Awards and Honors

Latest awards news

• ESSIE’s Altieri named Hearne Rising Star ProfessorAugust 25, 2026
  Andrew Altieri has been named the Scott and Lindy Hearne Rising Star Professor in ESSIE. 
• ‘An opportunity to honor’: How a lifelong friendship sealed an ESSIE endowed professorshipAugust 21, 2026
  The Robert Thieke Endowed Professorship was established in 2025 to honor Thieke upon his retirement after 35 years at UF.
• A career highlight: ESSIE’s Ferraro receives award named for his heroApril 20, 2026
  In what he describes as a major highlight of his career, Christopher Ferraro, Ph.D., has been awarded the 2025 Jean-Claude Roumain Innovation in Concrete Award by the American Concrete Institute (ACI).  
• ESSIE’s Behdad honored for doctoral dissertation advisingApril 20, 2026
  The Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering awarded Sara Behdad, Ph.D., the Doctoral Dissertation Advisor/Mentoring Award for the 2025–26 academic year.  
• ESSIE’s Rawlinson wins college Faculty Advisor/Mentor AwardApril 20, 2026
  Taylor Rawlinson, Ph.D., has been selected to receive the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering Faculty Advisor/Mentor Award for the 2025–26 academic year.  

UF Distinguished Alumnus Award recipients

• Robert (Bob) O. Powell (2004):  Received UF College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award. Powell Brothers Barge Terminal, Inc.
• Dr. R. Bruce Taylor (2000):  Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Taylor Engineering, Inc. Received UF College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award.
• John W. Vogt (1989):  Received UF College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award.
• Dr. Paul Zung-Teh Zia (1983):  Received UF College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award , Retired from NC State Dept. of Civil Engineering & formerly of Becton Dickinson.
• Dr. Michael Durham (2013): An environmental engineer with both master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Florida, Durham is a serial entrepreneur as well as a recognized leader in energy and environmental policy. He has been involved in the measurement and control of emissions from the coal-fired power industry for over 40 years. He currently invests his time and resources empowering the next generation of engineers to continue exploring innovative sustainable solutions.
• Charles (Chick) W. Gregg (1999):  Received UF College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award. President & CEO, Greater Construction Corp. & Retired Ex. Vice President & CEO of Reynolds, Smith & Hills.
• George Kirkland (2014): – Created the George Kirkland Professorship in Engineering Leadership. It was the first endowed faculty position with a component dedicated to leadership education at the college.
• Arthur W. Saarinen (2001) (deceased):  After retiring professionally and returning to Alachua County, he was invited to teach in the UF Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences. He also served for 8 years on the Alachua County Planning and Zoning Commission and the board of the Alachua Conservation Trust.
  
• Ernest Hendricks (1972) (deceased): Received UF College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award
• James F. Shivler, Jr. (1972) (deceased): Received UF College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award
• Leon B. Thrasher (1981) (deceased): Received UF College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award