Undergraduate Awards Environmental Engineering
Thomas M. Keinath Environmental Engineering Award
Presented to one senior and one junior majoring in environmental engineering based on outstanding achievements and possessing personal attributes necessary for successful accomplishments in this discipline. The award is given in honor of Dr. Thomas M. Keinath who served as a faculty member, department chair, and the Dean of College of Engineering and Science during his 37year career at Clemson University. Recipients: Erin Boyer (Senior), Bryant Parks (Junior)
Water Environmental Association of South Carolina Undergraduate Student Scholarship
This relatively new award was made possible by a generous donation from the Water Environment Association of SC. The award recognizes an outstanding undergraduate student majoring in Environmental Engineering who is likely to work in the water or wastewater field upon graduation. Recipient: Coulter Friez
Environmental Engineering “Spirit” Award
Presented to a senior in environmental engineering who exhibits an exceptional level of dedication to the undergraduate degree and the profession. Recipient: Hannah Neff
Undergraduate Awards for Geology
The Thomas F. Logan, Jr. Geology Merit Award
Presented to a senior majoring in geology with outstanding achievement in geology and possessing personal attributes necessary for successful accomplishments in this discipline. The award is given in memory of Thomas F. Logan, Jr., a 1965 graduate of Clemson University. He was killed in an automobile accident just prior to receiving his PhD from the University of Georgia, and he would have been the first PhD graduate in geology from that institution. Recipient: Abbegail King
The Jean G. Stillwell Award
This award is given to an outstanding junior student majoring in geology. The award was established in memory of Jean G. Stillwell, who graduated from Clemson in geology in 1982, then taught as a Lecturer in Geology until her death from cancer in 1993. The award is $250 and also comes with a genuine rock hammer and safety goggles. Recipient: Mikayla Metzler
Geology “Spirit” Award
Presented to a senior in geology who exhibits an exceptional level of dedication to the undergraduate degree and the profession. Recipient: Denise Diaz
Undergraduate Awards for Biosystems Engineering
George B. Nutt Award
Presented to a senior/junior student majoring in Biosystems Engineering with outstanding achievements and possessing personal attributes necessary for successful accomplishments in this discipline. The award is given in honor of Dr. George B. Nutt, the first Department Chair of Agricultural Engineering at Clemson who served from 1932 to 1955. Recipients: Ella Grant (senior), Beth Walker (junior)
Biosystems Engineering “Spirit” Award
Presented to a senior in biosystems engineering who exhibits an exceptional level of dedication to the undergraduate degree and the profession. Recipient: Abigail Lacey
William R. Heatley, Jr Award
This award is presented in honor of Bill Heatley, an alum of the program when we were graduate only and the Department’s name was Environmental Systems Engineering. The award provides assistance for graduate students who are pursuing a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering & Science or a Doctoral degree in Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences. Recipient: Thomas Ryan Merritt
Environmental Scholars Award
The Environmental Scholars Award recognizes outstanding Master’s degree students in Environmental Engineering & Science or Doctoral degree students in Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences. Up to 3 students per year are recognized. Recipients: Hao Chen, Saylen Sofia Paz, Lurima Uane Faria
L.G. Rich Water Environment Association Award
Gene Rich was the founder of the Clemson Environmental Engineering programs. He served as a Professor and Alumni Distinguished Professor of Environmental Engineering from 1972-1987, as well as the Dean of the College of Engineering from 1961-1972. Dr. Rich authored 5 books and over 50 technical papers. He is widely recognized as one of the “giants” of the Environmental Engineering profession. Our main research facility in the Advanced Materials Park is named in his honor. This award was established by the Water Environment Association of SC. Recipient: Abel Mathew
A. Ray Abernathy Water Association Award
A. Ray Abernathy served as the Department Head for Environmental Systems Engineering, as the Department was once known. Dr. Abernathy was among the first researchers to conduct comprehensive studies of water chemistry in reservoirs in the upstate of South Carolina. He worked with Duke Energy in 1975 to study fish populations in lakes Keowee & Jocassee. These studies revealed that the fish contained unacceptable levels of mercury, leading to a public advisory to limit the consumption of fish caught in those lakes. Dr. Abernathy’s work on mercury greatly influenced the recognition of this as a widespread problem for South Carolina. This award was established by the Water Environment Association of SC. Recipient: Weiming Qi
Thomas M. Keinath Water Association Fellowship
As with several of the awards given to undergraduate Environmental Engineering students, this award is given in honor of Dr. Thomas M. Keinath. Dr. Keinath served as a faculty member, department chair, and the Dean of College of Engineering and Science during his 37-year career at Clemson University. Recipients: Shohreh Kamyah, Jaqueline Soares
R. Kenneth Tinsley Fellowship
This award is made in honor of R. Ken Tinsley, a long-time member of the Water Environment Association of SC. Based on his service to the wastewater profession, a Fellowship Endowment was established in his name to support graduate level students who are currently enrolled or accepted to a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering & Science or a Doctoral degree in Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences. Recipient: Javad Alavi
Benjamin Clay Dysart III Environmental Engineering Fellowship
Dr. Dysart was a professor in EEES (then named Environmental Systems Engineering) from 1968-1990. This fellowship was created to honor his contributions through generous donations from his many former graduate students. In addition to his celebrated career at Clemson, Dr. Dysart worked in industry, as a scientific advisor to federal and international agencies, and as President of the National Wildlife Federation. Recipient: Mahsa Ghorbani
Hydrogeology Awards
Dr. David S. Snipes Memorial Award for Outstanding Graduate Student in Hydrogeology
Dr. Snipes was a professor of Geology from 1968 until his retirement in 1998, with an active focus on groundwater research. Creating the Symposium helped to play an important role in the University’s ongoing mission of promoting collaboration and exchange between educators, industry and government. As part of his legacy, a graduate fellowship in hydrogeology was created. Recipient: Alex Defalco
1st Prize Best EEES Graduate Student Presentation. Recipient: Marc Mason
2nd Prize EEES Graduate Student Presentation. Recipient: Josh Grant
1st Prize Best EEES Undergraduate Student Presentation. Recipient: Denise Diaz, Abbegail King
2nd Prize for EEES Undergraduate Student Presentation. Recipients: Abby Gilfillan & Crawford White
Graduate Awards in Nuclear Environmental Engineering and Science
Dr. Roy Grayson Post received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering in 1944, and a Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1952 from the University of Texas. In the interim of these degrees, he served during WWII as a member of the Manhattan Project in Chicago. Dr. Post dedicated his professional life to applied research and later to teaching in the field of nuclear engineering and nuclear waste management. Dr. Post served at the University of Arizona as a Professor of Nuclear Engineering from 1961-1988. He authored over 100 publications in the field of nuclear engineering, as well as edited books on nuclear fuel reprocessing and radioactive waste management. He served as editor of the journal Nuclear Technology from 1969 until 1988. He was founding chief executive of the Waste Management Symposia, Inc., sponsor of the annual international Waste Management Conference. The Roy G. Post Foundation is a non-profit organization formed by his students, peers and protégés to provide scholarships to students to develop careers in the safe management of nuclear materials and to participate in the WM Conference. Recipient: William Dufresne
2024-2025 Roscoe Hall Scholarship
Roscoe Hall was one of the founding health physicists at the Savannah River Site. In recognition of his hard work and dedication to the field of health physics, The Roscoe Hall memorial scholarship is awarded annually by the Savannah River Chapter of the Health Physics Society to one Clemson University student and one Francis Marion University student who: Recipient: Annelise Gonzales
Boyd Scholar Award
This award is presented to the most outstanding graduating seniors who began in the Boyd Scholars Program and is based on their accomplishments, including scholarship, leadership, engagement, and integrity in engineering. Recipient: Rita Barrera
National & Local Awards
NAGT Outstanding TA Award
EEES celebrates another great student achievement. Hydrogeology major, has been recognized by National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) as an outstanding Teaching Assistant; one of the recipients for their 2025 awards. The graduate student awards are funded by NAGT. NAGT recognizes outstanding teaching assistants in geoscience education with up to 30 awards annually. 2025 Recipient: William Cummings
Scholarship Recipients Awarded Blue Ridge Foothills District Scholarship
Congratulations to four-(4) amazing EEES students Lexi Mikowicz, Laura DiGiacomo, EIT, Joshua Banks and Michael Knapp, PE on being 2024 recipients of the Blue Ridge Foothills District Scholarship. The scholarship is an integral part of the BRFD’s mission to provide, support and encourage environmental education and development. Awarded applicants must be pursuing a degree in any Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) field.
The Environmental Research and Education Foundation (EREF) Award
EREF is one of the largest sources of private research funding in North America related to sustainable materials management. Our grants program has provided millions of dollars in funding to cutting edge research institutions to help address the many challenges that exist. Recipient – Laura Digiacomo
National Teaching Assistant Award awarded to EEES Graduate Students
The National Association of Geoscience Teachers Outstanding TA Award. This award honors undergraduate and graduate students who have demonstrated excellence as Teaching Assistants. Dr. Alan Coulson nominated Jack and Max based on their performance as TAs in undergraduate Geology courses. 2024 Recipients: Jack Horvath and Max Gordon
EEES Student wins AWWA Student Poster at ACE24
Congratulations to Hatice Yildirim for winning first place in the student poster competition at the American Water Works Association’s (AWWA) Annual Conference and Expo (ACE24), held in Denver, Colorado from June 8 to 11, 2024. It was a wonderful showing at the national level for South Carolina! Recipient: Hatice Yildirim
