Rutgers School of Engineering Awards Alumni Medals of Excellence

The School of Engineering at Rutgers University is awarding its “Medal of Excellence” honors to alumni who have made major contributions to society or achieved notable positions in business, government or education.

The recipients will be honored at an awards banquet May 21, the evening before the School of Engineering’s spring commencement convocation. They are:

• Keiko Harvey, senior vice president for video network services at Verizon Communications. Harvey is being honored as alumna of the year. She earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Rutgers in 1972.

• William Plerhoples, retired from Corning Incorporated in 2006, where he was senior vice president for manufacturing technology and engineering. Plerhoples is being honored for lifetime achievement. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1968 and a master’s degree in 1973, both in ceramic engineering from Rutgers.

• Walter J. Weber Jr., the Gordon M. Fair and Earnest Boyce Distinguished University Professor of Environmental and Ecological Sciences and Engineering at the University of Michigan. Weber is being honored for achievement in academia. He earned a master’s degree in sanitary engineering from Rutgers in 1959.

• David J. Odde, professor, biomedical engineering, University of Minnesota. Odde is being honored as the outstanding young alumnus. He earned a master’s degree in 1992 and a doctorate in 1995, both in chemical and biochemical engineering from Rutgers.

At the same event, the school’s alumni association – the Rutgers Engineering Society – will present its distinguished engineer award to Reuben H. Karol, professor emeritus, civil and environmental engineering, Rutgers University. Karol received a bachelor’s degree in 1944 and master’s degree in 1949, both in civil engineering from Rutgers.

“Rutgers has a long and proud history of engineering education, with graduates who have risen to leadership positions in government, industry and academia worldwide,” said Michael Klein, dean of the School of Engineering. “These awards, which we issue annually, give us the chance to recognize our alumni and display the breadth of talent and expertise we nurture here.”

Instruction in engineering began at Rutgers in 1864, when the state of New Jersey designated the Rutgers Scientific School as the “State College for the Benefit of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.” The present School of Engineering became a separate entity in 1914. It has departments that cover aerospace, biochemical, biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, environmental, industrial, materials, mechanical and systems engineering.

Alumna of the Year award:

Keiko Harvey is senior vice president for video network services at Verizon Communications. She is responsible for Verizon’s video engineering, planning and video services. Before her appointment to that position, Harvey was president and chief executive officer of Verizon Global Networks, Inc., and was responsible for developing and operating the company’s long-distance network. From her entry-level engineering position with Bell Atlantic’s New Jersey Bell division in 1972 to her current position, Harvey has enjoyed a distinguished career with increasing responsibilities in engineering, sales, finance and network operations. Her awards include the Asian American Achievement Award from the Asian American Heritage Council of New Jersey and the 2006 Executive Women of New Jersey “Salute to the Policy Makers.”

Harvey lives in Summit, N.J.

Alumni Lifetime Achievement award:

William Plerhoples began working at what was then known as Owens-Corning Fiberglass as a process engineer and rose through the ranks to become senior vice president for manufacturing technology and engineering at Corning Incorporated. He retired from that position in 2006. Among Plerhoples’ accomplishments are establishing the ceramic products division engineering group and the startup of Corning Celcor, which manufactures substrates used in catalytic converter applications to help vehicle manufacturers meet emission regulations. Under his leadership, he acted as the key conduit between research and development to division engineering, ensuring that learning was driven into manufacturing practices. He was an influential champion of the tunnel kiln process and the type of sintering technology used today.

Plerhoples lives in Bradenton, Fla.

Alumni Achievement in Academia award:

Walter J. Weber, Jr. is the Gordon M. Fair and Earnest Boyce Distinguished University Professor of Environmental and Ecological Sciences and Engineering at the University of Michigan. After graduating from Rutgers, Weber received a master’s degree in 1961 and his doctorate in 1962 in environmental sciences from Harvard University. He has more than 400 refereed publications and $100 million of sponsored research. His awards and recognitions include election to the U.S. National Academy of Engineers in 1985, election to the status of Fellow in the American Society of Civil Engineering in 1986 and the Gordon Maskew Fair Medal for outstanding accomplishments on the teaching and development of environmental engineers and scientists from the Water Environment Federation in 1990. The International Science Index (ISI) recognized Weber as the 15th most highly cited and quoted scientist in the world, and seventh in the United States. He taught and advised more than 70 Ph.D. students, two of whom have been elected to the National Academy of Engineers.

Weber lives in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Outstanding Young Alumnus award:

David J. Odde began his academic career in 1995 as assistant professor of chemical engineering at Michigan Technological University. He became associate professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Minnesota in 1999 and served as acting head from 2006 to 2007. He was named professor in 2007. Recognition for his research in cell growth and division includes election to the College of Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering in 2007.

Odde lives in Minneapolis, Minn.

Rutgers Engineering Society Distinguished Engineer Award:

Reuben H. Karol has had a 60-year civil engineering career in industry, academia and research. He developed and implemented the current standards for chemical grouting – a process which modifies soils and rock, enabling them to carry greater loads and form seals against the flow of water. He first developed these concepts while holding the position of director of the Engineering Chemicals Research Center for American Cyanamid, Inc. Karol was a member of the Rutgers civil engineering faculty and is currently a professor emeritus, leading a graduate course in soils stabilization. Karol is also a prolific sculptor. One of his works, made using a special polymer cement developed by his students, is on display in the courtyard outside the civil engineering laboratory on the Busch Campus.

Karol lives in Monroe Township, N.J.