May 24, 2021

Congratulations to these students who have received Hajiim School awards (top to bottom, left to right): Alaina Attanasio, Ognjen Bosic, Charles Chimera, Ahmad El Gazzar, Ethan Fahnestock, Gaetan Foisy, Alyssa Ho, Emma Mantel, Warish Orko, Nick Pomianek, Chris Pressimone, Kamal Raji, Yiyang Su, Daniel Troyetsky, Mark Volkin and Sylvia Zhong.

Dear members of the Hajim School community,

“Commencement,” strictly defined, is a “beginning or start.” But in the context of our Diploma Ceremonies on Saturday, “commencement” also meant taking a moment to look back with pride on all that our remarkable students have achieved in order to prepare for the next stages of their journeys.

Because they achieved so much — in the midst of a pandemic, no less!– I am confident that they will accomplish great things.

And in doing so, they will carry forward our University’s commitment to Meliora. Ever better!

Our Diploma Ceremonies were also an opportunity to recognize the important role of our faculty, staff, and alumni in preparing our students. So I was honored to be able to announce these awards:

HAJIM SCHOOL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

As two-time chair of mechanical engineering–and as associate director of the Center for Freeform Optics and former director of the Materials Science Program–John Lambropoulos is creating a lasting legacy.

During his most recent term as chair, John was closely involved in hiring 14 new faculty members, including five early career award winners. The new hires also included four women in five years. He has forged strong ties between the department and the Laboratory for Laser Energetics which have helped advance our University’s exciting new initiative in high energy density physics.

John is an outstanding advocate for students. He has championed study abroad, and the Archaeology, Technology and Historical Structures program. John is unsurpassed as a teacher, clearly communicating even the most difficult concepts. “His animated personality completely takes over the room and leaves me wishing to do nothing more than watch my professor teach a subject he has been teaching for years,” one student noted. (Be sure to read more here!) As a result, John has received the University’s top awards for excellence in undergraduate teaching.

EDMUND A. HAJIM OUTSTANDING FACULTY AWARD

Since 1985, our University and our school have benefited from the exceptional leadership and vision of Mark Bocko, who has twice served as the chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Mark, the Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, was the driving force behind one of our most popular undergraduate programs – audio and music engineering – which gives students the skills they need to enter—and keep up with– the rapidly changing field of audio and sound engineering. As director of the Center for Emerging and Innovative Sciences (CEIS), Mark has forged links between academic researchers and local companies to help create new technologies that benefit our area’sl economy. He has been a tireless advocate for developing the Rochester region as a center for light- and sound-based technologies.

Mark is an expert in audio and acoustic signal processing. Especially noteworthy are the five teaching awards that Mark has received, most recently the Goergen Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.

EDMUND A. HAJIM OUTSTANDING STAFF AWARD

Lori Russell’s leadership skills as The Institute of Optic’s administrator were sorely missed when she took an extended absence while she addressed a major health challenge. Those leadership skills have been even more appreciated since her return. “Throughout the COVID-19 response, Lori has been a safe harbor in stormy seas for our staff,” says Institute director Scott Carney.

Lori has brought new organization and order to the Industrial Associates program, managed accounting and post-award grant management, and cultivated cohesiveness and collegiality among Institute staff members–supporting their career development, for example, by organizing them to take Chinese language classes at lunch. After she completed a course in executive coaching and leadership through the Warner School, Lori cheerfully shared the lessons of the course “and in doing so improves everyone around her,” Scott says

In short, “Lori defines the call of duty,” Scott adds. “She sets a standard no one else thought they could meet and then she lifts all of us to that standard.” And that defines a worthy recipient of this award!

HONORARY DOCTOR OF SCIENCE

Our distinguished Institute of Optics alumnus, James Wyant ’67 (MS), ’69 (PhD), has supported the Institute, our school, and the University in so many ways. Jim, a professor emeritus and founding dean of the James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona, has established two professorships at the Institute and taught at its summer school for many years. He serves on our Dean’s Advisory Committee and is a University of Rochester life trustee. An expert in optical metrology, Jim is founder of two companies. He is a fellow and past president of both OSA and SPIE, and has received numerous awards, including our Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1994. Congratulations Jim, and thank you for your contributions to the field of optics and to our University!

STUDENT AWARDS

Congratulations to this year’s recipients of Hajim School student awards for outstanding achievement.

The Charles L. Newton Prize — recognizing engineering students who show a special proficiency in an engineering subject and have conducted research, given a presentation or published a paper:

Daniel Troyetsky, mechanical engineering
Ethan Fahnestock, interdepartmental engineering

The Donald M. Barnard Prize — awarded to junior or senior engineering students on the basis of personal qualification and achievement:

Sylvia Zhong, biomedical engineering
Mark Volkin, chemical engineering
Yiyang Su, computer science
Alaina Attanasio, electrical and computer engineering
Nick Pomianek, mechanical engineering
Chris Pressimone, optical engineering
Warish Orko, biomedical engineering
Kamaldeen Raji, chemical engineering
Charles Chimera, electrical and computer engineering
Alyssa Ho, optical engineering

The Richard Eisenberg Engineering Award — which recognizes hard-working undergraduates with an interest in metallurgy:

Ahmad El Gazzar, chemical engineering
Ognjen Bosic ‘22, mechanical engineering

The G. Harold Hook Prize — presented to a student who has demonstrated outstanding interest in engineering:

Gaetan Foisy, mechanical engineering
Emma Mantel, biomedical engineering

Click here to also see recipients of departmental awards.

DAAD-RISE SCHOLARS

Congratulations as well to these Hajim students who will be participating in the DAAD-RISE (Research Internships in Science and Engineering) program. They will be matched with a mentor at a top German university or research institution to carry out research this summer.

Jenna Diamico ’22 of geomechanics, Jülich Institute of Energy and Climate Research. Project: “Statistical Analysis of Gravity Wave Propagation”

Thien Hung Nguyen ’22 (T5) of chemical engineering, Jülich Research Center. Project: “Materials Synthesis and Processing Advanced Li Metal Anodes for All-Solid-State Batteries”

Maria Plessia ’22 of mechanical engineering, Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology at Dresden Institute of Technology. Project: “Fatigue Characterization by Means of AI Methods of Advanced Composites for Aircraft Application”

Hristijan Stojkovic ’22 of optical engineering, Humboldt University of Berlin Institute of Physics.
Project: “Building an Ultra-Cold Atom Machine as a Ground Test Bed for Space Missions”

CRITICAL LANGUAGE SCHOLARSHIP

Jason Hahn ’23 of optical engineering has accepted a US Department of State Critical Language Scholarship to study Russian. “There are many areas of optics in which Russian-based companies excel and are world renowned in the field of diffraction-based instruments,” Jason says. “While I am still uncertain which specific industry I will land in, communication skills are still paramount to professional success.” I couldn’t agree more. Well done, Jason! Read more here.

THANKS TO . . .

Ed Hajim ’58, former chair and life member of our University’s Board of Trustees and our school’s chief benefactor, for delivering his sage and always appreciated advice to our graduating seniors. Even when he cannot be here in person, Ed is inspirational!

Our IT specialists and Event and Classroom Management for all the hard work that went into staging our ceremonies and also ensuring live stream coverage for those who could not attend in person.

Lisa Norwood, our assistant dean, and all those who helped her organize our diploma ceremonies. This was particularly challenging this year because so many details had to be finalized at the last minute due to shifting COVID protocols.

Now it’s time for all of us to take a well-deserved break. I hope you all enjoy a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! Due to the holiday, the next issue of Hajim Highlights will come out next Tuesday, June 1.

Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman