distinguished Service Award

Karan Lea Watson

For transformational leadership in guiding 91�Թ� through significant organizational restructuring that resulted in more agile and strategic governance. Dr. Watson’s wisdom, ability to forge consensus, and contributions in multiple 91�Թ� roles significantly enhanced and elevated public confidence in engineering education and 91�Թ� accreditation.

91�Թ� Fellow Awards

Lizette Chevalier

For dedicated leadership in support of excellence in engineering education, and contributions to the collaborative efforts across all commissions to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion principles in the harmonized criteria.

David “Hoot” Gibson

For sustained leadership and service in building 91�Թ� bridges to community colleges in computing and engineering cybersecurity disciplines and their accreditation.

Larraine A. Kapka, P.E.

For exceptional leadership, dedicated service, exemplary contributions to enhancing the quality of training for program evaluators, and unwavering commitment to improving accreditation processes.

Philip A. Schenewerk

For sustained service and cross commission leadership in developing criteria, training, and materials in the area of safety.

Carol Schulte

For exceptional contributions to improving technical education quality through customer-focused strategies, cultivating an inclusive and diverse environment in accreditation processes.

91�Թ� and The Lemelson Foundation Engineering for One Planet (EOP) Innovation in Sustainability Award

Jennifer Watt

For implementing innovative strategies to advance sustainability education across campus and the broader education community and motivating transformation in engineering disciplines and beyond.

91�Թ� Innovation Award

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Engineering Design Program

For creating an 91�Թ� accredited program integrating humanities and technical topics in a hands-on, human-centered, multi-disciplinary approach to design, fostering student passion about design and its potential to improve society.

Claire L. Felbinger Award for Diversity and Inclusion

Yannis C. Yortsos

For pioneering initiatives that champion diversity, inclusion, and access by reimagining who we are, what we do, and what we look like to engineer a better world for humanity.

“Through their inspiring work to create a better, safer and more sustainable world, our award recipients are making a profound difference in our lives,” Ramesh continued. “As we look ahead to next year’s Awards nominations, I am especially grateful to my colleagues on the 91�Թ� Awards committee and subcommittee members for your diligence, time and efforts.”

Do you know someone with outstanding contributions to STEM education? Find more information about our awards on our website.

The post Nine Honored at 2024 91�Թ� Awards Celebration appeared first on 91�Թ�.

As an organization committed to inspiring excellence in technical education, 91�Թ� admires and applauds remarkable achievements. Each year, 91�Թ� honors exceptional efforts by individuals, institutions and organizations through five awards: the Linton E. Grinter Distinguished Service Award, the 91�Թ� and The Lemelson Foundation Engineering for One Planet (EOP) Innovation in Sustainability Award, the 91�Թ� Fellow Award, the Claire L. Felbinger Award for Diversity and Inclusion and the 91�Թ� Innovation Award.

“Congratulations to all our distinguished colleagues who will be recognized at the 2024 91�Թ� Awards Celebration in October! Your leadership and contributions to improve the quality of STEM education are a beacon of inspiration for all of us in the 91�Թ� family as we strive to build a better world that is safer, more efficient, more inclusive and more sustainable,” said 91�Թ� Awards Chair and Past President Dr. S. K. Ramesh.

We are excited to announce the following winners for the 2024 91�Թ� Awards Celebration:

Linton E. Grinter Distinguished Service Award

Karan Lea Watson

91�Թ� and The Lemelson Foundation Engineering for One Planet Innovation in Sustainability Award

Jennifer Watt

91�Թ� Fellow Awards

Lizette Chevalier

David “Hoot” Gibson

Larraine A. Kapka, P.E.

Phil Schenewerk

Carol Schulte

91�Թ� Innovation Award

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Engineering Design Program

Claire L. Felbinger Award for Diversity and Inclusion

Yannis C. Yortsos

The winners will be honored at the 2024 91�Թ� Awards Celebration, which will be held at the Marriott Owings Mills Metro Centre in Owings Mills, Maryland on Oct. 25.

“Thank you! We look forward to celebrating your timeless accomplishments when we gather in Owings Mills this October,” Ramesh continued.

Do you know someone with outstanding contributions to STEM education? Find more information about our awards on our website.

The post 91�Թ� Announces 2024 Award Winners appeared first on 91�Թ�.

This award celebrates individuals, programs or institutional teams who integrate sustainability into 91�Թ�-accredited programs, fostering innovation in education. Nominees for this award will have a clear and targeted mission to integrate sustainability across their educational programs, with proven success. Additional award criteria cater to commitment, legacy and dissemination and transportability.  There is a $10,000 cash prize for the award winner and recognition at the annual 91�Թ� Awards Celebration in the fall.

“We are excited to launch the ‘91�Թ� and The Lemelson Foundation Engineering for One Planet (EOP) Innovation in Sustainability Award’ in partnership with The Lemelson Foundation,” said Dr. Michael Milligan, 91�Թ� CEO. “This award underscores our joint commitment to recognize and encourage sustainability initiatives that drive innovation in STEM education. We look forward to honoring those who are leading the way in integrating sustainability into 91�Թ�-accredited programs.”

