Awards And Certifications From Sept. 13-15
DAPCEP, DTE Energy Give Out 2nd Annual Real McCoy Awards: Last week the Detroit nonprofit Detroit Area Pre College Engineering Program gave out its Second Annual Real McCoy Awards, presented by DTE Energy. The organizations recognized five Michigan-based leaders in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine in a ceremony at DTE headquarters in Detroit. The awards are named after Detroiter Elijah McCoy (1844-1925), a mechanical engineer and prolific inventor behind the phrase "the real McCoy." His inventions included a lubricator for steam engines that revolutionized the industrial machine industry. All told, he held 57 patents. Awardees included, from science, Jerry Caldwell, director of the Drew Scholars Program at Michigan State University and the University of Michigan; from technology, Rodney O'Neal, CEO of Delphi Corp.; from engineering, Jessica Moreno, engineering business manager, General Motors Global Electrical Systems; from mathematics, Ronald Hall, president and CEO of Bridgewater Interiors; and from medicine, Dr. Linda Gillum, associate dean for academic and faculty affairs at the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. DTE also received the Corporate Award for its role as presenting sponsor of the Real McCoy awards and its support of DAPCEP. The Detroit Public Schools also received the Real McCoy Legacy Award for its long support of DAPCEP. More at www.dapcep.org. The ceremony also includes recognition of "Junior Real McCoys" from DPS middle and high schools for their production ofwinning projects at the 2013 Science and Engineering Fair of Metro Detroit. Co-sponsors of the Real McCoy Awards include the Delphi Foundation, UAW-GM, Consumers Energy, Ford Motor Co., Oakland University School of engineering and computer science, the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Chrysler Foundation, Michigan State University – University Outreach and Engagement, University of Michigan Engineering, Avis Ford, Dow Corning, Fifth Third Bank, UAW-Ford Local 600, Marathon Petroleum, Meritor, MGM Grand Detroit, Vision IT, and Wayne State University - The Front Door. DAPCEP annually engages 4,000 historically underrepresented Detroit area youth in STEMM fields ranging from forensics to aerodynamics to computer aided design, aerospace engineering and much more through various programs. DAPCEP works to supply the region with homegrown STEMM professionals.
MMI Researcher Earns ACS High Honor: Patrick Smith, a scientist at Midland's Michigan Molecular Institute, was included in the 2013 class of American Chemical Society Fellows at a ceremony last week in Indianapolis. The designation of ACS Fellow puts Smith, 63, in rarified air for an organization whose membership tops 163,000 globally; less than 1 percent of ACS members are awarded the prestigious honor, according to Midland ACS Chapter Chair Wayde Konze, who nominated Smith. Smith followed a 30-plus year career at Dow with a stint at Archer Daniels Midland Co. He joined MMI in 2010 with an eye toward establishing a new initiative -- the institute's bio-based materials division. Smith has been MMI's lead scientist in its partnership with Micromidas Inc., a West Coast-based company that converts low-value municipal waste into higher-value chemical building blocks and plastics. Among the other highlights in a career loaded with them, he authored the Sigma Xi Outstanding Research Publication for 1987; won the Midland Section ACS Award for Outstanding Achievement and Promotion of the Chemical Sciences in 1998; has served as Adjunct Professor at Central Michigan University since 1990; was awarded the Dow Chemical Analytical Sciences V. A. Stenger Award in 1984; and received the Dow Chemical Michigan Division Scientists Award in 1994. He has also co-edited two books on biobased materials. Michigan Molecular Institute, founded in Midland, Mich. in 1971, is a non-profit organization dedicated to polymer research and education. MMI offers research and development across many areas, including photonics, membranes, specialty coatings, delivery systems and sensors. Its core capabilities include polymer synthesis and design; polymer characterization; polymer science; materials science; polymer formulation and processing; heterogeneous catalysis; silicone chemistry; and biobased materials.
