Faculty and staff are invited to hear Jasbir S. Arora, the F. Wendell Miller Distinguished Professor of Engineering at the University of Iowa, present Optimization and Digital Human Modeling on Tuesday, April 11, at 4:10 p.m. in 1227 Hoover Hall. This lecture is part of the Distinguished Lecture Series sponsored by the Iowa State University and University of Iowa Colleges of Engineering. A reception will begin at 3:30 p.m. in the first-floor lobby of Hoover Hall.

The Marston Club and Patent Dinner planned for Thursday, April 20, will recognize the 2006 Professional Progress in Engineering (PPEA) honorees and faculty members who received patents. Innovate, the college’s new research magazine, will be unveiled at this event.

William Schroeder, PhDChE’01, and Thomas “TJ” Paskach, BSChE’90/PhDChE’02, are recognized for their successful entrepreneurial efforts as co-founders of Nitro Ice Cream and Blue Sky Creamery, Inc. Their enterprise began in 1999 when they invented flash freeze ice cream using liquid nitrogen for the Department of Chemical Engineering VEISHEA display. Schroeder and Paskach developed and improved the technology and took Nitro Ice Cream on the road to the Iowa State Fair and then other county and state fairs. They opened their first retail outlet, Blue Sky Creamery, in Ankeny, Iowa. Today Nitro Ice Cream is the exclusive manufacturer of Nitro Freeze™ equipment and licensor of Nitro Freeze™ technology.

David Sanders, BSCE’84, is known internationally for his work in seismic design of concrete bridges and response of concrete members subjected to shear. In 2000, he received an ISU Outstanding Young Alumnus Award. Sanders earned MS and PhD degrees at the University of Texas, Austin, and he is currently an associate professor of civil engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno. He’s an accomplished researcher who recently received a $1.4-million NSF grant to lead researchers from across the country in a study of combined seismic load effects on bridges.

The Department of Aerospace Engineering inducted five new members to the Hall of Distinguished Alumni on Monday, April 3.

• Dale A. Anderson (MSAerE’59, PhDAerE’64), Professor and Vice President for Research, University of Texas, Arlington
• F. Ronald (Ron) Bailey (BSAerE’64, MSAerE’67, PhDAerE’70), Director, Aerophysics Directorate, NASA Ames
• Paul Kutler (BSAerE’65, MSAerE’67, PhDAerE’69), Deputy Director, Information Sciences and Technology, NASA Ames
• Joseph L. Steger (MSAerE’67, PhDAerE’69), Professor, University of California, Davis
• John C. Tannehill (BSAerE’65, MSAerE’67, PhDAerE’69), Emeritus Professor, Iowa State University

Faculty and staff are invited to the Distinguished Achievement Citation Award Ceremony hosted by President Gregory Geoffroy on Thursday, April 20, at 4:15 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. A reception will follow at 5:30 in the South Ballroom.

Engineering honorees
Jack Cosgrove, BSEE’56, will receive the Order of the Knoll Cardinal and Gold Award that recognizes comprehensive long-term service to Iowa State University and the ISU Foundation. Cosgrove spent his career with Collins Radio/Rockwell International, including three years as CEO of Rockwell Collins. He has served in many advisory and supporting capacities for the university, including service as a volunteer leader of Campaign Destiny in the 1990s. Cosgrove and his wife are members of the Order of the Knoll President’s Circle and Campanile Society.

James, BSEE’60, and Katherine Melsa will receive the Knoll Faculty/Staff Award in recognition of the significant roles they’ve played in advancing the college, the university, and the Ames community. The Melsas support a variety of community programs and are the recipients of the 2006 Outstanding Philanthropy Award from Youth and Shelter Services in Ames. Kathy Melsa is a past recipient of the Unsung Hero Award from the Ames Noon Rotary and Ames Daily Tribune and the Strong-Minded Woman Award from the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics. Jim Melsa has received numerous engineering awards, including election as a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and IEEE’s Third Millennium Medal in 2000. The Melsas are members of the Order of the Knoll President’s Circle.