Faculty, staff celebrated at end-of-year picnic
May 1, 2014
Back row from L-R: Christopher Barrett, Sean Offenberger, Bonnie Ladner, and James Fowler. Front row from L-R: Mary Ann Richardson and Nicole Ivancic
STARKVILLE, Miss. – The smell of barbecue and welcoming spring weather drew faculty and staff away from their offices to celebrate the end of a successful academic year with the Bagley College of Engineering.
More than 100 members of the Bulldog Engineer family gathered on Mississippi State’s historic Drill Field for the annual Faculty and Staff Appreciation Picnic, which recognizes their hard work and honors those who have earned awards during the year.
Interim dean Jason Keith gave the opening remarks while the crowd enjoyed catfish and barbecue—with all of the fixings—from Starkville’s The Little Dooey and Mississippi State ice cream for desert.
“I want to say thank you to everyone for all of their hard work during the past year,” Keith said. “I have enjoyed working with you all and look forward to the future.”
Keith went on to recognize individuals’ accomplishments from 2013-14, including the recent Student Hall of Fame and Academy of Distinguished Teachers inductees. Nicole Ivancic, Christopher Barrett and Sean Offenberger were also recognized. They were honored yesterday at the university’s annual research award banquet for being the winners of the BCoE’s staff, graduate and undergraduate research awards, respectively.
The winners of the college’s annual staff appreciation and career achievement awards were also announced. Honorees for each were selected from nominations received from across the college.
Mary Ann Richardson received the Professional Staff Appreciation Award. She splits her time as a business manager between the department of industrial and systems engineering and the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems-Extension in Canton, Miss. Her nomination letters describe her as having grasped the overall visions of the units she serves and being an enthusiastic member of the staff.
Also from the industrial and systems engineering department, office associate Bonnie Ladner earned the 2014 Support Staff Award. She has been with the university for 27 years, 23 of which were spent with the BCoE. Her nominators say she is a mainstay and the key person for providing continuity in the department.
James Fowler, an endowed professor in electrical and computer engineering, received the Career Achievement Award. In his 17 years with the college, he has received more than $5.6 million in funding for signal and image processing research.
Additional faculty awards will be presented tonight, in conjunction with the spring meeting of the dean’s advisory board.
For more information about the college’s 2013-14 achievements, visit the newsroom at www.bagley.msstate.edu/newsroom.
Photos from the picnic can be found at www.flickr.com/photos/msuengineering.
Additional information about the Bagley College of Engineering can be found at www.bagley.msstate.edu.
By: Susan Lassetter