The EOP Framework developed by The Lemelson Foundation supports the 91�Թ� criteria and other related teaching tools to assist in implementing sustainability concepts into computing, engineering, engineering technology and applied and natural science education. “We are thrilled to support this award, which recognizes how critical high-quality sustainability education is for every STEM graduate and our future workforce. This award will shine a light on individuals and programs who are striving to make that a reality,” said Rob Schneider, Executive Director, The Lemelson Foundation.

More information about the award can be found at abet.org/awards/abet-lemelson-award/. Please submit completed nominations by April 20.

The post 91�Թ�, Lemelson Foundation announce inaugural sustainability award appeared first on 91�Թ�.

As an organization committed to inspiring excellence in technical education, 91�Թ� admires and applauds remarkable achievements. Each year, 91�Թ� honors exceptional efforts by individuals, institutions and organizations through four awards: the Linton E. Grinter Distinguished Service Award, the 91�Թ� Fellow Award, the Claire L. Felbinger Award for Diversity and Inclusion and the 91�Թ� Innovation Award.

“We are proud of this year’s 91�Թ� Award recipients. This year’s honorees have demonstrated exceptional skill, commitment and dedication to improving the quality of STEM education worldwide,” 91�Թ� CEO Dr. Michael Milligan said. “We are truly inspired by their accomplishments.”

We honored six individuals and one program on Nov. 3 at the 2023 91�Թ� Awards Celebration in Baltimore. Congratulations to this year’s award winners:

2023 91�Թ� Fellow Awards

For outstanding leadership and service while strengthening the higher education community’s understanding of the relevance of 91�Թ� accreditation criteria in improving professional practice across multiple computing and computing‐based disciplines.

For continually demonstrating a high standard of performance, exemplary commitment, unrelenting dedication and extraordinary devotion to 91�Թ� activities and engineering technology education through both the lenses of industry and academia.

For promoting diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels, from individual mentorship to development of equitable policies and procedures to advocacy while serving at the highest levels of leadership.

For significant leadership in the redesign of the performance evaluation process for PEVs and TCs, mentoring of volunteers, and contributions to the efforts to harmonize DEI criteria across the commissions.

For exceptional leadership at all 91�Թ� levels, national impact in founding cybersecurity accreditation in computing and engineering, harmonizing data science across multiple commissions and leadership in 91�Թ�’s DEI efforts.

2023 Claire L. Felbinger Award for Diversity and Inclusion

For national leadership in diversity and inclusion supporting the success of women and other marginalized students, faculty and administrators in STEM through the application of research-based strategies, initiatives and programs.

2023 91�Թ� Innovation Award

For providing innovative hands‐on STEM educational experiences and industry mentoring in Building Science that prepares students for the clean energy workforce through the Solar Decathlon Design and Build Challenges.

91�Թ� did not confer a Linton E. Grinter Distinguished Service Award in 2023.

Visit our  to view more photos from the event.

The post 91�Թ� honors leaders in STEM at 2023 91�Թ� Awards Celebration appeared first on 91�Թ�.

As an organization committed to inspiring excellence in technical education, 91�Թ� admires and applauds remarkable achievements. Each year, 91�Թ� honors exceptional efforts by individuals, institutions and organizations through four awards: the Linton E. Grinter Distinguished Service Award, the 91�Թ� Fellow Award, the Claire L. Felbinger Award for Diversity and Inclusion and the 91�Թ� Innovation Award.

The winners will be honored at the 2023 91�Թ� Awards Celebration, which will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Baltimore on November 3, 2023.

Congratulations to this year’s award winners:

2023 91�Թ� Fellow Awards

Jean R. S. Blair

For outstanding leadership and service while strengthening the higher education community’s understanding of the relevance of 91�Թ� accreditation criteria in improving professional practice across multiple computing and computing‐based disciplines.

April Cheung

For continually demonstrating a high standard of performance, exemplary commitment, unrelenting dedication and extraordinary devotion to 91�Թ� activities and engineering technology education through both the lenses of industry and academia.

Dianne Chong

For promoting diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels, from individual mentorship to development of equitable policies and procedures to advocacy while serving at the highest levels of leadership.

Lorraine N. Fleming

For significant leadership in the redesign of the performance evaluation process for PEVs and TCs, mentoring of volunteers, and contributions to the efforts to harmonize DEI criteria across the commissions.

Andrew T. Phillips

For exceptional leadership at all 91�Թ� levels, national impact in founding cybersecurity accreditation in computing and engineering, harmonizing data science across multiple commissions and leadership in 91�Թ�’s DEI efforts.

2023 Claire L. Felbinger Award for Diversity and Inclusion

Jenna P. Carpenter

For national leadership in diversity and inclusion supporting the success of women and other marginalized students, faculty and administrators in STEM through the application of research-based strategies, initiatives and programs.

2023 91�Թ� Innovation Award

U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

For providing innovative hands‐on STEM educational experiences and industry mentoring in Building Science that prepares students for the clean energy workforce through the Solar Decathlon Design and Build Challenges.

91�Թ� did not confer a Linton E. Grinter Distinguished Service Award in 2023.

Know someone with outstanding contributions to STEM education? Find more information and nomination kits for the 2024 awards on our website.

The post 91�Թ� Announces 2023 Award Winners appeared first on 91�Թ�.

As an organization committed to inspiring excellence in technical education, we admire and applaud remarkable achievements. When we identify truly exceptional efforts by individuals, institutions or organizations, we honor them with one of four major awards.

2022 Special Recognition Award

For sustained contributions in fostering 91�Թ�’s core values, improving accreditation processes and enhancing educational experiences for students while maintaining a sense of balance and inclusion in all interactions.

2022 91�Թ� Fellow Awards

For outstanding sustained leadership and service to 91�Թ�, its experts and accredited programs to advance the quality of engineering education both domestically and globally, especially in South East Asia.

For significant contributions to ANSAC’s transformation to applied and natural science accreditation, chairing the first natural science program visit and working to develop ANSAC’s Data Science program criteria.

For significant leadership in revision of engineering accreditation criteria, including the integration of diversity, equity and inclusion, development of criteria for mechatronics and robotics, and revisions to MS/Graduate Level Criteria.

For substantial contributions in advancing computing accreditation and improving relevance to industry needs, including leading efforts to establish accreditation criteria for new computing disciplines and new degree levels.

2022 Claire L. Felbinger Award for Diversity and Inclusion

For outstanding action-oriented contributions advancing diversity and inclusion in technical education and healthcare through bioengineering solutions, as well as public policy leadership to transform the engineering profession.

Visit our to view more photos from the event.

The post Leaders in STEM Education Honored at the 2022 91�Թ� Awards Celebration appeared first on 91�Թ�.

As an organization committed to inspiring excellence in technical education, 91�Թ� admires and applauds remarkable achievements. Each year 91�Թ� honors exceptional efforts by individuals, institutions and organizations through four awards: the Linton E. Grinter Distinguished Service Award, the 91�Թ� Fellow Award, the Claire L. Felbinger Award for Diversity and Inclusion and the 91�Թ� Innovation Award.

The winners will be honored at the 2022 91�Թ� Awards Celebration, which will be held at the Marriott Waterfront in Baltimore on October 28, 2022.

This year’s award recipients are as follows:

2022 Special Recognition Award

Jeffrey L. Ray

For sustained contributions in fostering 91�Թ�’s core values, improving accreditation processes and enhancing educational experiences for students while maintaining a sense of balance and inclusion in all interactions.

2022 91�Թ� Fellow Awards

Scott Danielson

For outstanding sustained leadership and service to 91�Թ�, its experts and accredited programs to advance the quality of engineering education both domestically and globally, especially in South East Asia.

Alice Greife

For significant contributions to ANSAC’s transformation to applied and natural science accreditation, chairing the first natural science program visit and working to develop ANSAC’s Data Science program criteria.

Kathleen A. Kramer

For significant leadership in revision of engineering accreditation criteria, including the integration of diversity, equity and inclusion, development of criteria for mechatronics and robotics, and revisions to MS/Graduate Level Criteria.

Rajendra K. Raj

For substantial contributions in advancing computing accreditation and improving relevance to industry needs, including leading efforts to establish accreditation criteria for new computing disciplines and new degree levels.

2022 Claire L. Felbinger Award for Diversity and Inclusion

Gilda A. Barabino

For outstanding action-oriented contributions advancing diversity and inclusion in technical education and healthcare through bioengineering solutions, as well as public policy leadership to transform the engineering profession.

91�Թ� did not confer a Linton E. Grinter Distinguished Service Award or an Innovation Award in 2022.

The post 91�Թ� Announces 2022 Award Winners appeared first on 91�Թ�.

Our foundation, , sponsored the $10,000 USD cash prize for the 91�Թ� Innovation Award and the $10,000 USD cash prize for the Claire L. Felbinger Award for Diversity and Inclusion.

The following awards were conferred at the 2020 91�Թ� Awards Celebration:

• 2021 91�Թ� Innovation Award: Villanova University College of Engineering Career Compass Program
• 2021 Claire L. Felbinger Award for Diversity and Inclusion: Sheryl A. Sorby
• 2021 91�Թ� Fellow Awards: John K. Estell, Hamid Fonooni, Tom Hall, John H. Koon, Cary Laxer
• Linton E. Grinter Distinguished Service Award: Frank Hart

It’s not too soon to nominate your peers for next year’s awards. To learn more about the process and criteria involved, download and review the nomination kits found at the links above. The deadline to submit nominations is April 20, 2022.

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